Happy Italian Heritage Month

He was born in Reggio, Calabria and came to America when he was a young man in his late teens.

When he arrived he was greeted by cousins and then was given a job in construction. Breaking concrete and only surrounding himself with those that knew his culture.

He then was introduced to my Mom, it was a brief relationship and at 16 years old she married him. My Mom raised all her siblings as her Mother passed young and kept house for her Father, who came here from Naples.

As soon as they were married my Dad was drafted in the army and was deployed back to Europe.

Once he returned, he continued in construction and then opened the first Taxi Company, Joe’s Taxi in Fort Lee, NJ.

Dad drove and Mom was home with us, taking the calls….

At a young age I knew we were different! Not the average American family for sure. All I know is that I was so intrigued with this culture, the language, the music and the food. Did I mention the food?

One by one, year after year my Dad sent for his family. They lived with us until they secured employment and then moved on. With each cousin came a new experience for me. I learned that they all had been promised when they were born. I never knew quite what that meant until my cousin Tina’s future husband arrived in America and she had never met him!

That was the only part of the culture I wanted no part of!  LOL

They all shared different stories of their homeland, the farms, the music and the food, ahhhh the food!!! It was like a visceral fairytale for me.

We received boxes from Italy filled with cheese, tuna, candy, oil and of course photos. I can still remember what that food tasted like, smelled like!

Then my Dad’s Mother finally came to visit. I was in awe!!

She was this small woman with braided hair around her entire head. Her clothes were in layers?

Each night I would sit with her and she would hold up a hairbrush and say,” Spazzola per capelli” – ah hairbrush and so it went. Any time she had something in her hand she would tell me in Italian and I locked it in.

Yes, we were different. We were passionate people. Loving people. People that talked of Italia like it were 5 miles away.

Proud people, people that valued tradition and family.

Not unlike many other family’s that have migrated to this country from other counties.

Hollywood made films about our Culture that at times may have only pointed out the stereotypical Gangster. However we cannot take this to heart, as indeed there was organized crime in all cultures. We need to know the difference between fact verses fiction.

Years ago in Italy being called a Guido was a badge of honor. It meant you cared abut your appearance and a style of living. Today, in America – that word describes a mother’s worse fear: OMG my daughter is marring a Guido! Some Mook with hard hair, all muscle bound a bad tan and thinks he can speak Italian.

Life has changes since my Dad came here but there are still houses in his village that have remained the same.

I created The Italian Chicks Comedy & Variety Show to further the culture. A show that makes us remember when life was simple. To hear things that you’re Nona used to say that you have not heard in years. A show that makes you remember things you paid your shrink to forget! J

I think my Pop would have loved the show!

I have always valued diversity.

When I hear people say, “ these people come here and take over the county”, does it anger me? You bet it does! Why? Because I am the child of an immigrant that came to here make a better life.

So Happy Italian Heritage Month!

Remember the food, the music, the tradition, the culture and the family!

And remember the struggle that our Mothers and Fathers encountered in a strange land looking to find their way.

Thanks for all the opportunities you gave us Dad and for telling us all those amazing stories about the farms, the goats, the fig trees and for making your way in this land with the worse broken English eva~

Hey, if Dad never came here I could have been living in Italy!!!!!

What!!!!!!!! Oh Man.. Dad !!!!!!!!

Rest is Peace Pop – we love & miss you..

Viva Italia