From Shelley ...

This was an email from Shelley ... I loved it and thought it would be a great addition to the

Italy Blog!!!

FRIENDS: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Move out when they're 28, having saved for that nice house (I think this only applies to the male-italians ... Mama's cookin' is just too good! :0)

FRIENDS: When their mom visits them she brings a nice bunt cake and you sip coffee and chat.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: When their mom visits them she brings 3 days worth of food and begins to immediately tidy up, dust, do the laundry or rearrange the furniture. (And we are SOOOOO thankful for this!!!! .... and the wine too, Pop!! When are you guys coming up again?)

FRIENDS: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them and its usually only on special occasions.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Are not at all fazed when their dads come over, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00am and start pruning the trees with a chainsaw or renovating the garage. (Ah ... if only my Dad lived closer :0)

By the way, my father is IBA

Italian By Association!!

FRIENDS: You can leave your kids with them and you always worry if everything is going to be ok plus you have to feed them after you pick them up.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: No problem, leave the kids there and if they get out of line the Italian friend can set them straight...plus they get fed. (AMEN! We need all the help we can get!)

FRIENDS: Always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done. ITALIAN FRIENDS: Just call their dad or uncle and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal, know what I mean? (This runs in Tony's family too!)

FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect cake and coffee, no more.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect an antipasto, a few bottles of wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread, potatoes, a nice dessert cake, fruit, coffee and a few after dinner drinks...time permitting there will be a late lunch as well. (The late lunch is the best part! ... and the POLENTA and GNOCCHIS are missing from this list!)

FRIENDS: Think that being ITALIAN is a great thing.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Know that being ITALIAN is a great thing (Salut!)

FRIENDS: Never ask for food
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food. (There's ALWAYS enough food to share!)

FRIENDS: Will say hello
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss. (There's not enough huggin' and kissin' in the world! .... and if you've been labelled a "coootie" you get a pinch on your cheek too - even if you're in your 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's .... my great-grandmother was 102 when she died - she pinched everybody! :0)

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad. (Actually, it's more like 'Non' and 'Pop')

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Cry with you. (And Tony wonders where we get this from?)

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together (The dishes can wait!!!!!)

FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours. (Now I can justify this behaviour - finally!!!!)

FRIENDS: know a few things about you.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you. (Yet, we're all afraid they will!)

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' a-- that left you. (That is definately our big sister, Shelley - God bless her!)

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, I'm home! (And aren't we? Come on! Whadyoogonnado, eh?!)

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Are for life. (La Famiglia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)