July 01, 2003 - 6:39 p.m.
Today my father, brothers, and i made the "Token Trip to the Aunt's and Uncle's Houses." Basically, that's the part of the trip where we visit my Dad's Uncle's and Aunts. We sit, listen to them talk, eat some pizza, and walk out with some money in our pockets. So it's not a bg deal.
I never really mind going, because I hear really interesting stories sometimes. Like about how my great-great grandmother is known in Sicily because she sent supplies there, like medicine and food that was hard to come by. So if you mention her name there, even today, people are happy to take you in and feed you.
Or what about Snowball? Who the hell is Snowball, you might ask. Snowball is a friend of the family who owned a resaurant. And, oh yeah, he was in the Mafia. But he was a good man, Snowball. Just didn't want to be caught up in his business. Sad to hear he died, anyways.
I also got to hear about my Uncle John, who just died. I never knew him, but from what I've heard, this man is a saint. He was always happy, always deeply in love with his wife, Grace, who passed a year before. His family was well raised, he was a devout Catholic who truly found solace in his religion. He left grocery's on the porches of the needy, and he told my father that heaven was sitting in Church, just talking to his family.
I'm not a religious person, but the fact that people like him exist make me believe in God.
My relatives are pretty much the steotypical Italian family. It's like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, only without the Windex. When I come over, they always pinch my cheeks and tell me how tall I'm getting. And then they call me beautiful. And then they decide what parent I look like. Always. This is something you can count on.
Then they feed me, even if I don't want anything.
And then when I leave, they tell me to be a good girl, whch is Italian for, "Don't get laid or do anything else to disrespect your father's name."
I pity the man who is foolish enough to marry me. I think that's why my parents live all the way in St. Louis, they just didn't want to deal with family all the time. Not that I don't love them , it's just that...you know.
