Who Said You Have to be Italian when Growing-Up-Italian?Growing-Up-Italian when your not Italian... Before I married, I had no clue what old school Italian was. Italian or any other ethnic race or nationality never factored in my life. After all, I knew little about my own mother other than she was a German World War II war bride. My father is of Danish decent, but all he knew was America too. There was no old school in my house. It was strictly you're American. No whining. In our household, to be an American, you took care of your family by working hard. We were not growing-up-italian or any other nationality! Since my mother had no one except my father, she grew close to my fathers' brothers and sisters, became a friend, confidant, and helped when they needed moral support and assistance. In today's terms, Mom was paying it forward, and my father was right there with her. As a child, none of this was ever presented other than a visit to see my cousins. And for 23 years I grew up as an American and my Father and Uncles' who fought with men who were growing-up-italian and were from the "Greatest Generation", never let me forget that.
Custom Search
My mother, God bless her soul, was German. She was proud of her heritage, but after the war, she came to America to build a new life.
While proud of her heritage, her mission was to learn the ways of America and learn how to speak English. After all, that is the Official Language of this country, right? Mom learned English and the American way and entered the workforce almost immediately. She learned to read and write English and became an Executive Secretary for a large manufacturer until her untimely passing in the early seventies. My brother and I were not taught or spoken to in German because Mom had to learn English. It was the American way and we were not growing-up-italian. She worked and succeeded in the American dream....
Custom Search
I was in the Military at the time she passed. It was unfair my mother's life was cut short at such a young age. I barely got to know her... And it was from that time I knew I was on my own and soon realized my mother was the glue that held our family together, and that she saved me from myself. My mother taught me values I carry with me to this day although the pain of not having a parent to guide you even though you are old enough taught me to persevere. But I got some help along the way. I became part of an Italian family and started growing-up-italian! My new bride was full-blooded Italian! Little did I know I would be embraced so warmly by this new found family. There always was a warm welcome whenever I stepped foot in the door. And this is how I met Chris' grandmother, Louise, of whom I came to adore.
Custom Search
Chris started cooking after a few months of marriage, and since she liked to eat, we always ate well. I would never leave for Reserves or go on a contract job without eating at the house first (owned my own business at 25 years old). As Chris' grandmother got into the years, we started an endeavor that for us is her legacy. As rough as it was, we published a cookbook titled Recipes from Louise. It represented a small cross section of the recipes she had in her recipe box. In addition, to this day we have not been able to decipher the remaining recipes she made. Maybe this is what growing-up-Italian does to you?
Custom Search
Her recipes are not only what you gain from Louise, as her recipe for life was about caring and sharing. As we got into the recipes, we found ingredients or steps either missing or omitted... Not sure if this was on purpose or in error. In any event, the book represented the ones we enjoyed most and went to print. As our marriage grew, so did the number of occasions we had for getting together. My new family was great. Everyone got along and welcomed me warmly. I met so many of Chris's family, learned about life, living and had some great times. Fast forward to today... Most of my gowing-up-Italian elders passed. Those who are with us today are secure and either have their children or other close family members caring for them including my father, stepmother, and father-in-law. However, we come to a crossroad now...
Custom Search
It has been wonderful yet heart-breaking growing up Italian. The large family gatherings are too few to mention now. My father and stepmother are living in New York close to her son. As for Chris and I, we take care of her father and we still work full-time. In retrospect, I look at them and growing-up-Italian and feel the emotion of growing old. I have succeded in becoming a parent! My Italian family reaffirmed what my mother taught me. Work hard and do good along the way. So I continue growing up Italian which for me is putting this website together so Chris and I can share a small part of our lives with you.
Custom Search
For Chris and I, it has been a lifetime of personal satisfaction, caring for all we meet while becoming friends. So we encourage you to become part of our Easy-Everyday-Cooking-Recipes.net family. Bookmark this page and come back often. A lifetime of achievement can be celebrated and recognized with a few easy everyday actions, like submitting a recipe and some fun facts about yourself. Your recipes for life and food will be shared with all who come. Join Today and Come Back Often. Your American, German, Danish Italian guy... John P.S. - I toiled over giving you a very short "about me" growing up Italian, but being the "whole-brained" person I am, I lost! After all, you might not have seen your reflection or identified parts of your life that are the same as mine...
Custom Search
See what Growing-Up-Italian is to us.
|
