I solemnly took her coat, a beautiful leather coat. A memento of sorts, the coat was something tangible to remember her by. I claimed it as my own, a coat I’d probably never buy for myself. I still can’t imagine my mother wearing it and found no photos to prove [...]
When I was growing up in Indiana in the 1960s, Christmas meant time off school, time to play in the snow and make a snowman. I always received Perfect Attendance Awards in school, mostly because I was healthy, but also because, even if I had a tummy ache, my mom [...]
I am one of five daughters. My mother was one of five daughters. My mother's mother was one of five daughters. FIVE DAUGHTERS FIVE I come from a lineage of five daughters born on my mother's side of the family for three generations in a row. Too bad it's not [...]
July 30, 2016: I am re-posting this and have added a few more photos. I wrote this a few years ago in honor of my Aunt Lily. Today, sadly, she died. She just turned 89 years old last month. I am overwhelmed with sadness. The world today seems to be [...]
I Dream of Jeanie One day after school, not long after immigrating to America, my sister declared to my parents that her new name would be Jeanie. She liked the sound of it. Her full name Giovanna was too hard for her new American friends to pronounce. And her Sicilian [...]
