Solanum dulcamara is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
…
The savory, hearty broth
entered our systems, warming us.
Nutritious lentils, crunchy carrots, flavorful onions.
Nonna happily poured us bowl after bowl,
feeding our souls.
Once the soup was gone, not a single drop left,
we sat at the table and chatted for hours.
School, work, family, friends, life.
Every topic was covered.
My brother and I cleaned the table,
dishes in the sink, leftover salad in the fridge.
When Nonna wasn’t looking,
the chocolates she had bought (just for us)
would slowly disappear, one after the next.
We would go to bed,
tummies stuffed, hearts full.
Solanum dulcamara is native to Europe and Southern America, naturalized in the United States.
Nonna grew up in Uruguay with my father and uncles.
“Dirt poor. Dirt poor we were.”
They went where Hugo, Nonna’s husband, went,
hopping from job to job.
Mexico, farmer.
New York, professor.
Italy, teacher.
Costa Rica, dean.
Wherever or whatever Hugo was,
they followed.
Then, the accident.
After it was just Nonna, Dad, and Doni,
they found Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Dad and Doni attended Andrews University,
the private, religious, city college.
Dad became a lawyer, Doni an architect.
Nonna found Neighbor to Neighbor,
a local community service company
slash thrift store
slash church center.
Wherever help was needed,
Nonna went.
Thankfully, Berrien Springs has a large
Hispanic population.
Nonna assimilated well.
She made a home
wherever and whenever she could.
Solanum dulcamara was once thought to be effective against witchcraft, to provide protection.
Seventh-day Adventists go to church
on Saturdays.
Sabbath school was fun, sometimes,
and boring, sometimes.
Nonna went to the main sermon,
When we got home,
Nonna would make us
a delicious afternoon snack.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
…
Chomp Chomp Chomp.
Before sleeping,
Nonna would turn on her old radio.
Sometimes, she would play classical music.
Sometimes, another sermon.
In the other room,
Me, Leo, and Dad
watched silly YouTube videos,
listening to Dad’s old rock playlists.
When I went to sleep,
faintly, I would hear
… created in Jesus Christ unto good works
which God hath before ordained
that we should…
Solanum dulcamara has been used as medicine to heal hurt places.
Nonna had this little cabinet
filled with all types of medicine.
Advil, for a headache.
Ibuprofen, for a pulled muscle.
And most importantly,
bug spray.
When we visited her for the summer,
bug spray was vital.
One time—after eating too many chocolates—
I had a tummy ache.
“Pobrecita,” she said lovingly.
Out of thin air,
well, from her cabinet,
Nonna pulled out indigestion medication
that made my stomach feel better
in seconds.
Again, when my brother couldn’t fall asleep,
it was Nonna to the rescue.
She pulled out these hilarious looking
Flintstone gummy bears
that put him right to bed.
Nonna’s medicine cabinet
could heal anything and everything.
Well, everything except old age.
Solanum dulcamara is said to have a sickly sweet taste but later turns fatally bitter.
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