Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's birthday. She normally doesn't like me telling her age, so I will honour that request today. My mother was born in the little Italian village of San Sisto which belongs

to the municipality of San Vincenzo La Costa, in the province of Cosenza, region Calabria. She came from a poor family, with two brothers, the oldest who is now in Heaven, the youngest who lives in Toronto, and one older sister. I grew up very close to my mother's side of the family, and enjoyed the benefits of being half Italian, and half Irish decent. I am a Canadian Roman Catholic, and my family on both sides are Roman Catholic. My mother met my father in Chicago, in their high school and married at the early age of 20 and 21. They are still happily married and the grandparents of a little boy.

I remember my mother's father, and my mother's step mom very well. My mother's natural mom passed away when she was a young girl, and even though I never met my Nona, I have always felt a strange connection with my ancestor in this way. My mother has always kept her memory alive throughout my life, so that when I meet her in Heaven, I will already feel like she is my friend and Nona. My mother's father John, was the kindest man I ever knew. I meet him many times growing up, but because his English was very weak, the only real conversations I had with him despite my mom's translation was "I love you." When my Nono (Grandfather) passed away I was too weak to attend his funeral, but my memories of my righteous grandfather will never pass. He was a good father and a provider, even after his wife passed away he was able to keep my mother's family together despite many hardships. 

The Italian culture that I was exposed to growing up was very healthy, especially the family and the food. Every time I would go to my two uncle's for a visit it was always a celebration. I grew up in Toronto, and the GTA and as a little child I remember falling fast asleep in the car ride home feeling so peaceful and so happy. I have always been very close to my cousins, and they showed me all the cool things about being a kid like what rock or pop bands to listen to etc. I remember always acting goofy and silly at one of my uncle's houses. Both my uncles were barbers, so I never had to pay for a hair cut growing up. 

Toronto has changed a lot since I was a child, and my family has gotten smaller, but I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for my mother. She instilled in me a natural confidence, which my father affirmed most of the time, but if I could sum up my mother's life to this point, it would be grace. She gave me the freedom to seek the God that I wanted and even though my parents brought me up Catholic, it was never forced upon me. At a very early age I chose the religion of my parents. I love my heritage, and I pray that God would protect it always. I hope you have a great birthday today mom. This is Mike.