life's a mystery

ABC Wednesday's letter du jour is J--as in James, my dad. He was born last century in 1910 at home in his mother's kitchen and lived to be 83.

The story goes that his given name was Vincenzo. When his Italian mother called him home to dinner, Vinnie sounded like Jimmy. So he became a James. I don't quite buy it, and now all of his siblings are gone too, so I guess Jimmy it is. A moot point.
More J words, mysterious or not, here.

Hooray for new beginnings!

I just love new beginnings with a clean slate, fresh Big Chief tablet, sharp Crayons and a new typewriter ribbon. Therefore, I present my addition to ABC Wednesday's letter du jour:

A--a photo of my ancestors. The year is 1957 at the upper level of Ross Park in Pocatello, Idaho. I'm sitting between my dear Aunt Carmela** on the left and my godmother, Aunt Yolanda on my right. There's my cousin David [who I'm sure wears contacts now] with my Grandmother Filomena and Grandpa Vito. Looks like it was a birthday picnic. When you're seven and you have braids with ribbons, I'm guessing everyday is a picnic!

Visit Mrs Nesbitt for an easy 'A' as we begin Round 8, and possibly more trips down Memory Lane.

**The feel of your smooth, small arms around my neck and the
Kiss stuck to my check from the peach you just swallowed.
My head sprouting curly wires where a mane once flowed
And in the mirror it is Aunt Carmela, patron saint of garlic,
Whose face–and hair—I see.

[see the rest of my poem in the Poems tab above]

C is for Cousin

So, I'm noodling around in Google to find photos of my hometown, Pocatello, Idaho, when I run across this group shot from 1953. The caption read that it was taken at the old Bonneville Elementary School, where the post office now stands. It was a multi-story stone building with tall windows and trees that sat in those earlier neighborhoods full of blue collar families. Note the racial diversity in this photo.

Also turns out it was taken by my Uncle Fred who has owned a photo shop for many years in Pocatello and is the keeper of many of our family's and city's earlier photographic history. So it made sense that he would have taken a photo in his own neighborhood. On closer inspection I see my cousin Ronnie in the front row! Of course, I deduced, Uncle Fred must have taken this casual group shot of Ronnie's class. [All those Nancy Drew novels I read paid off!].
For more 'C's visit ABC Wednesday. Who knows who you'll see!

note to self: always buy nice shoes

Talk about red! This is a photo of my dad's brother Fred and his family Mickey, Rickie, Ronnie and Aunt Frances circa 1954. Check out her wonderful shoes! Uncle Fred, now pushing 90, has walked every day to and from his own business, and lived in the same red brick house since the 1950's.

[photo courtesy Idaho Signs]

Visit Mary the Teach to see more RED treasures at Ruby Tuesday.