After all the introductions and the tears we were escorted to our seats for lunch. Again I say, “Let the Eating and Drinking begin!” In Italy when you sit down to eat it is always done in courses. Many and there is always a different beverage. And since we were celebrating my arrival we had celebration beverages, lots. How do these people stay so thin when they are always eating and drinking. I eat protein bars at home and they eat this amazing food. I don’t get it.
OK, first course; sliced baby roma tomatoes topped mozzarella. Don’t want to offend anyone so I better eat the tomatoes. They tasted great. Had a few more. Next is the meat and cheese and bread. Oh yeah, my favorite. Can’t get this salami and cheese back home so I better load up. Haven’t had this type of food since I was a little girl in Highwood, IL. During all this time there is much talking about family, Italy and America. Young Carolina’s mother Govanna is such a kick. She teaches English to young children in school as a second language, but her family makes fun of her because she doesn’t speak very good English. Susie decides that it might be a good idea to record the conversation because everyone is all talking at once and it’s Italian and English. She asks if it’s ok and everyone says yes. This lunch is recorded and I will be able to listen to it later. Susie has been great recording everything and documenting things because I’ve been so emotional I can’t remember a thing.
Back to lunch. Next I believe we have salad. Then Adele brings the pasta course. We’re thinking this is the main course and we eat it up. Oh my, here comes another course. The meat course, which I think is veal, never asked just ate it all up. It was amazing. Good thing I wore my stretchy dress. Along with that is the fresh eggplant and fresh green beans. Anyone full yet. Have to keep eating and drinking, don’t want to hurt their feelings. Not sure how the eggplant was cooked but it was full of garlic and tasted great. During all these courses we had different wines and celebration drinks. We salute a lot of times. Just kept eating, drinking and talking. We also met young Carolina’s sister Teresa. She is 21 and in school studying medicine. She also is slim and shoulder length hair. She can speak a little English but doesn’t like to because she is embarrassed. Both of the girls were very interested in my boys and what they do in America. I promised them we could look at face book after lunch. Both of the girls told their mother that she should have email and facebook and I agreed.
During our celebration Susie observed that Nona Carolina and I were having an Italian conversation and wondered how I could understand her. I said I felt like I was talking to my grandmother with her broken English and I remembered some of the words. One of stories she told me was how my Noni was living in Nerito with two small boys (my dad and Ozzie). Her husband Pietro was working in America and sending money home. He would returned to Nerito a few times to visit his family. After one visit, Noni’s friends and family told her she should go to America, before another women found him. She did just that in spring of 1930. With her two young sons, she began the 25 day journey from Naples to America on a ship in poor conditions. When they arrived at Ellis Island, one of the boys (Ozzie) wondered off and Noni had to get help from a Port Officer to find him. Can you even imagine her thoughts; a foreign Country and language, two small boys and now one missing. Ozzie was found and they continued their journey to Highwood, IL to join Pietro.
My reunion with the Riccotti’s wasn’t just important for me, it was important for them also. They remembered Uncle Pety and Nonie’s visit in 1978 very well. They had pictures to share with me. They talked of how surprised they were when she showed up dressed as an American. She had on white trousers and a red blouse with white polka dots. They were all dressed in black dresses. We laughed a lot about that. They were so happy and excited when they received my letter because they felt that they had lost all family ties to America when uncle Pety died.
Govanna, Aunt Adele, Carolina and Jean
Govanna, Teresa, Aunt Adele, Nona Carolina, Carolina and Jean
Now the girls are very anxious for facebook. They wanted to see pictures of their cousins. Started out with TJ and Nick. Thanks to everyone who posted pictures it was easy. I introduced all of you to them via photos. They were very excited. Lunch was over and Govanna wanted to show us their Basilica, San Paulo, which was in the neighborhood. After saying good bye to Nona Carolina and promising to keep in touch, the rest of us loaded into 2 cars and headed to the Basilica. What a memorable afternoon.
Teresa, Aunt Adele, Govanna, Jean, Benedetto, Nona Carolina, Carolina
Jean, Carolina and Susie
What a gorgeous place. This is where the tomb of St. Paul is located. There is just no way to describe these churches. Gilded gold painting, Fresco paintings and many statutes. There is no way to describe this. You really have to see it! Aunt Adele was staying for mass and Teresa had plans with friends. We thought that they would be taking us back to Rome to our hotel. It was 6 p.m. and we didn’t want to impose any longer but Susie observed that Govanna wanted the reunion to continue. They offered to show us more of Rome and what would we like to see. We said we would like to return to the three fountain square in hopes that the lights would be on and they were. So the five of us continued our tour.
Aunt Adele, Jean and Nona Carolina
Gevonna, Jean and Benedetto
St. Paulo Basilica
Stay tune for our evening in Rome with the Riccotti family
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