DIARIO DI ROMA VI
Una Questione Importante per la Famiglia! (A Matter of Importance to the Family!)
Sunday November 10, 2019
Partly Cloudy 62°F/ 17°C in Roma, Latium, Italia
Buonagiornata,
This first edition of my Rome Diary VI centers around a blessed event in the blended families of Botula and
Tomei!
 |
| Laura and Michael |
When I arrived in the Eternal
City last May to begin my regular two-month stay in Italy, mia nuora,
(daughter-in-law) Laura, casually mentioned that her parents – Sergio and
Annamaria – were traveling in the Holy Land but would return from their travels
in time for us all to get together for pizza the following Saturday. And, so we
did. And, on THAT occasion as the five of us chomped on pizza margherita e
pizza con salsiccia e verdura, Michael and Laura made the announcement that
their little family would be growing by the addition of un bambino in November. They had waited
until they could share the good news with all three of their son’s grandparents.
(Sadly, Michael’s mother, Donna, had passed away in 2010). And so, that’s what brings
me back to Roma in November, for my new grandson, Alexander’s first Christmas!
My apologies to my own grandfather,
Karel Botula, BUT, his great-great-great grandson Alexander will be born ITALIAN!
I can only imagine how Karel and
Johana Botula might feel after they struggled so hard to make it to AMERICA,
and participate in the AMERICAN DREAM to ensure that all of the little Botulas
that followed them would be AMERICAN CITIZENS, that they might be just a tad
disappointed, but Nonno Mike as
I’ve come to be known, happens to be delighted at the prospect of having a bona
fide Italian in la Famiglia! And, I’m happy to report to all of
my followers out there in Facebook-Land that I will be in Rome for
the joyful occasion. Among the gifts I
am bringing my new grandson: a copy of my book about his great-great grandfather
– LST 920: Charlie Botula’s Long, Slow Target!...autographed, of
course.
 |
| My Grandpa and Baby MikeBo |
Perhaps young Alexander Botula
would like to know about his dad’s side of the family? After all, Botula
certainly sounds Italian! But, it’s NOT an Italian name. The cognomen originated
in what is now the Czech Republic, in the ancient kingdom of Bohemia. At the time
that Karel and Johana emigrated to America in 1903 with their three children:
Maximillian, Karola and Frantiszka, the
country was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Karel Botula, according to one
family legend, bought into that old con artist’s tale that the streets of America
are paved with GOLD! There is no family legend about Grandpap buying the Brooklyn
Bridge with his meager savings by traveling in steerage class. I like to think
he avoided that by arriving in the Port of Philadelphia, while Johana and their
three kids got the full treatment at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. I have no
knowledge of a family legend involving Karel’s down payment on the Liberty
Bell. At any rate, the Botula family
became quickly established in the western Pennsylvania coal mining country
where Karel Botula toiled six days a week, ten or twelve hours a day as a coal
miner. Talk about starting life in America from the ground floor up! However,
the long hours underground did not stop Karel and Johana from raising their
large family. Altogether, they raised nine children to adulthood.
As I look into the little tyke’s
future from the perspective of my own long trail through life, I tend to see
his young life through his parents’ eyes. Laura is an attorney engaged in the
fine points of
business law and is currently engaged with a company recruiting
attorneys for positions at prestigious law firms. Her family has welcomed me
into their warm embrace right from my very first visit to Italy. And Laura’s
parents have made several visits to the U.S. to visit and meet their American
relatives in California as well as Texas. Alexander will find a warm welcome on both sides of the Atlantic! Michael enjoys a hyphenated career, juggling
his time between his responsibilities as an English teacher, entrepreneur with
his own tour company in Rome, and devoting what remains of his time playing
with his band No Funny Stuff! Young
Alexander has a promising future. He will be bi-lingual so he can chat with his
American cousins. He will grow up in one of the world’s historically wealthy cities,
Roma and be able to proclaim proudly, Civis Romanus Sum! And, he will be
able to carry two passports – Italian and USA. I can look down the road ahead and predict
that my new grandson will be in good hands.
 |
| La Famiglia! |
Arrivederci a tutti. Ci
vediamo presto!
MikeBo
[Mike Botula, the author of LST
920: Charlie Botula’s Long, Slow Target! is an award-winning broadcast
journalist, government agency spokesperson and media consultant. Mike’s book is available from Amazon Books.
You can read the entire Rome Diary series, plus more about Mike Botula at www.mikebotula.com]
© By Mike Botula 2020
No comments:
Post a Comment