I am from a parochial school background, 9 years in elementary and 4 years in high school,
I am from living in small places and spaces that forced us to be close; going out to dinner every Saturday night for no special reason and seeing a double feature at San Francisco’s famed Fox Theatre,
I am from saving spare change in a large jug so we could shake hands with Mickey and Minnie Mouse,
I am from garlic and basicilica, raviolis and pasta and homegrown pomodoros with handmade meatballs every Thursday night,
I am from Hail Marys and Our Fathers, Good Acts of Contrition and Stations of the Cross,
I am from gotta go to work, get two jobs if you hav’ta, we all had to do it, remember tell the truth, do your best and keep your nose clean, 
I am from a tiny island of olives and lemons in the Mediterranean; and German dairy farmers and mason carpenters from the Emerald Isle,
I am from deep family roots with a sangue mio credo never to be severed no matter what!
I am from a gift of gab, garrulous laughter, a fightin’ spirit and why don’t you eat’a sumpathin’!
I am from a world of Peggy Lee’s Fever and Dean Martin’s When the Moon hits your eye likea Big Pizza Pie that’s AMORE!
I am from football pools, flying wingtips, white socks to fight athlete’s feet and pink boxes full of hot cross buns,
I am from blue ribbon elephant garlic, eggplant parmigana, frittata and sweet French smoothered in Challenge butter,
I am from are you going to write fiction or non-fiction?
I am from simple folks, post toasties and milk in MJB coffee and boxes of red vine licorice,
I am from you can do anything you put your mind to and remember we’ll always love you no matter what!