With my parents it was never, “Lock the door behind you.” They always waited until the car was out of site before they went back into the house.
Cinquanta in Italia
I turned fifty in Carovilli, a small mountain town in Italy where my maternal grandparents lived before they moved to America in the 1920’s. They both died before I was born but I have the trunk they brought their belonging in when they immigrated to America. It sits at the end of my bed and I think of them every time I walk past it.
A few years ago I applied for Italian citizenship through an amendment to the Italian constitution known as The 1948 Law. The application was based on my grandparents and I was approved a month after celebrating my birthday in front of their home. I am still pinching myself.
Family Bookends
Frank is my oldest brother - we are the bookends of eleven kids. When I was a teenager Frank had a family, a mortgage and a career; our lives were very different. As I grew older and had my own experiences the distance between us became smaller and, thankfully, we have grown closer. Frank has been there for the best and worst times of my life - what a gift.
