Was I really this young once

e-mail | May 15. 2015 | knarf

[Grams A]

Remember those old steam ironing things...”

That would be a mangle. Great for ironing sheets, towels, hankies, flat things but someone who had been operating it for a while could also do a wonderful ironing job on slacks, blouses or dress shirts. I really miss clothing made of natural fiber, even though everything had to be ironed. Sure lasted a lot longer.

[Albion Wilde]

Remember, Eh, Cumpari? That one was really hard to follow!

Hell, I'm old enough to remember Julius LaRosa singing it on the Arthur Godfrey show on black & white television. As I recall, it's a song about lots of different musical instruments and how they sound, la violina, il saxofona,etc.

Oh, Ma-ma, oh get that man for me!
Oh, Ma-ma, how happy I would be;
Tra, la, la, and cheery-beery be
If I ever marry it's the butcher boy for me!

Adorable! I had never heard that version! There are lots of versions of that song. The original, I think, was Ce La Luna Mezz'o Mare, and the lyrics are a young woman asking her mother who she should marry, and the mother suggests all the various men: the fisherman always has a fish in his hand, the hunter always has his gun in his hand, etc. The Lazy Mary verson appears to be a take-off on that old song.

I don't have the same childhood memories as you of Italian weddings because I came to live with Italians in America and Italian-Americans, and started to learn the language and customs, as a young woman... around the time the Godfather movies came out. They are a masterpiece of literature. I have the boxed set.

I was "adopted" by an Italian family back then, and know them now into the 4th generation. There is an Italian-American writer whose name escapes me at the moment who wrote about growing up the child of immigrants in New York state. He wrote this about Italians being friends with "i 'mericani": "They won't love you as much as their own family—just enough to make your family seem like cold fish for the rest of your natuaral life." That was my experience exactly, and what a Godsend. I ran into that writer at an Italian-themed reception one time (decades ago), and quoted back the line to him and said how much it overwhelmed me to read it, and he didn't even remember writing it. It was just such a natural part of his existence...

[Grateful2God]

Ha, Ha! I think every region has their own version of that song! I got a kick out of it when they sang it on a couple of episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond!"

I remember when the Godfather came out, too! My Mom and Dad went with some friends. Seemed everybody that saw it talked about the horse's head! I had gotten my Dad a vhs set where 1 and 2 were in chronological order. I loved the part where little Vito got stuck at Ellis Island. My grandfather was young and alone, too. He had sponsors waiting here, but made the trip alone. That image of the boy with the window reflecting the Statue of Liberty- so close, yet so far away, always touches my heart.

"'mericano" Lol! I grew up knowing American English and broken English! "Bac'ouse" was their version of "back of the house", the predecessor to indoor plumbing: hence, through the years it came to refer to the bathroom!

I still have a lot of friends from childhood, and it's funny how we get together and lapse into some of the words and expressions we picked up. A dishtowel is still a "mappina"; I never knew a "scolla pasta" was called a colander until Graham Kerr became "The Galloping Gourmet!"

I miss all those people who brought so much into my life. Money was tight, because there were almost all stay at home Moms. We helped around the house and one friend would help the other so we could go outside or take a walk down the street- for some candy, or a new 45 from the music store- we saved our allowance for those...

Everyone's heritage has its treasures. I was blessed to know people from all kinds of backgrounds throughout my life. Each one of them touched me somehow and enriched that life. I still would love to go back to my aunt's house- hair in a bun, apron, either a frying pan or crochet hook in her hand; my uncle with his pipe, sitting on the porch with the evening paper and the dog the whole neighborhood owned: the house my mother and her sibs had been born in, and my grandparents raised them all... Although most all our treasured elders are gone, but "Mi casa e su casa" -my house is your house- stands with my friends and me to this day. Ciao, to all of them, until we meet again!

[Albion Wilde]

Yes, my community said "bac'ouse", and lots of other wonderful things, like guggutz, rufado, mulinyan, stunat', skeeve, mezz'a'mezz, pianupian', lu kaas, and many, many more. After I learned "classroom" Italian, there were several old people who could not speak English and I made the attempt to hear through their dialects. Translatilng jokes was always the hardest! One of the old guys turned 100, and he would still be going blocks away down the street for a shot and a beer. He was a trip, always making dirty jokes. But there is always that good-hearted twinkle with Italians, except of course when there is a serious vendetta. Lived through some of that kind of drama, too. One of the best movies ever? Fellini's Amarcord, the tragicomedy of his childhood.

[Grateful2God]

I'll have to check out "Amarcord" if it comes on. I love Fellini's, "Nights of Cabiria" and "La Strada," both with his wife, Giulietta Masina. I have to read the subtitles, but oh, how I love the language! It's like music! I'm used to the southern dialects my parents used, although my Dad knew the "Alta" Italian- he said it made a big impression on my Grandmother when he came over to meet her. It also put her at ease, as she spoke very little English- my Dad was the only in-law fluent in the language.

I love those phrases! I went with a guy my parents couldn't stand, and there was a new name for him every time he left: even I had to laugh at "citrullo"- i was dating a "cucumber"! Lol Because all they do is like around in the sun and do nothing... Sad thing is, they were right!

"Guggutz" has a little bit of trivia attached. The actual word being "coccozza"- the actual surname of Mario Lanza! Alfredo Coccozza!

Somehow, I prefer the dialect- because of the memories! Salud!

[Albion Wilde]

Same to you — tanti auguri e cent'anni!

[Grateful2God]

👏😀🎶🍸🍸😁 Benedica, Paisan'!

[Grateful2God]

la famiglia

Love this picture! Not my family, but typical... Big cake for Nonno; glasses full; kids of all ages; Nonna with the apron. One question? Empty dishes?! Enjoy!

[Albion Wilde]

I have so enjoyed talking over this wonderful culture with you. Wish I could go back; but as the generations have moved on, the days of the ethnic enclave in the city are almost over, and the area where I lived is not the same any more. Everything started to change when the videotapes and TIVOs started making people stay inside instead of sitting out front to socialize. Then as third- and fourth-generation kids moved away, the houses started being bought up by yuppies, one here, one there, and of course many, or most of them did not respect the traditions and are not Catholic. (I’m not, either; but I respected and participated in many RC church events). Nothing ever stays the same. But I wouldn’t trade those years for anything.

[Grateful2God]

Same here! How’s the song go? Thanks for the memories! God bless you!

[Albion Wilde]

God bless you!

Anche tu!