My Italian Obsession

Ciao a tutti il mio amici,

My Italian Obsession
I guess I had some predisposition to this “thing” I have for all things Italian. When I was 4 years old I was a very picky eater. There were only 2 things I would eat, bean soup and spaghetti. I had to have it with parmesan cheese on it. My grandfather who died when I was 8, would go out and buy cases of Franco American Spaghetti for me. This drove my mother crazy.

One of my Dad’s best friends, who would visit in our home often was Thomas Botta. They worked together and when not working, they played cribbage endlessly. He talked about his childhood in Sicily and how when he was 15 he was recruited into the mafia. He was a driver and he eventually had to leave the country, or die. He loved to show us his 5 bullet wound scars, and did so many times! He had a flaming red-haired (and hot tempered) Irish wife named Belle. What a pair they were!

When I was in junior high school my first real boyfriend (well he started out as my best friend Brenda’s boyfriend, oops) was Italian. Lawrence Paul Valentino Capitano. It makes me want to slap my forehead like his mom did, anytime she was mad enough to use his whole name. He patiently taught me how to dance, kiss and fight too. He was my karate instructor. Because I was having some trouble with gangs in school, he would meet me after school and walk me home. Then he would drill me for hours on self defense moves, until it became instinctively reactionary.

He stopped seeing me because I was too young, only 14. He was 18 and the temptation to teach me MORE was too much for him. He loved my mother and did not want her mad at him! He found me a few years ago though the website, Classmates. He was a Bush campaigner and we clashed mightily over our politics. He finally gave up on me when he realized he would not win me over to his way of thinking. The only thing he cared about was the TAXES he had to pay.

Seems like almost half the people I have known and loved were full or part Italian American. There is just something so cute and funny about them. Like my friend Joey Racano. He says he wrote the song ‘Glass of Vino’ for me and my Italian obsession. Listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/joeyracano
Is that cute or what! Other things Italian I have loved: Tòpo Gigio, Ancient Roman Culture and Mythology in books and movies, Romeo and Juliet, foods (spaghetti, pizza, lasagne, figs, almost anything with mozzarella or parmesan cheese), Fellini, FF Coppola, the actors and actresses (Robert DiNero, Brigit Bardo, John Travolta, … list is too long), the Art (paintings, sculptures, tile work, mosaic etc). Now the music, the dances, the scents, the wines, the language and bel paese terra madre Italia, the grand old lady herself.

Maybe you should start planning a visit. hehehehe They could use the tourists dollars. And maybe consider buying an Italian car next time you need one! I’m a promoter now can you tell? I am starting as an agent for my school, Porte d’Oriente on the west coast of North America! Contact me when your ready to book your trip here lol.

Today starts the two day festival of Otranto’s Patron saint SAN FRANCESCO! They put up the festival lights on my streets and there will be a procession. My street is the Passeo di Martiri. The street the Turks marched the 800 Christian martyrs down to their execution. I’m making lemon poppyseed cookies for an offering. Maybe It’s a good thing I am leaving soon. They might convert me!
San Francesco Altar in town
Blessings:
Free folk music during the festivities! Time for more dance, dance, dance!

No curses today… it’s a sacred day!

We need a holiday for San Francesco (like St Patty’s Day).
Go out and kiss an Italian today! I think I will lol. Salve!