A Life Lesson: The Shattered Mirror

Read Time:5 Minute, 35 Second

This is a story about the 1958 World Series, a shattered mirror, magic pizzas, a wise old grandfather, his attentive grandchildren, and another life lesson.

It was an exciting day in New Jersey. My cousins and I were at my grandfather’s house watching the 1958 World Series and the New York Yankees were beating the Milwaukee Braves.

We were all a bit out of control with anticipation, and two of my cousins even snuck a ball and bat into the parlor before it could be confiscated. Well, with all the commotion, it didn’t take long for the ball to find the bat, and then land squarely on a massive turn of the century mirror hanging over the sofa! As that mirror crashed to the floor, we held our breath waiting to see what my grandfather, our teacher, would do.

But, he calmly said. C’è qualcuno che sta male? No? Buona!” (Is anyone hurt? No? Good!). “Now, let’s watch the game. I will use that mirror to teach you a lesson next week”. No one moved or spoke. We turned our full attention to that black and white TV so we would not have to think about that shattered mirror…..until the next Sunday.

As usual, all week, my cousins and I wondered what the lesson would be: Someone could have gotten hurt?; Don’t play ball in the house?; or, My grandmother might have been upset? But, we should have known, those lessons would have been too obvious.

Instead, during the week, my wise grandfather gathered up eight pieces of the shattered mirror, about the size of dessert plates. He was a brick and tile mason, so he had the tools he needed to expertly smooth the edges of the glass. But to be even more sure we would not get hurt, and to get our attention, he directed my grandmother to roll eight small pizza pie crusts. He took each piece of mirror and settled it inside of the pie crust. He then told my grandmother to bake the “pizza pies” very carefully.

When we arrived on Sunday, it didn’t take us long to notice that my grandfather was not sitting in his usual over-stuffed chair. Instead, he was squarely planted in the middle of the sofa in front of a bare wall where the beautiful mirror once hung. He gathered us around his feet. My eight-year-old tattle tale brother quickly said, “Grandfather, I know who broke the mirror”. My grandfather replied, “But Danny, so do they. And, they have already punished themselves more than I could have. So, instead of paying attention to the THING that shattered the mirror, let’s have a lesson FROM the mirror itself!” I could hear two sighs of relief from my “bat and ball” cousins and I thought this just might be the smartest thing my grandfather ever said. But of course, there was always more.

Grandfather told us to go into the dining room and each take one of what was on the table. When we arrived at that massive table, we saw it covered with eight small “pizza pie mirrors”. The sight and smell of that is still so ingrained in my mind that pizza has never been the same. When we returned to my grandfather, he asked us what we were holding. Our replies included “mirrors in the stale crust”, “Italian mirrors” (that was mine), “Italian ice skating rinks” and “magic pizza”. He said those were good answers but we really were holding “looking glasses.”

He then asked us to pick a partner and take turns holding the mirror up for each other. He asked us what we saw, and of course, we said we saw ourselves. He had us change partners and repeat the process several times and we always just saw ourselves. There was a lot of giggling and fun, but I wasn’t sure where he was going with this until he said, Siamo tutti specchi per ogni” (We are all mirrors for each other).

We all looked at each other to see who understood what sounded like something very important. And, after some lively discussion, grandfather was actually able to plant a seed of this idea in our young brains, and that seed would continue to grow into our adulthood.

Of course, this was part of the design for most of his lessons. Since that Sunday, I have come back to this lesson many times as others held “the mirror” up to me when I needed it the most. So, I’ll try to describe, in my own words, what my grandfather wanted his grandchildren to remember from the “looking glasses” or “magic pizzas”.

Because we are all mirrors for each other, looking at the people in our lives can tell us a lot about ourselves. We attract individuals into our lives that “mirror” who we are at any given time. In fact, who we are can be laid bare to us through what we see in others (the mirror).

The qualities we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist within us. Those we feel drawn to reflect our inner self back at us, and we serve as a mirror for them too. Simply put, when we look at others, we will likely see what exists in us.

When we see beauty, love, and kindness in another, we are seeing the goodness that resides in ourselves. When we see traits in others that evoke feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, we may be seeing reflected back at us, those same parts of ourselves that we have disowned or do not like.

It is much easier to see the traits we do not like in others, but more difficult to realize that we possess those same traits.  When you come into contact with someone you admire, search yourself for similarly admirable traits. Likewise, when you meet someone exhibiting traits that you dislike, accept that you are looking at your own reflection.

So, look around you. What are your “mirrors” saying about your current state (values, emotions, beliefs, needs, and blind spots)? As my grandfather (Anthony Lepore) told his grandchildren, “the mirror will never lie” (“Lo specchio non potrà mai mentire”), but you have to be willing to look.

And remember my grandfather’s lesson: Siamo tutti specchi per ogni” (We are all mirrors of each other). What are your mirrors telling you about you?

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About Post Author

Carol Maietta

A healthcare executive (HR and Nursing) who relocated to Alabama from South Florida 6 years ago. I have an open-minded approach to life combined with the ability to find humor in the ridiculous (including myself).
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Bill Formby
11 years ago

Very good read. I was always told, “you are known by the company you keep.” I guess there is much truth to that.

Reply to  Bill Formby
11 years ago

There is a lot of truth to that Bill. I’m glad you are my friend.

Carol Maietta
Reply to  Bill Formby
11 years ago

Yes Bill. And at any given time, that evolves for the better 🙂

Peeler
11 years ago

The 1958 World Series! I will never forget it because “Pops” took my brother and me. We gorged on hot dogs and soda, while “Pops” had his solitary beer. It was a wonderful time. Sadly he died three days after this trip. We miss him terribly.

Carol Maietta
Reply to  Peeler
11 years ago

I’m glad I was able to give you a flashback of POPs 🙂

lincoln82
11 years ago

LOL! Now this is funny. Thanks a lot for sharing with us.

lincoln82
11 years ago

Carol what a delightful tale and one that I forced my two children to read. My son, 12, said: “Wow mom that was really cool.” That is the highest compliment I think. Thanks so much.

Carol Maietta
Reply to  lincoln82
11 years ago

WOW. I am touched!

Carol Maietta
11 years ago

Dale, we are so fortunate to have had someone like that with a positive influence in our lives. As you know, not everyone is so fortunate. I am glad that my memories might have helped you tap into your own. The best part of doing these posts is hearing what they bring out in others. Thanks 🙂

Dale Fisk
11 years ago

Carol your grandfather is to wisdom what my grandmother was to it. She sounds just like him and to this day I can hear her voice and her kind and wise words. Thanks for the memories…

Admin
11 years ago

As Erin said Carol, thanks for sharing with us. Beautiful…

Carol Maietta
Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

Thanks Mike. Your site has given me the missing ingredient to write what has always been in my head.

Reply to  Carol Maietta
11 years ago

Carol you are more than welcome. You are an asset to our team and a delight to our little family. Glad you are with us.

Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Carol-Thank you sharing these wonderful memories with us. I love this so much.

Carol Maietta
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Erin, writing these memories is opening a flood gate for a book I am writing for my own Grandson, called “Becoming BaMa” 🙂 Thanks for the reply.

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