Superstitions

My grandmother was a loving, nurturing, beautiful woman. She had short curly all-white hair, soft wrinkly hands and hugs so warm they could melt the polar ice caps. Avo Emilia is the reason I have a foundation of honesty and love. With all of her structure and rules, she had some of the strangest superstitions. I can't be sure if they were specific to our Portuguese culture or if they were completely made up by a worried stressed woman. I love her so very much, may God rest her soul, but she drove me nuts with some of these life lessons:

• No money or shoes (especially brand new shoes) allowed on the kitchen table

• No window can be opened at one end of the house if an opposite window or door is open as well - something called 'wrong wind' could happen

• Playing cards and/or dark nail polish is an invitation for the devil

• If you make the sign of the cross as you pass a cemetery, you are sending a blessing to one of the soul's buried there (the soul's in purgatory need blessings in order to get into heaven)

• If you yawn, you're hungry

• Taking care of your husband and children is a privilege not burden

• Uneaten food is a sin

• Marriage is forever; no matter what

• Refusing to eat or drink when its offered is just as bad as spitting in someone's face

• A woman driving or sitting in the front seat is not proper if there is a man or men in the car

• A clean home is a happy home

The list isn't all bad and even though some of it is sexist or ridiculous, my grandmother was my first most favourite person in the whole world. I miss her every single day 💕