My Dad

My dad and I, July, 1984

It seems I have shared a lot with all of you about my family, as my life is my family. So when I blog, it is only natural for me to write about them. It may be a old saying but I truly believe it, they "complete me". I guess it all starts out with my parents with the upbringing I received I was always surrounded by family.

When I look back at many, many years ago, I remember spending time with my grandfather (my dads father) and remember him being so cold. Now it could have been a language barrier as his English was not so good, he came thru Ellis Island only speaking Italian, so his English was self taught. What he spoke is what we call "broken English" which is really, English broken into somewhat Italian. So it is odd to me that my dad was the complete opposite.

See, my dad is warm and caring, and very much bigger than life. He was born in Newark, NJ in 1924. He lived a very simple life, but as he says he was always fulfilled. He lived in a flat with his family which I believe had about 4 rooms total, they were as many family's were, very squeezed in. But it seems they did not mind. He had to work at a very young age so school was not a priority, he only completed to the 5th grade, and began working odd jobs to bring home money. His spelling and reading are not up to par, because of his lack of schooling. He was drafted into World War 2, and spent 4 years in the army as a mechanic, working on the jet fighters. He can surly tell some stories, and we all listen intently with awe. My dad's first real job was as a tailor in a large factory, but that did not last long as my grandfather had opened a restaurant and needed my dad's help. So he became a chef @ Mamma Lucia's Italian Restaurant and later became the owner. We all worked there, yes including me, the restaurant provided a good life for us all and we lived very comfortable because of my dad's long hours and hard work. He did all this without the greatest of reading and writing skills, but he was determined. Every summer he would rent a house at the Jersey Shore for the entire month of August I would stay in the house with extended family, as my parents would have to go up North to work at the restaurant, they would make the drive several times during the month, however never staying longer than a week. And who could forgot the trips to Disneyworld, there were many, he would take all of us, including cousins. The memories I have of all of these great times, is because of him.

When the time came for my dream to become a reality, it was my dad that gave me my dream, his generosity allowed me to be a business owner, he believed in my dream, and gave to me freely. The gratitude for his kindness is overwhelming.

My dad and Vincent, May, 2009

His aging has definitely gotten the best of him and he surly is not the same. I find myself doing most things for him, sometimes with annoyance (as he can be very stubborn) but yet sometimes with gratitude. I now see that he looks for me to come home, or calls me at work in the middle of the day to tell me something, this something can be very minor, which can totally wait till I get home, but he feels the need to tell me asap. I listen as best I can, and try to remember the difference in him as the years past. I believe I was destined to take care of him, I believe it was in the cards. When my brother was born, my mother had decided she did not want anymore children as childbirth was to hard (my brother was 10lbs at birth). She shared this with my grandmother (her mother) and my grandmothers reply was "Sarah, you can't just have one child, you must have at least two, as if one is not my your side the other one will be" so yes, it was in the cards, my grandmother knew, she planned out my destiny without truly knowing how life would be for us.

There comes a time in life, where role reversal begins. This is the time it has begun. And as my dad took care of me, I shall do the same. I just hope I can do as good as a job as he did.

Happy Fathers Day Dad, I love you!