I want you to know

that my mother and I have exactly the same hands.

Feminine, but coarse, with very dry skin and nails that grow long and strong. Grandma Grazia had them too, and my daughter got them as well.

I want you to know that our hands can do many things:

cut vegetables straight over the pot, quickly do a braid,

stroke, scratch, pinch really hard,

and put on shows, too.

You can breathe characters into them, and travel places with them.

I want you to know that in this show

you will see my hands

and hear my voice.

I will let you into my home, and into my head.

I want you to come

and stay afterwards to talk,

because we are alive.