I don’t usually write self indulgent things, but what the heck…

Today I was able to attend the first annual Bonassera family reunion. It was held at the parish cemetery of Tosca, which is a small “frazione” of a town called Varsi, in the province of Parma, Italy. It is a small simple cemetery with a beautiful view of an appenine mountainside for its inhabitants, but an arduous steep climb up a narrow road for it’s visitors.

The reunion was preceded by a solemn funeral mass for the graveyards newest arrival, my uncle Guido. He was injured in an accident and broke his back.

But that was almost 30 years ago. He went on to do more in the last 30 years than most people do their whole lives, without the aid of a pesky working lower body.

He joined his parents, Fortunato and Domenica, and my father Quirino, who have been residents there for quite a long time.

His two sisters Pierina and Lina were not able to attend as it’s hard for them to get away from their respective graveyards.

I hope wherever they may be they can all be together and comfort each other, there are a few people left here that miss their company.

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