Happy 60th Birthday!!
It all started…
September 11th, 60 years ago, when Rosa, was born in Italian Harlem, New York. She was the first one in her family born in the United States from Italy. Her dad was a mason worker building houses, and helping build the foundation to the Twin Towers. Her mom was a stay at home mom (because let’s face it, that was the role of a “right off the boat” Italian wife, and there is nothing wrong with being a stay at home mom).
She went to…
an ‘All Girl Catholic School’ (because boys were evil), and when she graduated going to college was not an option because “only bad girls go to college”. In order to leave the house marriage was the next step. Rosa explains when she started to date her first husband, Carmelo, there was a sit down between the two families, and her father asked Carmelo, “What is your intention with my daughter?” (Could you imagine that happening now a day?!?!?!)
Rosa became…
married, living in New Jersey, and soon had her first daughter, Danielle. A couple of years later, she had her favorite daughter (I mean second daughter), Amanda (the one writing the story, this is my Mom’s story). lol. Couple of years later, the whole family moved down south to Florida, right next to your sister’s house. The two families started a restaurant which ended up failing and so did the marriage.
This, is when…
I feel Rosa (my mom) grew the most as a person. She was now a single mother, and having to work for the first time in her life at Eckerd’s making just over $3.00 an hour. Her mother was there to help some; take for instant during Thanksgiving, Rosa had to work, and he mother made a whole chicken (I mean an American Holiday not an Italian holiday, still new to it all) and added “stuffing”. Not knowing what American stuffing was she made her own stuffing, the family tradition “Italian Stuffing” was born.
Over the years…
it was hard because Rosa’s oldest would always have the last word, and her youngest needed teacher parent conferences twice a year because “Words are hard” and would not stop talking. Also, to better herself, and much better hours, she became a teller at a local bank.
During the years…
her choice in men, was not great (sorry, not sorry). Her mother would try to run them off by putting water in their shoes or many different crazy things. Rosa did eventually meet a nice guy named Jim. She met him in the drive thru at the bank she worked at, and gave him a lollipop because she thought he was cute. Jim introduced the family to Florida State Football, burping, farting, goofiness, and frozen pizza. Their first date someone was running late and the babysitter was unable to stay, so Jim brought over a frozen pizza and Rosa (never cooking one in her life) cooked it with the cardboard still on.
Three years later…
(the day OJ Simpson was in the bronco) they were married. Since then, there has been many dogs; Bandit, Renegade, Rocky, and the newest ones Gibson and Fender (Oh and grand-puppies). Also, many trips to Tallahassee for football games, nights jamming out to music while Jim plays guitar, laying tile in the whole house, building so many things of furniture, road trips to the mountains, the keys, and all over Florida. There were, family gatherings at the house during Thanksgiving and Christmas, concerts, volleyball games, weightlifting meets, softball games, Disney & Universal trips, and both girls graduating high school, and college from Florida State.
She taught…
the girls, not going to college was not an option, make sure never to leaned on anyone else to take care of you, and you can build anything.
After, both of the girls…
graduated everyone moved to the west central Florida. Then, both of her daughters get married in the same year. Rosa becomes a grandmother to two amazing step grandchildren, and three young grandbabies.
Happy Birthday!!!
It has been an amazing journey to 60, and can’t wait to see what the next years have in store. Love you Mom!
