Family stories

Stories have been handed down about my great-grandmother Meritt. She was a little Italian woman who fit the classic stereotype of Italian women. Growing up in New York made it difficult for her to fit in with all the "Jan Cleaver" types. My great-grandmother was a loud woman who cooked heavy meals laden with rich sauces and flavor. I have heard numerous stories about her from both my parents. They describe her as being a walking faux pau. Everywhere she went she was unintentionally insulting someone, frightening people, talking loudly, and breaking the "American" rules. Anytime my grandmother would say something blunt or rude, everyone in my family would always tease her and call her by her mother's name. She became a long-standing joke among my family. Now anytime that I do something that would fit my great-grandmother's behavior, my family calls me Meritt.