Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Lou

I don’t know what to say. One of my favorite relatives passed away. Lou was one of relatives we (I’m speaking for my brother and sister) loved when we were kids. I think the best thing was that he and his family lived in Cleveland and us in Cincinnati. There is this strange love-hate relationship between Cincinnati and Cleveland. Why do the North and the South never get along(in this case Ohio)? We could always joke with him and his brother Tony about why Cleveland sucks and Cincinnati was great.
Anyway we didn’t see him all the time but they were close enough that he and his brother would be down for smallest anniversary or holiday gathering. My mom still remembers when he drove from Cleveland to Cincinnati as soon as he got his driver’s license. He was part of that big extended Italian family thing that made holidays at Nonna’s house so cool. He will be missed but we will always remember him. Still, it starts to hurt when you think about how we can never have those amazing holidays like we used to. This is why I should be in the States, so I can be there to pay my respects. Sometimes being an Expat sucks, like Cleveland!

I guess I need a little Pliny the Elder to help me out “Assuredly, only he who is always mindful of the frailty of man will weigh life in a fair balance.”


LOUIS V. PALLOTTA, age 76. Beloved husband of Susan (nee Toth). Loving father of Louis M (deceased) (Ann), Robert (Diane), Ellen Neel (Keith), William (Lisa) and Patrice Kilo (John). Cherished grandfather of Janice, Christine, Louis, Michael, Andrea, Emily, Keith, Kelly, Matthew, John and Nicholas. Dear brother of Anthony and the late Josephine Englebry. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Parkinson Disease Research. U. S. Army Korean Conflict Veteran. Former ARCA stock car racing champion.

Friday, June 08, 2007

More Italian!

So I brook down and did it, finally. Something I never, ever thought I would do but I could see coming for some months now. My old fashioned midwestern values gave in to the influence of Italy, again.
What did I do last night?
I admit it.
I bought a “European Carry All” to quote Seinfeld.
That’s right. I bought a man purse. I have many reasons for doing this and it doesn’t make me gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that!
OK, here are my rationalizations for the purse, I mean bag:
1. I have two cell phones to carry and I’m thinking about getting a third.
2. The pants I buy in Italy seem to be tighter and things don’t fit in the pockets very well.
3. It’s summer and I don’t have a jacket with pockets to carry stuff.
4. I would like to have my digital camera with me more often.
5. When I can fit my phones in my pockets it doesn’t look good. Is that a Nokia in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?
6. Many men have them here so I won’t be laughed at or beat up over this. Besides, I’ve been going to the gym so I could probably beat up anybody that makes fun of me. “C’รจ cazzo mi sta wuardi?” (What the hell are you looking at? in Brindisino)
7. I can now carry my sunglasses case and stop beating up the most expensive pair of sunglasses that I’ve ever owned. Although, that’s not saying much if you know my past.
8. It may actually help me stay more organized. Wait, I guess it could lead to more disorder. I can hear myself saying; “I know that was in my bag yesterday!”
9. I will feel more Italian as no American man would carry a bag.
10. ….

Maybe I’ll put up a photo of it sometime when I’m more comfortable with it. Feel free to add to my list of why it’s ok for me to carry a bag!!