My five foot one inch Uncle Giuseppe, also called Biggie, would strut around town like a big shot and a Casanova with just a few pennies rattling in his pockets. Poor Papa worried incessantly about Giuseppes soul.
It no look-a so good, hed say to Mama, I wanna to meet ALL my-a children in the next-a world.
Let us first get-a through this-a world, sighed Mama. No you-a worry, Papa, he-a come from-a good, sturdy stock.
Giuseppe would almost have to for all the dalliances he supposedly had. A man couldnt work if he
hey, come to think of it, Biggie did only work sporadically. Oh, he had his own crew of men who worked construction with him and sometimes he would be high up on a scaffold when out of nowhere, a car would pull up, honk and Biggie would practically break his neck scrambling down the ladder and disappearing into the back seat of the car with a
. You never saw him again until a much slower, tired man now ascended the scaffold, and with his face and forefinger practically up his workers nostrils hed begin with his spiel.
Ya didnt see nothin, ya didnt hear nothin, you dont know nothin, got it gang? he threatened. Hey Tony, whatd ya see?
Nothin, Big B.
Phi, whatd ya hear?
Heard nothin, Giuseppe.
Lou, what do ya know?
Know nothin, Boss.
Good! Remember, one word out of your stinkin mouths and youre all fired! And Ill see to it ya never work in this area again! Hed then slap them all on the back. Nice havin you aboard, boys.
Tell me my uncle wasnt a character---you cant. Its not like you have to condone what a skunk does, but you have to look at the whole picture of a person to get it into proper focus. Yes, he could be a lying scoundrel like when he pretended to be in college studying art. Papa senthim tuition money but he squandered it on wine, women and the horses. Yes, Uncle Giuseppe embarrassed the family, but theres a true story that he probably even made the Blessed Mother blush, that is, if she was in human form. You see, Uncle Giuseppe was commissioned by the Catholic Church to touch up the saints delicate faces in our areas churches altars. He had a skilled hand when he painted intricate things because he was articulate with detail. How a hyper shrimp could funnel such patience when working was a mystery to all. He certainly was a contradiction in character. He also couldnt work without a cigarette constantly dangling from his mouth. Of course you couldnt smoke in church, but Big B altered the rules to suit his needs and wants. Beside, Mass wasnt going on and the church was empty. Nobody would know except God, and Giuseppe always bargained with Him anyway. Off to the side was a statue of the Blessed Virgin holding the baby Jesus. Two of her fingers were positioned in the shape of a V, and while he needed two hands to mix his paint, he had to find a place for his cigarette. You guessed it, he propped it in between the Blessed Mothers two fingers, and the smoke encircled her head like a crown. Just then Monsignor walked in and paled at the sight.
You leave her alone! ordered Giuseppe, Shes old enough to smoke!
Incredibly Monsignor didnt fire him, it was like a miracle. There was something about the little twerp everybody liked. That something? Just wait till you hear what he did for Papa. (to be continued)
To read more of Karens previous articles, please visit
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Saturday, February 6. 2010
Dear John...
Dear John, the letter started, as most letters that end a chapter begin.
The phrase was believed to be coined during World War II when wives and girlfriends in the United States met another partner and would end their relationship with their old boyfriend or husband who was stationed overseas or in another part of the country.
A friend of mine, Jen, told me about Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. That was before the holidays. I decided Id read it. I read A Walk To Remember, The Choice, At First Sight, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. I was somewhat of a fan of Sparks work. Yes, it is chick lit at its finest, but when you need a skewer of hope to last a few days you pick up a Sparks novel and immerse yourself in the plot. PLus, at that point I could use a good, sappy book.
When I got done reading the novel I had mixed feelings. Normally I ultimately decide in the final sentence if I really liked it or not, but Dear John was different. It left me thinking. A few days later I came to the conclusion that I loved the book.
It is about time not being on each of the lovers side and hope slowly fading for his and her return to their arm.
Sometimes if the stars are not aligned its just time to say goodbye. Its time to end something that could never really be anything. To keep hope in your heart for something that does not exist or will not exist as it would have already happened if it should happen is torturous to ones soul. Let things go. Move on to bigger and better things. If the commitments not there, it wont ever be.
Yesterday, Friday, February 5, Dear John, the movie, opened in area theatres. Of course I had to see it.
During the movie I was a little disappointed I will admit. The movie, although I knew was inevitable, was nothing like the book. I thought minor changes would be done, but not complete story changes. The meat and potatoes of the plot was still there, but the structures and how the outcomes were attained were not like the novel.
As separate entities they are extraordinary stories. If you go see the movie, comparing it to the novel, youll be disappointed. See it with an open mind.
Dear John really explores the dynamics of a long distance relationship and the fact that one allegiance can be broken because of another.
Sometimes life doesnt let you choose what you want to do, but what you need to do to survive, which is not always a bad thing. One must decide though if either you can live with your choice. Can you pick between love and duty, or surviving or taking a leap of faith? Which would you choose? Could you let someone you loved go so that they could move on with their lives while you stayed in the state that was most comfortable to you?
Letting go is the ultimate test of love.
Dear John, both the novel and movie, I give two thumbs up.
The phrase was believed to be coined during World War II when wives and girlfriends in the United States met another partner and would end their relationship with their old boyfriend or husband who was stationed overseas or in another part of the country.
A friend of mine, Jen, told me about Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. That was before the holidays. I decided Id read it. I read A Walk To Remember, The Choice, At First Sight, The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe. I was somewhat of a fan of Sparks work. Yes, it is chick lit at its finest, but when you need a skewer of hope to last a few days you pick up a Sparks novel and immerse yourself in the plot. PLus, at that point I could use a good, sappy book.
When I got done reading the novel I had mixed feelings. Normally I ultimately decide in the final sentence if I really liked it or not, but Dear John was different. It left me thinking. A few days later I came to the conclusion that I loved the book.
It is about time not being on each of the lovers side and hope slowly fading for his and her return to their arm.
Sometimes if the stars are not aligned its just time to say goodbye. Its time to end something that could never really be anything. To keep hope in your heart for something that does not exist or will not exist as it would have already happened if it should happen is torturous to ones soul. Let things go. Move on to bigger and better things. If the commitments not there, it wont ever be.
Yesterday, Friday, February 5, Dear John, the movie, opened in area theatres. Of course I had to see it.
During the movie I was a little disappointed I will admit. The movie, although I knew was inevitable, was nothing like the book. I thought minor changes would be done, but not complete story changes. The meat and potatoes of the plot was still there, but the structures and how the outcomes were attained were not like the novel.
As separate entities they are extraordinary stories. If you go see the movie, comparing it to the novel, youll be disappointed. See it with an open mind.
Dear John really explores the dynamics of a long distance relationship and the fact that one allegiance can be broken because of another.
Sometimes life doesnt let you choose what you want to do, but what you need to do to survive, which is not always a bad thing. One must decide though if either you can live with your choice. Can you pick between love and duty, or surviving or taking a leap of faith? Which would you choose? Could you let someone you loved go so that they could move on with their lives while you stayed in the state that was most comfortable to you?
Letting go is the ultimate test of love.
Dear John, both the novel and movie, I give two thumbs up.
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