One of my earliest and most lasting memories of gardening is the influence my Italian grandfather had on me. His backyard in Inglewood, California was a magical place. It had an orange tree, a lemon tree and a fig tree that made the biggest, juiciest figs I have ever tasted. He and I liked to pick his Italian fava beans together, and pop them in our mouths fresh. Years later, when we had moved to Utah, everything was a bit more rustic and haphazard there, including our large garden. But when Grandpa Tony and Grandma Josie would visit, she would put grandpa to task in the garden. I can still see her pointing at rows and speaking fast in Sicilian to grandpa (who didn’t speak English very well), and he would hoe frantically down the rows like a machine at her command. He was so quick and determined that it cast an indelible impression in my memory. I credit much of my love for gardening to his wonderful example.
LESSON LEARNED: It is often the tiny, fleeting examples by others that we remember forever. Even the most brief of these can result in persisting memories, and may lead to lasting family traditions.
FEEDBACK: WHAT PERSONAL OR FAMILY TRADITIONS DO YOU ATTRIBUTE TO THE BRIEF EXAMPLES OF FAMILY MEMBERS?
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