Today is Marinell's Birthday

By Pat Darnell

A little girl was born in a place only legends remember. Foggia, Italy is remembered by some WWII Army Air Force men who were stationed there. Some of them remember Padre Pio, and the countryside. Some old red headed East Texas men told me once when I was a middle schooler, they had met and had a conversation with Padre Pio during their stay in Foggia, Italy. It was so foreign to me in my adolescence that I filed away that city's name for some future geography test, or forget it. Guess what happened to me?

It turns out our little girl was only then a glint away from being born to a post-troubled, Mussolini-confused, 1950's Foggia, Italy. Her parents married during this very bleak time in Italian history and somehow squeaked out a life together. The two had suffered untold misery growing up and the start of their years together showed no let up.

Both had developed interesting habits because of the depressed state of the country. For instance, our little girl's mother collected things. Mamma hid glass bottles in the attic, and stockpiled other reusable things, such as cloth, jewelry, and wooden utensils. Pappa had developed a game face without equal, and a right hand of iron to defend his growing family. Pappa is known for his ability to end a fight. Their combined habits, turned talents became the skills that produced a large and beautiful family.

South Italy is to this day very dissimilar to the Northern Italy genre. Culture in Foggia is all about family, home, and agriculture. Three children were born before Marinell, and four more afterward. Marinell remembers hard times, but she dwells on the sights, feel and smell of her childhood. She remembers most going to the beach of the Mediterranean during summer break. She remembers visiting Rome at least one time. And she pines for the local food -- cheeses, sausages, and tomatoes... olive oil and buffalo cheese, as such. These memories bring smiles to our birthday girl's face. She loves to get all brown-skinned, blushed and rosy in the summer... easy to do in Texas... I feel like this is a throw back to her happy memories of earliest times. Her tanning usually peaks about this time every summer, July 13th. Hmmmm? Makes me wonder...

Going to Foggia? Well it also has its own dialect. If you are from there, you can discern Italian from Foggian dialect. If you are a visitor, you will not understand a word. No lie; and folks will laugh at you if you try to understand. Just like the USA, the Northern and Southern Italian districts are mysteriously divided into farmers in the South, and Factory workers in the North.

That's all for now. We had a celebration at Chili's in honor of Marinell's birth, and toasted all within the sound of this blog. That includes CJ, the bartender, and Colleen the waitress, who made our afternoon something extra special. SALUT'E!! ChinChin....