Memories of grandparents
1
Forza Milan
A die-hard Milan fan, gruff in appearance, Mrs Minuccia taught me that not everything can be measured by how much you produce.
With Mrs Minuccia it was not love at first sight. I often saw her sitting in her chair; I would greet her but go no further: at first impression she seemed a little gruff and I was wary of approaching. One day, I no longer remember why, I went up to her and began to chat, and I realised my prejudices about her were unfounded; in that moment something clicked…
Minuccia was a southern woman and a die-hard Milan supporter: by her bed she had a small round wooden plaque, painted red and black, with the number of A.C. Milan’s league titles on it!
The bond with her grew close quickly. Although I understood nothing about football, I stubbornly tried to explain the Calciopoli scandal to her and why Juventus had been relegated to Serie B. I still remember going home to look up some piece of news to bring her, since I struggled to make sense of it myself…
Mrs Minuccia was convinced I was her personal volunteer: I often had to hide from her in order to give a little time to the other residents too. Even while she ate she always wanted me beside her. I did nothing in particular, except help her put some food onto her spoon.
Forza Milan
2
Since volunteers stopped feeding the residents, I have sometimes been asked: but what do you volunteers actually do now?
Not everything can be quantified and measured — and it is not even right to try.
With Mrs Minuccia my practical help was merely symbolic, an excuse to have someone at her side to keep her company. I sometimes reflect on how people judge you by how much you produce, by how many things you do, by how good you are at reaching goals in the shortest possible time.
But I believe that not everything can be quantified and measured, and I believe it is not even right to try.
So, to the question “but what do you go there to do?”, I answer that I do not go to put on grand entertainments or organise special activities, but simply to ease people’s loneliness for a few hours.
Collected by Riccardo Beretta · AVO Concorezzo volunteer