Birth of the 'Immigrants' Daughter'

                                                            ©2010 by Rexino Mondo

Time passed. Gaetano was in his twenties and proud to be an American. As he enthusiastically watched the San Francisco Fourth of July parade one year, he caught sight of a young pretty lady on the other side of the street. He tried to cross over, but the continuous marching bands never seemed to give him an opening. The pretty lady was Maria Longo, and was known as “Mary,” a designer, model, seamstress, and an Italian immigrant from Salina. Her outstanding outfit and gait gave creditability to her talent as a designer and model.


As Mary moved through the crowd on the other side of the street, Gaetano followed on his side. At times she’d be lost in an enthusiastic multitude pushing to catch a glimpse of the next moving ensemble. She noticed him waiving to her. She smiled and hustled along through the mob. When he lost sight of her, he started running, trying to get through all the spectators. When the parade fi nally ended, he crossed over. She was nowhere in sight. Disappointed, he turned to leave and there she was, looking in a store window with her back to him. The sun, reflecting off the window, vividly outlined her hourglass figure. She saw his refl ection in the window coming toward her. Just as he started to speak, Mary turned, smiled, and said, “What took you so long?” Mary, always calm, in control, and with a good sense of humor, loved the fl irtation. He walked her home and met her parents.

In 1913, after months of proper courtship, a shave, and a haircut, they were married in a very formal church ceremony. A huge Italian reception brought forth the best wines, champagnes, all the Italian food one could eat, and extraordinary petit Italiano pastries. The orchestra’s musicians were made up of Gaetano’s relatives who came from everywhere. Swirling bustles under long, colorful gowns mated to black tuxedos with tails, glided across the dance floor with Gaetano and Mary in the center of the waltzing wheel.


Their love soon led to the birth of the immigrants’ daughter on November 15. She was their first child, Anna Maria Mirabito, born under the sign of Scorpio, descendant of the Rabito Knights and dukes of Palermo, and was named Princess Anna Maria of Lipari by order of King Vitorio Emanuele II.


Gaetano handed out cigars to all his customers and friends and a box of cigars to his special friend, Amadeo Giannini. Anna Maria was baptized at Saint Peter and Paul’s Church. Her parents called her Anna for short. As Anna grew, she spent almost every day with the lady in the upper flat learning Italian. At the end of each lesson, if Anna got a good grade, she was permitted to choose one of the special candies from a large bowl that sat in the center of the table, allowing Anna to ogle while learning. Anna was able to speak fluent Italian before she spoke much English. By the time she started first grade, she had mastered both and was curious to know how her mama designed and made outfi ts from all the many yards of colorful materials. Anna was full of energies and curiosities. She wanted to know everything and she was in to everything.