My mother could not do anything after Daddio died. That is how Daddio had the power over her.

She could not even write a check on her own.

Then when I moved back in she wanted my brother and I to do everything for her. Daddio trained her to always be dependent upon him.

She had a hard life.

I taught my Grandma how to start up the car and how to turn it off. It was the funniest thing. None of the women drove. She never sat behind the wheel before and there she was revving up the engine.

I also taught her how to play a slot machine. She didn't like it in the beginning but when we started winning a little bit, she really enjoyed herself. We were playing dimes lol.

Every smart Italian should have somebody to start their car... just in case.

In my old neighbor hood very few people drove a car or had one.

Everyone took public transportation. The only people who had cars were mob guys and bigger store owners.

When I first saw rebel without a cause I thought all these kids have money. They own their own cars and their parents owned their own houses.

I could not get over that.

I liked the knife fight at the planetarium. I was very surprised that dean didn't fuck him up when he got the drop on him.

Neither of my grandmothers drove. Someone would always pick them up to take them somewhere. My mother didn't get her driver's license until she was about 35/40.

Anyone remember having to stay in your church clothes on Sunday? I have movie film of my riding my bike up/down the street. I KNOW it was Sunday, cause I had a dress on. LOL NOW, they wear anything to church.

Couple other random tidbits:

My father-in-law would always do the sign of the cross if he drove past a Catholic Church.

Speaking of Sunday, Sunday dinners at my house was always around 1:00 in the afternoon as opposed to 6:00 p.m. during the week.


TIS

I remember if I fell and messed up my school uniform I caught a beating.

I definitely remember both of those. I always crossed myself.

Sunday dinner at my grandparent's house usually lasted from 1 p.m. TO 6 p.m!

And there was always plenty. If company came over, another plate/s was set and they were forced to eat something. If company said they weren't hungry my dad would always say, just nibble. They HAD to eat something LOL
It would be a mortal sin not to have enough food. Ha ha


TIS

Not having enough food in an Italian household would be a sin lol.
Did you ever have dinner plans as a young adult but still had to sit down to eat just a little beforehand? Have a plate... What's the difference, I made all this food here and you're going out? Why must you go out to eat? Then you had a plate set aside for you when you got home. D'ya eat enough at dinner? I got your plate here for you now, you hungry? I'll warm it up. Lol. It's like they think you're going to starve in a four hour time frame. Too funny.

If there was a "spontaneous" gathering of young people, my mom could make ten pizzas in a night. Long slices of mozzarella laid on, instead of little shavings.

And anchovies - everyone loved anchovies.

Oh yea, I love anchovies. Nowadays I never find anyone who wants anchovies on pizza.

TIS

Right on target, AG! This is how the future Mrs. Mark was introduced to the Italian way of life. We would be getting ready to go on a date for her fave Chinese and we would get all those comments including the one we still laugh about and ridicule to this day, "With all this food on the table!?! Madonna Mia!!!"

Did you get the phone calls and messages too after you got married? Hello, this is us, your mother and I got all this food here, who is gonna eat all this food? We can't eat it all, so just come over.
You get a second phone call. We're waiting here for you. What time are yous coming? Give us a call. AND A third call. Where the hell are yous? We've been waiting here all night. Click.

You call back. We were out of town remember?
That's right, we forgot. I got your food all wrapped up so you can eat it tonight, tomorrow, whenever, it don't matter. Just come pick it up. I'll wait up

Even after I was married, with a family, I loved going to dinner at my parents (and my in-laws were Italian as well). They'd stock me up with leftovers for two more meals.



TIS

When I'd tell my parents I was going to visit them from Texas, one of the first thing they'd say was "What do you want to eat when you get here?"

Food was such a huge part of an Italian family life. I remember my mom planning menu for the week in detail. (Damn, she knew tons of different ways to make pasta.)

One of my favorite snacks (tho I've made meal out of it many times) was usually a Sunday night bedtime snack (LOL) It was very simple and always on hand in my house. Black (Greek) Olives,green olives seasoned/pickled provolone cheese, pepperoni and/or salami and fresh Italian bread. Mmmm I'd take a bite of everything and pig out. Every now & then I will go to the Italian Deli and stock up.

Heck, even up until I lost my parents, whenever I'd visit MI, my dad would haul out cheese, pepperoni, olives, etc. and put it all in front of me and watch me eat, as he smiled. LMAO If my plate was getting empty, he'd fill it.

Btw, any Italian here ever have Caponatina(I did have to look up the correct spelling)? It's an eggplant/olive/celery/olive oil type sidedish which was common with my family/relatives.

TIS

I don't think I ever had caponatina, sounds delicious. We were lucky to eat so well. I wanted to mention to you and anyone else who is in our local area a couple upcoming events. I knew some of these people from San Diego personally because we would have our annual Italian picnic and bocce tournament with everyone in the state affiliated with the ICF. They were a lot of fun, most are Sicilian.


09/05-09/07, Sat.-Mon. – Labor Day Weekend West Coast Stickball Tournament
Come and watch the streets of Little Italy come alive with the good ol’ American (East Coast) past-time: STICKBALL. Every year local teams come together to play for the right to call themselves the king of the block; the champions! This year San Diego Stickball League will be hosting guest teams from New York and Puerto Rico. Come and enjoy the taunting, heckling and good ol’ fun on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 6:00pm on Columbia Street, between Beech and Cedar Streets, and State Street, between Ash and Beech Streets. This event was made possible by the Little Italy Association of San Diego. For more information, please call Joey Centanni at 619-471-7375.


10/11, Sun. – 21st Annual Little Italy FESTA!
Little Italy Association is proud to make the Little Italy District come alive. Come and enjoy over 180 Italian Food & Crafter Booths, 3 stages of entertainment, Gesso Italiano (Italian Chalk): Little Italy’s Chalk Painting Event, a Stickball Tournament and a Beer & Wine Garden. Load up the family, friends & pets and come to the Largest Italian Festival on the West Coast. This event is held on India Street between Ash and Grape Streets from 10:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. For more information, click here

http://www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa/

Yes. Yes. Yes! Absolutely true! After a holiday or a family function, there are leftovers for days! We were all expected to be there everyday after until they were all gone. One time, a newlywed Mrs. Mark referred to it as Day 4 of the Roman Feast!

Yes! I remember that well. We would put a big scoop of that on a piece of Turano Bread and make a meal out of it! Love that bread! Not sure if this was only big in the midwest?

Mark, not sure I know that bread. My mom would make her own (8 loaves a week) But yea, bread would be a must.

I especially remember on holidays, after having at least a two course meal, dessert, not to mention food readily available all day, the table would be set one more time for a night snack. Damn, I really should weight about 300 lbs I think.
Then of course leftovers distributed.



TIS

Oh, heck yeah! Nobody left my grandma's house without half a trunk of leftovers to bring home! Every car owned by an Italian has a cooler in the trunk for just such an occasion! I'm surprised it wasn't added to the basic design of every Cadillac that rolled out of Detroit!

Oh, do I remember my mother making copious amounts of bread ... and pizza too,

A-Girl my daughters and I are thinking about checking out the Italian Festival in San Diego. I see they dropped the Sicilian Festival and are combining the two. I've never been to it. If nothing else it should be good food.




TIS

The best of both worlds. My grandma was from Napoli and my grandfather was from Palermo. I grew up seeing it all. I am blessed for sure.

TIS, I think it will be fun. I'm going to make it by business to get down there too. The food will be delicious and the music should be good.

When is it? I may try to make it down there.

Sunday, October 11
Here's info:
10/11, Sun. – 21st Annual Little Italy FESTA!
Little Italy Association is proud to make the Little Italy District come alive. Come and enjoy over 180 Italian Food & Crafter Booths, 3 stages of entertainment, Gesso Italiano (Italian Chalk): Little Italy’s Chalk Painting Event, a Stickball Tournament and a Beer & Wine Garden. Load up the family, friends & pets and come to the Largest Italian Festival on the West Coast. This event is held on India Street between Ash and Grape Streets from 10:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. For more information, click here

http://www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa/

My oldest sons newest mother in law is like that her son or my son has to drive them every where. Or they don't go any where.

We always have company on the weekends. We want them to come early so they leave early

They come go in the pool. Then we eat play with the grand kids and they leave and we can enjoy the rest of the evening.

I think they come because they think they will get the house when we are not around anymore my wife always see the need to see at least some of the kids and grand kids.

I am not like that they come they come they don't they don't. My wife is taking one of my grand daughters to see Aladin on broadway on the 16th.

I think of it is more time to myself.

Pizza you going to Harlem for the Giglio lift next Sunday?