Tuesday January 14, 2020
Weather 47°F/8°C in Roma, Lazio, Italia
Buonagiornata,
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| La Famiglia |
The Italian phrase means All
Good Things Must End! And so, as this journey to my beloved Roma enters its
final week, a bit of reflection is in order. I have been coming here since
2005, and since 2013 for increasingly longer periods of time, until I feel like
a true ex-patriate, living in a world not completely my own, but fascinating
none the less. This is my sixth in my series of Rome Diaries, titled Il
Bambino! In Alexander’s honor. My new grandson Alexander is a pure joy! I
dread the flight back over the Atlantic, but some mysterious force keeps pulling
me back here, and I return time after time like a moth to a flame. For Rome has
become my second home.
I missed Marsha Cincinnati’s Rome
Comedy Club Night at the Makai. I had just arrived and was staying at The
Penthouse, before my move to La Casa Grilli on Laurentina. So, with Michael
and Laura preoccupied with all things Alexander, I begged Marsha’s pardon and
promised her that I would catch her next show, which I presumed would be in December.
But I hadn’t considered the fact that she might head back to the U.S. for the
holidays. The result of our two ships passing in the night act was that
I did not catch up with her until one weekend at Michael and Laura’s when I was
finally able to give her the giant bottle of Melatonin Gummi Bears that I had brought all the way from the H-E-B
supermarket in Cedar Park, Texas especially for her. So, we at least had a
chance to catch up. And, I swore that I would be in the front row at Comedy
Night the next time I came to Rome. (Which, hopefully, will be in the Spring of
the year, when it is neither too hot-like last Summer; or too cold-like it is
this trip).
This is the second time I’ve
spent the Christmas Holidays in Italy. The first time was 2013. Like every
holiday this was a little different. For one thing, Alexander is here now, so
that meant no winter holiday in Selci, in Sabina, at Sergio and AnnaMaria’s
place in the country. So, we spent Christmas Eve at dinner at Tiziana and Pino’s
apartment, a few doors down from Michael and Laura. Tiziana and Pino are part
of the extended family. Tiziana can be likened to Laura’s big sister. Dina,
Tiziana’s mom is a neighbor of Sergio and AnnaMaria. Following our Christmas
Eve repast, we exchanged gifts. I’m happy to say most of the gifts were for
Alexander, who snoozed in his stroller a few feet away. The next time the same
group came together was January 6th, for La Befana, the Epiphany.
This time, we were joined by Chiara, Laura’s sister, and her husband, Maurizio
and their little girl – Noemi. Formal Italian meals usually run five to seven
courses, and I have long-since learned NOT to take second helpings of anything!
However, at the conclusion of our Befana repast, I found myself beyond
stuffed!
When the holiday meals falls to Michael and Laura to prepare, a blending of Italian and American cuisine is evident. Some years ago, my son introduced Thanksgiving to his Italian relatives. Not only did he introduce the concept of Thanksgiving, but he did it with a whole roast turkey! (Tacchino Arrosto) No turkey parts for him. Since his visit to Texas in 2016, Michael has been heavily influenced by the Texas style of barbecuing which includes the art of SMOKING. This year, he ordered two Turkeys. One, he smoked. The other, he deep-fried. VOILA! A star is born! Texans traditionally spend many long hours tending their smokers. Not my son.
He has an “app”
on his laptop that is connected somehow to a circulating fan that maintains the
correct temperature as the meat smokes. It’s bound to catch on back home in
Texas.
My friend and
onetime landlady, Amina, has left on one of her adventures – this time to
Vietnam. She had just returned to Rome from hiking in Norway; and with her two
sons, spent a month in Spain and Portugal. During the Christmas holidays she was
visiting with her family in Paris! The gal certainly gets around! When
she was planning her Vietnam adventure, I remarked that the memories of most
Americans about Vietnam are not pleasant because of the war, and I mentioned my
brother Packy, who flew combat missions in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force.
(How I sweated until he returned safely). But Amina was undeterred by my recollections
and flew off to Hanoi on her first stop. In her first photos she sent back was
a group of school children that Amina had been collecting school supplies for.
So, I learned for the first time that my friend had an ulterior motive for
making the trip.
 |
| Amina and Friend! |
Last Sunday,
my son invited me over to spend some time with Alexander and made it clear that
I was to walk. So, at the appointed hour, I set out. Crossing Via Laurentina, I
made my way to Viale Cesare Pavese, walked along for a while, turned left at
the shop with the sign that reads Fiori e Pianti, and headed up the hill
to the next left turn. I think you get the idea – it’s a long walk. As I took
my life in crossing Viale Carlo Levi, Amina checked in on Whatsapp from
Vietnam. Hi! What are you doing? She inquired. I’m hiking to Mike and
Laura’s house, I replied. Good!
You need the exercise! She texted. You
sound like my son! I texted back. She sent me her latest pictures as if t
say I’m having more fun! (I couldn’t argue with that. I was drenched in
sweat and still had two kilometers before I reached my destination). When I
reached Michael and Laura’s house, I found the smoker giving off the smoky
aroma of ribs and discovered that I was in for another family gathering, which
is what Italians do on a Sunday - La Famiglia!
Alexander, it
seems, is a very popular little fellow. Until the novelty of a new baby wears
thin, everyone wants to spend time with Alexander. Including me. I love the
little guy, but at that moment I am a soggy, sweaty mess from my hike. (Especially
that last hill – which is a killer). So, before I knew it, the doorbell was ringing.
Marsha was already there, so I finally was able to give her Gummi’s to her. The
doorbell delivered (In no particular order), Beppe; Chiara and Nöemi;
Sergio and AnnaMaria. The whole gang! The little guy was brought
into the living room to all the Oohs! And Ahhss! That only a family and close
friends can muster and passed around like a new toy – which he is. When we
finally sat down for dinner, it was apparent that Michael had worked his magic
again. The meat was falling away from the rib bones and the aroma of wood smoke
wafted through the air. After dinner, Beppe grabbed his guitar and Michael got
his Ukulele and the two stars of No Funny Stuff treated us all to a
sample of the songs that have made NFS famous all over Italy.
The
serenade was the climactic moment of another perfect Roman Day.
Ciao, MikeBo
[Mike Botula, the author of LST
920: Charlie Botula’s Long, Slow Target! is a former broadcast journalist,
government agency spokesperson and media consultant. Mike’s book is available from Amazon Books.
You can read more about Mike Botula at www.mikebotula.com]
© By Mike Botula 2020
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