What I've Been Waiting For

 

Papa and Nonna (in my locket)

One of the main reasons we decided to take this trip is to meet and get to know my family in Italy. My Italian heritage played a part in my upbringing (especially where my Nonna and Papa were concerned), but not as big an influence as I would have liked now that I’m older. I feel like I’ve missed out on something that I’m entitled to, that I’ve missed out on something that is intrinsic to who I am. It’s taken me 26 years to get to this point, and I wouldn’t give up this opportunity for anything. So I guess, part of the reason I am here is to gain something back that might have otherwise died with my grandparents; our connection to Italy.

Meeting my family was all I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been in contact with my cousin, Gabriele, for the past couple of months, trying to coordinate our visit to Villa Latina. When he picked Erich and me up from the train station in Cassino with two big kisses and a classic pinch of my cheek (just like my Nonna used to do), I knew we would get along splendidly.  He promptly had us over for a big Italian meal cooked for us by his lovely and lively girlfriend, Rosetta. Gabriele became our guide for everything in Villa Latina and neighboring Atina, and became our most helpful link to the past. Gabriele and his family lived in Scotland for 17 years and when he speaks English he has a thick but adorable Scottish accent with an Italian twist. After World War II when Italy was in a state of great poverty and economic hardship, he and his side of the family were part of a big immigration to Scotland, while my grandparents were part of the immigration to Michigan. Gabriele and his family moved back to Italy some time ago and Gabriele kept in close touch with my Nonna and Papa and looked after their property.

The view from Atina (near Villa Latina)

Gabriele took us to Nonna and Papa’s old house (I’ll get to that more later) and to my Papa’s family’s cantina where the whole family used to work and live. I can’t even describe how amazing it was to see where they lived and worked, and hear stories about each family member. For example, I always knew my Papa’s nickname, Mesquite Papalone (I don't even know how to translate this...mesquite because he was small, and papalone is like big papa, don't ask me), but I never knew that he was known to so many people as such. Gabriele would introduce me to the older people of the village as the granddaughter of Mesquite and they would instantly make a connection. My Papa was a small framed man with a big personality, and he made friends with everyone so I shouldn't be surprised that his reputation spanned throughout the village despite the fact that he hadn't actually lived there in many years. I also learned that my Dad was called Gerarducho, a nickname I’ve been using to its full potential since I learned of it! His family here still knows him as Gerarduch.

Villa Latina and Atina were beautiful. Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, the area was a quiet and peaceful break from the city with some great hiking and beautiful River Melfa. With such a pretty landscape all around it was impossible not to find a buona vista in every direction. This place is packed with history all its own, and on one of the trails just up from Atina's Centro Storico, we found a little stone hut in the forest, that we first thought might have been a well, but after using our brilliant archeological skills (for us, also known as common sense), we deduced that it was likely part of an old house (because it has a doorway). We're pretty smart cookies. Anyway, there are tons of cool old structures and artifacts (and little lizards) around every corner.

I have so much more to say on my time in Atina and Villa Latina. Much more than I have the time or patience to write about on this blog, but suffice it to say if the rest of this trip goes to hell in a hand basket, after visiting my family here, seeing where my Dad was born and where my Grandparents and their families lived for many years, it all will have already been worth it. Next up: Nonna and Papa's House!