Wow!!!  How true.  We're the last generation to share our past heritage.

If you're not Italian some of these things may seem a little strange.
BUT if you are, this is a nice reflection back to the way things used to be...

Per tutta la famiglia mia e gli amici, ti amo oggi, domani e  sempre

To all my family and friends I love you today, tomorrow and always.

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Drawing from tom on 8/21/2009

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42  Things In The Life  Of  An Italian Child
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01.  You have at least one relative who wore a black dress
       every day for an  entire year after a funeral 

02.  You spent your entire childhood thinking what you ate
       for lunch was  pronounced "sangwich." 

03.  Your family dog understood Italian.

04.  Every Sunday afternoon of your childhood was spent
       visiting your  grandparents and extended family. 
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05.  You've experienced the phenomena of 150 people
       fitting into 50 square feet of yard during a family cookout. 

06.  You were surprised to discover the FDA recommends
       you eat three meals a day, not seven. 

07.  You thought killing the pig each year and having salami,
       capacollo,  pancetta and prosciutto hanging out to dry
       from your shed ceiling was absolutely normal.
       (Wow, that's really Italian!)

08.  You ate pasta for dinner at least three times a week, and
       every Sunday, and laughed at the commercial for
       Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti day. 

09.  You grew up thinking no fruit or vegetable had a fixed
       price and that  the price of everything was negotiable
       through haggling. 

10.  You were as tall as your grandmother by the age of seven. 

11.  You thought everyone's last name ended in a vowel. 

12..  You thought nylons were supposed to be worn
        rolled to the ankles. 
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13.  Your mom's main hobby is cleaning.

14.  You were surprised to find out that wine was actually sold in stores. 

15.  You thought that everyone made their own tomato  sauce. 

16.  You never ate meat on Christmas Eve or any Friday for that matter.. 
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17..  You ate your salad after the main course.

18.  You thought Catholic was the only religion in the world.

19.  You were beaten at least once with a wooden spoon or broom. 

20.  You thought every meal had to be eaten
       with a hunk of bread in your hand. 
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21.  You can understand Italian but you can't speak it. 

22.  You have at least one relative who came over on the boat. 

23.  All of your uncles fought in a World War. 
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24.  You have at least six male relatives named
       Tony, Frank, Joe or Louie. 

25.  You have relatives who aren't really your relatives. 

26.  You have relatives you don't speak to.  Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! 

27.  You drank wine before you were a teenager.

28.  You relate on some level, admit it, to the Godfather
       and the Sopranos.   I maka a meata ball you can't
       refuse!  Forrgetttabbboutit!  Badda bing! 
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29.  You grew up in a house with a yard that didn't
       have one patch of dirt that didn't have a flower
       or a vegetable growing out of it. 

30.  Your grandparent's furniture was as comfortable as
       sitting on plastic.  Wait!!!! You were sitting on plastic. 

31.  You thought that talking loud was normal. 
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32.  You thought sugared almonds and the Tarantella
       were common at all weddings.

33.  You thought everyone got pinched on the cheeks
       and money stuffed in their pockets by their relatives. 

34.  Your mother is overly protective of the males in the
       family no matter what their age. 

35.  There was a crucifix in every room of the house. 

36.  Wakes would be held in someone's living room. 

37.  You couldn't date a boy without getting approval
       from your father. (Oh, and he had to be Italian) 

38..  You called pasta "macaroni".

39.  You dreaded taking out your lunch at school

40.  Going out for a cup of coffee usually meant going
       out for a cup of coffee over Zia's house. 
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41.  Every condition, ailment, misfortune, memory loss and
       accident was attributed to the fact that you didn't eat something..

42..  Those of you who get this  .  .  .  YOU  KNOW who to pass it on to!