How could anyone be nasty to you with such a delightful story? What an insight into the way other people live, and consequently, "do death". Best of all, the accidental laughing at the funeral!
This made me smile. Thank you! I am from an Italian family in northern NJ. My father and his family immigrated to the US when he was in his late teens. When I went to college - University of Richmond - my mom would send me with frozen gravy. My southern friends from Tennessee and Louisiana laughed when I called it "gravy." We went to my grandparents' house every Sunday - all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was always too thin...mangia, mangia! My grandmother would say...
Well, as the author of the historical novel The Italian Prisoner, set in New Orleans' Sicilian community during WW2 (pardon the shameless self-promotion), I applaud this illuminating essay! Auguri!
Schmidt, I miss you and my book world friends. But, yes, you nailed it. Especially the yes and no at the beginning. Many times I had to explain to my non Italian wife that I wasn't enamored by the Godfather and the Sopranos because I liked, or that my family was involved, with organized crime. It was because of the wedding scene in the Godfather. Or that the very first episode of the Sopranos Carmella offers Meadow a sfogliatella for breakfast. And yes, as the only boy with 2 sisters, I was the chosen one. But that changed when my sister provided the real chosen ones, Grandchildren. And I didn't.
In the deep south, we have a ‘thing’ called tomato gravy. But believe me, it is NOT the same thing! So many things about families — wherever they’re from — resonate…beautifully and humorously told story…especially love the cheat sheet!
Another Italian here. Third gen. My grandparents on both sides came through Ellis Island. Napolitan and Sicilian. My Napolitan family was the loud one. The Sicilian's were mired in silent guilt. In my family there was us and the Medigani's (Americans). The first mixed marriage in my family was my aunt and Uncle Tony (Tony was Polish). Poor Tony. One of my favorite Italian Cookbooks with commentary is Adriana Trigiani's Cooking with My Sisters.
Thank you for posting this. I found it moving and informative. I don't come from Italian stock, nor have I ever lived in close proximity to any large Italian enclaves. I appreciate hearing about the "real world" Italian-American experience.
This warmed my heart! I could hear the love for your family in your writing—and the sense of being "home." It also made me remember the precious age of 13 and learning about death when my grandpa died. I'm sure you share many stories with your kids, but things get forgotten. It's good to put them in writing to make sure they're not lost. I think sharing family stories is good too. People enjoy reading them and remembering their own experiences. And it may even inspire them to write their own stories. That's how I became interested in writing, by reading stories like this.
Looking forward to reading more! Thank you, Kathleen for sharing <3
I love this! Though I'm not Italian, it reminded me of my own childhood as well. Also - yay for those fabulous aunts and those tropical vacations!! :) I hope you write and share more. You are a great writer!
You've inspired me to write about my family (Polish). In our family, people only dared to marry Irish until a cousin married an Italian. It was the talk of the family when he came for Thanksgiving and told us he had to save room for his Nonny's homemade gnocchi. Gnocchi on Thanksgiving? We were shocked. Of course we have pierogi at every holiday and kielbasi and halupki at most!
How could anyone be nasty to you with such a delightful story? What an insight into the way other people live, and consequently, "do death". Best of all, the accidental laughing at the funeral!
This made me smile. Thank you! I am from an Italian family in northern NJ. My father and his family immigrated to the US when he was in his late teens. When I went to college - University of Richmond - my mom would send me with frozen gravy. My southern friends from Tennessee and Louisiana laughed when I called it "gravy." We went to my grandparents' house every Sunday - all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was always too thin...mangia, mangia! My grandmother would say...
After reading this, all I can say is: more!
And one more: brava. :)
I loved reading this! 😊
Oh and Pavarotti! He was up there with the Pope.
Well, as the author of the historical novel The Italian Prisoner, set in New Orleans' Sicilian community during WW2 (pardon the shameless self-promotion), I applaud this illuminating essay! Auguri!
Schmidt, I miss you and my book world friends. But, yes, you nailed it. Especially the yes and no at the beginning. Many times I had to explain to my non Italian wife that I wasn't enamored by the Godfather and the Sopranos because I liked, or that my family was involved, with organized crime. It was because of the wedding scene in the Godfather. Or that the very first episode of the Sopranos Carmella offers Meadow a sfogliatella for breakfast. And yes, as the only boy with 2 sisters, I was the chosen one. But that changed when my sister provided the real chosen ones, Grandchildren. And I didn't.
In the deep south, we have a ‘thing’ called tomato gravy. But believe me, it is NOT the same thing! So many things about families — wherever they’re from — resonate…beautifully and humorously told story…especially love the cheat sheet!
I love this and can relate to it on so many levels. I’m from a Northern Italian family...the Nardelli’s.
Fun read! Yes, of course it’s gravy. And what about Italian rum cake for those very special occasions! Ciao
Another Italian here. Third gen. My grandparents on both sides came through Ellis Island. Napolitan and Sicilian. My Napolitan family was the loud one. The Sicilian's were mired in silent guilt. In my family there was us and the Medigani's (Americans). The first mixed marriage in my family was my aunt and Uncle Tony (Tony was Polish). Poor Tony. One of my favorite Italian Cookbooks with commentary is Adriana Trigiani's Cooking with My Sisters.
Fun read! Yes, it’s gravy. What about Italian rum cake! Ciao
Thank you for posting this. I found it moving and informative. I don't come from Italian stock, nor have I ever lived in close proximity to any large Italian enclaves. I appreciate hearing about the "real world" Italian-American experience.
This warmed my heart! I could hear the love for your family in your writing—and the sense of being "home." It also made me remember the precious age of 13 and learning about death when my grandpa died. I'm sure you share many stories with your kids, but things get forgotten. It's good to put them in writing to make sure they're not lost. I think sharing family stories is good too. People enjoy reading them and remembering their own experiences. And it may even inspire them to write their own stories. That's how I became interested in writing, by reading stories like this.
Looking forward to reading more! Thank you, Kathleen for sharing <3
I love this! Though I'm not Italian, it reminded me of my own childhood as well. Also - yay for those fabulous aunts and those tropical vacations!! :) I hope you write and share more. You are a great writer!
You've inspired me to write about my family (Polish). In our family, people only dared to marry Irish until a cousin married an Italian. It was the talk of the family when he came for Thanksgiving and told us he had to save room for his Nonny's homemade gnocchi. Gnocchi on Thanksgiving? We were shocked. Of course we have pierogi at every holiday and kielbasi and halupki at most!