©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.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Gaetano's Produce Store
San Francisco and Birth of a Business
©2009 by Rexino Mondo
papa-028x.jpg)
Gateano is on the right
Gaetano found a broken pushcart at the junk yard, worked on it until he got it in one piece, found wheels in another spot, put them all together, went to the wholesale market, bought his produce and said, “I’ma now ina business.” Every day, early in the orning, Gaetano moved from one street to another in San Francisco yelling, “Presente la frutta fa bene eh—get-tah youra fresh-a, fresh-a vegi!” Whenever he’d tell the story, he’d break up laughing. “You see-a. He was gonna put the poor thing out, how tu say, misseria? Mi pay ten dollar for-a old sway back horsa. Got more biga wood cart at junkiyard. Mi business grow more and a mora.”
One day a man came to see him. He said he was interested in helping the little guys. He loaned Gaetano enough money to have his own small produce store. He, too, was Italiano. The man’s name was Amadeo Peter Giannini, founder of the Bank of Italy (now Bank of America). Giannini and another banker visited Gaetano almost every day, sitting on crates and eating Gaetano’s grapes, but not the good ones. With their penknives, they would cut off the spoiled part of bad grapes and one by one toss them into their mouths as they told all the stories from the old world to the present, laughing and trying to top each other. Stagecoaches, the Pony Express, opera houses, gangsters, and saloon girlie shows. San Francisco’s Wild, Wild West held many stories, including the unforgettable 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
When the 1906 earthquake hit, Gaetano was seen running down the railroad tracks out of town as fast as he could. He said the tracks were bending and bowing out of shape as he ran and the shaking was worst than Mount Vesuvius. When the fires started, Gaetano was one of the men who helped move Giannini’s money and bank’s contents across the bay. Giannini and Gaetano became best friends. Gaetano’s business started to grow.
Back in New York, on April 11, 1908, the ship San Giorgio from Messina docked at Ellis Island, where Santa, age eleven, and her sister Anna, age sixteen, the duke’s daughters, were anxiously standing in line for hours as they waited to be examined. Their eyes were as big as saucers, taking everything in, and they gibbered on in Italian as they waited to see Papa’s America and feel his hugs and kisses once again.
In San Francisco, Amadeo Giannini was introducing Gaetano to the stock market. In time, Gaetano owned a fleet of trucks and was selling wholesale in three other states. With a baseball bat and his fist, he was constantly beating off racketeers who wanted protection money.
A sweet young woman came to his store, often in a flirtatious manner. Being a healthy young Italian bull, what was Gaetano to do? They started seeing each other after the store closed. Then came a diamond engagement ring, followed by a big Italian wedding. Angelique Messoni looked very attractive in her long wedding gown. Gaetano was in a tailor-made tuxedo. All his customers, a huge delegation from Chinatown, and all his Italian relatives attended. It didn’t take long for his new bride to start complaining. She was angry because Gaetano would go to bed at nine o’clock each night and get up at five in the morning to get to the produce market for the best buys. Angelique wanted to go partying all night and dance until dawn. While Gaetano was at the market, she ran off with Gaetano’s best man at his wedding and was never heard from again. Gaetano received an annulment through the Catholic Church.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Lipari - Ellis Island - Brooklyn - San Francisco
@2009 Rexino Mondo
A tall, handsome sixteen year old Italian immigrant, Gaetano Miräbito III, son of the Duke and Duchess of Palermo, arrived at Ellis Island on the twenty-fifth of March in 1902 with only a dime in his pocket, after being stiffed by one of the ship’s passengers.
Gaetano started his first job at a Brooklyn meatpacking company. His papa, the Duke, had taken a low profile job at a lumber company as a laborer, while he secretly laid plans for the rest of his royal family to reach America. Ironically, his son Gaetano III, started working at that same lumber company after leaving his previous job. In a short time, they made him the foreman. One morning Gaetano stacking lumber from a high advantage point, noticed a man sleeping below. He threw a two by four down next to the man and yelled, "No sleepa on de joba." The man turned, looked up and gave foreman Gaetano one of those well known Italian gestures, turned over and went back to sleep.
It was the Duke. He had been up all night making final plans with relatives for his journey back to Italy. They both couldn't stop laughing and hugging when they recognized each other. The following week, the Duke, incognito, was aboard a ship to Italy, stationed in the third class section. May 15, 1902, the Duke, Gaetano II, returned to Ellis Island on the ship Regina Elena from Naples with his thirteen year old daughter, Caterina Mirabito. Then the Duke’s son, Bartolomeo, left from Naples and arrived at Ellis Island on the ship Palatia at age sixteen. Shortly after, Gaetano III was ready. He had earned enough money for train fare that would take him to San Francisco in search of the American dream.
His train slowly pulled into the station, stopped with a jerk, backed up and then came to a final stop. The engine’s bell ringing, hissing from the steam lines, little platforms placed under each of the steps’ exits and red caps ready to take the passengers’ luggage. It was nighttime in the city by the bay. Gaetano’s face and shirt were covered with soot from the coal burning locomotive as he briskly walked through the crowd with his duffle bag slung over his shoulder. The sharp sounds from his clicking heals holding a steady gait, was briefly interrupted when a lady of the night came up from behind, wrapped her arm around his waist and started to unbutton his shirt. “Hey, big guy, you want some tonight?” He returned to his steady pace, tried to ward her off, but she persisted. When he reached the doorway to a saloon, he gave her a hard bump with his hip and said, “Scusami,” ducked into the doorway, went to the men’s room, took his shirt off, washed up, reached into his duffle bag, changed, then over to the bar and had a beer that came with a “free bigga sandwicha” - his dinner. He slept under the pier for days until he located one of his relatives. They told him he could stay in their garage and gave him an old mattress to sleep on. He made his furniture from orange crates that he found in the yard. From an affluent family, son of a Duke and Duchess, to his new home, a cold garage, was quite an extreme change of ambiance. But he was humble and grateful and strong.
Each day, the Duke’s son would buy a large loaf of Italian bread, slice it down the middle, pack it with slices of salami, ham, beef, cheeses, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, hot peppers, lettuce, drown it in olive oil, close it up and then cut it in three equal parts. One part was his breakfast, another, his lunch, and the last part was his dinner, of course, with a little wine. This is how he lived, in search of the American Dream, determined to find it.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Going to America
©2009 Rexino Mondo
In 1901, the beginning of a decade that would prove to be history's greatest migration to America, the Duke, age forty-eight and his daughter, Princess Mari Luisa Mirabito, seventeen, left Napoli, Italy on steamship Marco Minghetti, to start a new life, 6,000 miles away from home and arrived at Ellis Island, April 13, 1901 … While the days passed into weeks and weeks into months, Gætano's anxieties grew volcanic fires burned inside of him as he became restless, hungering for the day that he would be going to America. Soon his thoughts and dreams started to become reality and found him making final plans for his passage to that far away place where a nice lady would be waiting to welcome him. Being the head of the family, it was his decision to make his brother Giacomo the head of the family while he was off to the land of golden opportunities. His Mama promised that she would not tell papa when she wrote him. Anna promised her son six months before she would tell.
At the age of sixteen in 1902, Gætano's day came. All the family discretely went by boat to the tip of Italy's boot, then traveled north by way of an enclosed horse-drawn coach, passed Salerno and went on further north to the port of Napoli, where the ship Sicilia was docked. The forty-foot wide steam ship, with three stacks and two masts, was stretched out for 329 feet ready to take on 630 passengers for America. As Gaetano stood ready to board the ship, tears were streaming down his face. He was so thrilled to be going to America and at the same time so sad to be leaving his Mama, brothers and sisters. Everybody was crying and embracing each other. There were molto, molto gifts for Gætano rounds of provolone cheese, big long salamis, wines, homemade breads, pastries and small personal gifts too. The priest gave him a beautiful rosary. Mama gave him a very old Saint Bartolomeo medal and a medal that the priest had given her a long time ago, said to have once belong to the Century legendary Anna of the Cave.
The ship's bell was ringing. Gætano kissed and embraced his ten-year-old sister, Caterina; his eight-year-old sister, Anna; his five-year-old baby sister, Santa; his brothers: Bartolomeo; Francisco; and Giacomo; and the last was his Mama. There were more tears. She gave him an extra squeeze. While he wiped her tears, he told her, "I'll miss you. - I love you Mama. Grazie, grazie, you're so good Mama. I'll write soon." Anna replied, "May God be with you and bless you my son and give you a safe journey." Her face and neck were thoroughly wetted with tears. He kissed her for the last time, turned and ran to the ship. In a whisper, Mama's last words were, "Mio ... addio."
The crowd cheered as the captain hoisted anchor and gave three deep blasts from ship's horn. There was whistling, yelling and waving until only the faint sounds of the crowd could be heard, "Arrivederci... Ciao!... Addio... Addio... "
The ship was slowly moving out to sea. Then distance left only the cold fog and the eerie moaning of the ship turning in the night....
In 1901, the beginning of a decade that would prove to be history's greatest migration to America, the Duke, age forty-eight and his daughter, Princess Mari Luisa Mirabito, seventeen, left Napoli, Italy on steamship Marco Minghetti, to start a new life, 6,000 miles away from home and arrived at Ellis Island, April 13, 1901 … While the days passed into weeks and weeks into months, Gætano's anxieties grew volcanic fires burned inside of him as he became restless, hungering for the day that he would be going to America. Soon his thoughts and dreams started to become reality and found him making final plans for his passage to that far away place where a nice lady would be waiting to welcome him. Being the head of the family, it was his decision to make his brother Giacomo the head of the family while he was off to the land of golden opportunities. His Mama promised that she would not tell papa when she wrote him. Anna promised her son six months before she would tell.
At the age of sixteen in 1902, Gætano's day came. All the family discretely went by boat to the tip of Italy's boot, then traveled north by way of an enclosed horse-drawn coach, passed Salerno and went on further north to the port of Napoli, where the ship Sicilia was docked. The forty-foot wide steam ship, with three stacks and two masts, was stretched out for 329 feet ready to take on 630 passengers for America. As Gaetano stood ready to board the ship, tears were streaming down his face. He was so thrilled to be going to America and at the same time so sad to be leaving his Mama, brothers and sisters. Everybody was crying and embracing each other. There were molto, molto gifts for Gætano rounds of provolone cheese, big long salamis, wines, homemade breads, pastries and small personal gifts too. The priest gave him a beautiful rosary. Mama gave him a very old Saint Bartolomeo medal and a medal that the priest had given her a long time ago, said to have once belong to the Century legendary Anna of the Cave.
The ship's bell was ringing. Gætano kissed and embraced his ten-year-old sister, Caterina; his eight-year-old sister, Anna; his five-year-old baby sister, Santa; his brothers: Bartolomeo; Francisco; and Giacomo; and the last was his Mama. There were more tears. She gave him an extra squeeze. While he wiped her tears, he told her, "I'll miss you. - I love you Mama. Grazie, grazie, you're so good Mama. I'll write soon." Anna replied, "May God be with you and bless you my son and give you a safe journey." Her face and neck were thoroughly wetted with tears. He kissed her for the last time, turned and ran to the ship. In a whisper, Mama's last words were, "Mio ... addio."
The crowd cheered as the captain hoisted anchor and gave three deep blasts from ship's horn. There was whistling, yelling and waving until only the faint sounds of the crowd could be heard, "Arrivederci... Ciao!... Addio... Addio... "
The ship was slowly moving out to sea. Then distance left only the cold fog and the eerie moaning of the ship turning in the night....
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My Father, The Lost Heir - Duke of Palermo and of the Rabito Knights
© 2009 - Rexino Mondo
When Duke Francesco, my great uncle, returned from Sardinia to claim his son, he was unable to locate, my father's brothers 'Christofolo II' and 'Bartolomeo.' The Duke temporarily placed my father in the care of two persons who always wanted children of their own they were the landscapers of the Duke's property. He left a purse so that my father could be educated according to the standards of the Royal Court. He also gave the couple documents showing that my father, Gaetano I, was legal heir to Lipari, the pumice mines, and other land grants belonging to his royal title. The Duke never returned.
‘My father grew up on Lipari Island and took charge of the pumice mines here. His brother, Don Christofolo Mi Rabito II, became Duke of Palermo and the Administer of Foreign Affairs for the Royal Court of Italy, under his second cousin, Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Sardinia. His other brother, Don Bartolomeo Mi Rabito, became the Administer of Interior for the Royal Court of Italy under King Vittorio Emanuele II. My father married my mother, Anna Maria Cappella, and I was their only child, Gaetano II.’
‘After the Crimean War, Vittorio Emanuele II, became the first King of a United Italy in 1861. It was the same year his brother, Duke Christofolo II, died; the same year Italy took its first census. It was discovered through the taking of the census that my father was the rightful heir as Duke of Palermo, the second largest city in Italy. By order of King Vittorio Emanuele II, a search began to locate my father and ended twenty years later under the command of his son, King of Italy, Umberto I, here on Lipari Island in this very room. My father was ceremoniously presented a parchment from Rome stating that the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II had been in search of Don Gætano Mi Rabito I, for the past twenty years; he was the lost heir; and was proclaimed by the King of Italy, Umberto I, that my father was the Duke of Palermo and was of the Rabito Knights. His first child was to be proclaimed a prince or princess and thereafter the first born of each of generation was to be proclaimed prince or princess and the third descendant’s generation shall be of the first born titled prince or princess. The new Duke of Palermo, the Prince of Lipari, my father, spoke to the Imperial entourage, 'I have been known as Gætano of Lipari all of my life. No other Mi Rabito has ever lived on Lipari but me. If it so pleases the King, I would like to be called plain GÆTANO and I would like to die as plain GÆTANO.' My father was well educated and traveled to Palermo, Sicily, Sardinia, France, and the main peninsula of Italy in his official capacity, but was always addressed as plain GÆTANO.’
‘After my father died, I became Duke of Palermo, the Prince of Lipari and inherited the pumice mines the same year you were born. I too was known as plain Gætano II. But it was to the government’s advantage. While I was taking you and your seven brothers and sisters to vacation areas in France and Europe, I was on secret investigative missions for the Royal Court of Italy and King Umberto I. All anyone knew, was I was a family man, connoisseur of pumice stone and owned mines on Lipari Island.’
‘Our country's political atmosphere is rapidly changing. Last year the Chinese killed over thirty-five thousand Christians, many were Europeans and the King of Italy, Umberto I, my friend, was assassinated. All of Europe and Asia will soon be in the bloodiest and largest war we've ever had. Before the new regime finds the connection between my covert commissions for the Royal Court of Italy and traces them here to Lipari, we must very discretely leave one at a time for America.’ He placed a special coin in Gætano's hand and told him, ‘This is now yours. It was given to me the same year of its Moneta at my Confirmation, on my thirteenth birthday. It represents the original first thirteen blocks of creation and also our first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, made King in 1861, the same year he proclaimed my father to be Duke of Palermo and started a twenty-year search. It was the same year Italy took its first census and the same year my uncle Christofolo, Duke of Palermo, was killed. It was the same year that Abraham Lincoln on the forth of March was inaugurated President of what had once begun as thirteen colonies of freedom. In April of that same year, the Civil War began because President Lincoln had a dream that all persons should be created equal under law. The Thirteenth Amendment, freeing the slaves, gave freedom and justice to all guaranteed by the Constitution of The United States of America. President Abraham Lincoln paid the price of that precious freedom by giving his life to a bullet from the gun of John Wilkes Booth. And thousands of others were bathed in blood for that same dream brother against brother, cousin against cousin. I want my family to live in a democracy and to be free from oppression. This ten centesimi represents creation; the kingdoms of your ancestors, slaves, freedom, wealth; and opportunities to grow. Its STAR symbolizes the five original senses of man ... use them well. If you keep this coin and never spend it, you will always be free, never poor and you will find your fortune. You're the head of the family now the Mirabito Knight and Duke of Lipari who must stand guard while I am gone. You are in charge of the mines. You must take care of your Mama and the others until I return.’
When Duke Francesco, my great uncle, returned from Sardinia to claim his son, he was unable to locate, my father's brothers 'Christofolo II' and 'Bartolomeo.' The Duke temporarily placed my father in the care of two persons who always wanted children of their own they were the landscapers of the Duke's property. He left a purse so that my father could be educated according to the standards of the Royal Court. He also gave the couple documents showing that my father, Gaetano I, was legal heir to Lipari, the pumice mines, and other land grants belonging to his royal title. The Duke never returned.
‘My father grew up on Lipari Island and took charge of the pumice mines here. His brother, Don Christofolo Mi Rabito II, became Duke of Palermo and the Administer of Foreign Affairs for the Royal Court of Italy, under his second cousin, Vittorio Emanuele II, King of Sardinia. His other brother, Don Bartolomeo Mi Rabito, became the Administer of Interior for the Royal Court of Italy under King Vittorio Emanuele II. My father married my mother, Anna Maria Cappella, and I was their only child, Gaetano II.’
‘After the Crimean War, Vittorio Emanuele II, became the first King of a United Italy in 1861. It was the same year his brother, Duke Christofolo II, died; the same year Italy took its first census. It was discovered through the taking of the census that my father was the rightful heir as Duke of Palermo, the second largest city in Italy. By order of King Vittorio Emanuele II, a search began to locate my father and ended twenty years later under the command of his son, King of Italy, Umberto I, here on Lipari Island in this very room. My father was ceremoniously presented a parchment from Rome stating that the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II had been in search of Don Gætano Mi Rabito I, for the past twenty years; he was the lost heir; and was proclaimed by the King of Italy, Umberto I, that my father was the Duke of Palermo and was of the Rabito Knights. His first child was to be proclaimed a prince or princess and thereafter the first born of each of generation was to be proclaimed prince or princess and the third descendant’s generation shall be of the first born titled prince or princess. The new Duke of Palermo, the Prince of Lipari, my father, spoke to the Imperial entourage, 'I have been known as Gætano of Lipari all of my life. No other Mi Rabito has ever lived on Lipari but me. If it so pleases the King, I would like to be called plain GÆTANO and I would like to die as plain GÆTANO.' My father was well educated and traveled to Palermo, Sicily, Sardinia, France, and the main peninsula of Italy in his official capacity, but was always addressed as plain GÆTANO.’
‘After my father died, I became Duke of Palermo, the Prince of Lipari and inherited the pumice mines the same year you were born. I too was known as plain Gætano II. But it was to the government’s advantage. While I was taking you and your seven brothers and sisters to vacation areas in France and Europe, I was on secret investigative missions for the Royal Court of Italy and King Umberto I. All anyone knew, was I was a family man, connoisseur of pumice stone and owned mines on Lipari Island.’
‘Our country's political atmosphere is rapidly changing. Last year the Chinese killed over thirty-five thousand Christians, many were Europeans and the King of Italy, Umberto I, my friend, was assassinated. All of Europe and Asia will soon be in the bloodiest and largest war we've ever had. Before the new regime finds the connection between my covert commissions for the Royal Court of Italy and traces them here to Lipari, we must very discretely leave one at a time for America.’ He placed a special coin in Gætano's hand and told him, ‘This is now yours. It was given to me the same year of its Moneta at my Confirmation, on my thirteenth birthday. It represents the original first thirteen blocks of creation and also our first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, made King in 1861, the same year he proclaimed my father to be Duke of Palermo and started a twenty-year search. It was the same year Italy took its first census and the same year my uncle Christofolo, Duke of Palermo, was killed. It was the same year that Abraham Lincoln on the forth of March was inaugurated President of what had once begun as thirteen colonies of freedom. In April of that same year, the Civil War began because President Lincoln had a dream that all persons should be created equal under law. The Thirteenth Amendment, freeing the slaves, gave freedom and justice to all guaranteed by the Constitution of The United States of America. President Abraham Lincoln paid the price of that precious freedom by giving his life to a bullet from the gun of John Wilkes Booth. And thousands of others were bathed in blood for that same dream brother against brother, cousin against cousin. I want my family to live in a democracy and to be free from oppression. This ten centesimi represents creation; the kingdoms of your ancestors, slaves, freedom, wealth; and opportunities to grow. Its STAR symbolizes the five original senses of man ... use them well. If you keep this coin and never spend it, you will always be free, never poor and you will find your fortune. You're the head of the family now the Mirabito Knight and Duke of Lipari who must stand guard while I am gone. You are in charge of the mines. You must take care of your Mama and the others until I return.’
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Rabito Knights and the Dukes of Palermo
@2009 – Rexino Mondo
Gætano wanted to know everything. In Italian, he asked his papa, "How did kingdoms become kingdoms and kings become kings? Where did sail ships begin and why do frigates need slaves? Does freedom exist? Is religion a game? Do the stars have meaning that mathematics can prove? If only I could read all, I would know how to move." Papa saw that Gætano's thirst for knowledge was more than he could give. He made arrangements with the priest to privately tutor his son.
Each day Gætano's Mama would send him to the pumice mine to take a good lunch to his papa, the Duke, where he would tell him more stories of their ancestors, the Rabito Knights and the Dukes of Palermo. After they both finished their meal, Gætano left to meet with the priest for his lessons. Gætano was quick to learn and the priest was pleased with his progress and never ending inquires. The priest was also pleased with Gætano Senior and Anna's deep love for each other that brought new babies to him every two years to be baptized.
This growing close-knit Italian family enjoyed journeys to Lyon, France and Italy's Naples, Florence, and Rome when Gætano II, the Duke, was secretly there on official business as Knight of the Royal Court of Italy. More often they visited Palermo and the surrounding Lipari Islands; especially Salina Island where the Traina family lived. The Mirabito family and Traina family were close friends for generations through many wars and invasions.
Gætano III and his brothers enjoyed playing near the ancient fortress on the hill overlooking the sea. They pretended that they were the Rabito Knights and were saving their people from the Etruscan Pirates. Gætano told of the many stories that he learned from the priest. Giacomo wasn't too interested and wanted to play but Francisco, his younger brother, gave him a good ear. Anna believed that Gætano was maybe getting too concerned of the past and it worried her that he might not have the proper balance in his thinking. Consequently she more readily gave into Gætano's many requests to go out on the fishing boats with the men. How strange things work, for the fishermen also had their stories to tell. One in particular that fascinated Gætano was that of Atlantis. He could hardly wait to ask the priest about the lost continent.
When he returned home there was the cleaning of the fish, the following day helping his father at the pumice mine and other chores, such as watching his younger brothers and sisters when his mother, Anna, was ill. Luisa also helped with the washing and the cooking. But finally when Gætano did gain audience with the priest, he first had to learn more of the fundamentals. When this was accomplished, then Atlantis would be his dessert. Needless to say it was easily earned. The priest continued telling of the beginning and end of Atlantis... ‘The tenseness in the world will become so great, that for a person to say one word without the proper politeness of inflection in his voice could mean the signing of his death warrant. An old woman will be imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread while murders will go free, with the excuse, 'It is not my fault. The devil made me do it!' or having a Duel Personality, “I didn’t do it. The other one did it.” There will be groups of learned men to testify that this is so. For as many fingers that point, there will be a different set of rules and laws for each one. A conviction will only need one pointing finger the victim will become guilty by accusation before he even goes to trial.’
Gætano was silent and very sober after that and never asked of the ancient times again. At the age of fourteen, Gætano started to spend less time with the priest and more time next to his papa, working in the pumice mines. Gætano was ready to take on his inherited responsibility, but at the same time his mind drifted in other directions. He also worked on the fishing boats and heard more stories of the sea and other lands. He wanted to break free from tradition and rule his own destiny. After a deep sigh, he looked far out to sea and asked himself, "I wonder ... how far is it to America?"
Gætano's papa, Gætano mi Rabito II, the Duke and the Royal Knight protecting the Mi Rabtos, for years, had secretly planned on taking his family to America to start a new life, away from the land of volcanoes and the gods of wind and fire. He would take the oldest child first, get settled in America and then come for the rest of his family. Gætano being the oldest boy believed that he soon would be going to America. He was disappointed when he found that Luisa, his older sister, would be going to America with papa not him.
Papa took Gætano aside, closed the door behind them and then explained. "There's much to know and little time. You know we are the descendants of the Rabito knights and the Duke and Duchess of Palermo ... The Duchess of Palermo, your great grandmother, was the overseer of the midwives and the Chamber of Ladies in Waiting at the Royal Court of Italy. Two weeks after my father, Gætano I, was born, the Duchess departed Palermo with her new born to assist her brother's wife in the delivering of her baby here on this Island. Just one week after the Duchess, your great grandmother, arrived on Lipari Island, she died of pneumonia at the age of forty-three. Gætano I, my papa, nursed at the left breast of the Duchess' sister and his cousin nursed at the right breast of the Duchess' sister until she also fell ill and died of pneumonia."
Gætano wanted to know everything. In Italian, he asked his papa, "How did kingdoms become kingdoms and kings become kings? Where did sail ships begin and why do frigates need slaves? Does freedom exist? Is religion a game? Do the stars have meaning that mathematics can prove? If only I could read all, I would know how to move." Papa saw that Gætano's thirst for knowledge was more than he could give. He made arrangements with the priest to privately tutor his son.
Each day Gætano's Mama would send him to the pumice mine to take a good lunch to his papa, the Duke, where he would tell him more stories of their ancestors, the Rabito Knights and the Dukes of Palermo. After they both finished their meal, Gætano left to meet with the priest for his lessons. Gætano was quick to learn and the priest was pleased with his progress and never ending inquires. The priest was also pleased with Gætano Senior and Anna's deep love for each other that brought new babies to him every two years to be baptized.
This growing close-knit Italian family enjoyed journeys to Lyon, France and Italy's Naples, Florence, and Rome when Gætano II, the Duke, was secretly there on official business as Knight of the Royal Court of Italy. More often they visited Palermo and the surrounding Lipari Islands; especially Salina Island where the Traina family lived. The Mirabito family and Traina family were close friends for generations through many wars and invasions.
Gætano III and his brothers enjoyed playing near the ancient fortress on the hill overlooking the sea. They pretended that they were the Rabito Knights and were saving their people from the Etruscan Pirates. Gætano told of the many stories that he learned from the priest. Giacomo wasn't too interested and wanted to play but Francisco, his younger brother, gave him a good ear. Anna believed that Gætano was maybe getting too concerned of the past and it worried her that he might not have the proper balance in his thinking. Consequently she more readily gave into Gætano's many requests to go out on the fishing boats with the men. How strange things work, for the fishermen also had their stories to tell. One in particular that fascinated Gætano was that of Atlantis. He could hardly wait to ask the priest about the lost continent.
When he returned home there was the cleaning of the fish, the following day helping his father at the pumice mine and other chores, such as watching his younger brothers and sisters when his mother, Anna, was ill. Luisa also helped with the washing and the cooking. But finally when Gætano did gain audience with the priest, he first had to learn more of the fundamentals. When this was accomplished, then Atlantis would be his dessert. Needless to say it was easily earned. The priest continued telling of the beginning and end of Atlantis... ‘The tenseness in the world will become so great, that for a person to say one word without the proper politeness of inflection in his voice could mean the signing of his death warrant. An old woman will be imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread while murders will go free, with the excuse, 'It is not my fault. The devil made me do it!' or having a Duel Personality, “I didn’t do it. The other one did it.” There will be groups of learned men to testify that this is so. For as many fingers that point, there will be a different set of rules and laws for each one. A conviction will only need one pointing finger the victim will become guilty by accusation before he even goes to trial.’
Gætano was silent and very sober after that and never asked of the ancient times again. At the age of fourteen, Gætano started to spend less time with the priest and more time next to his papa, working in the pumice mines. Gætano was ready to take on his inherited responsibility, but at the same time his mind drifted in other directions. He also worked on the fishing boats and heard more stories of the sea and other lands. He wanted to break free from tradition and rule his own destiny. After a deep sigh, he looked far out to sea and asked himself, "I wonder ... how far is it to America?"
Gætano's papa, Gætano mi Rabito II, the Duke and the Royal Knight protecting the Mi Rabtos, for years, had secretly planned on taking his family to America to start a new life, away from the land of volcanoes and the gods of wind and fire. He would take the oldest child first, get settled in America and then come for the rest of his family. Gætano being the oldest boy believed that he soon would be going to America. He was disappointed when he found that Luisa, his older sister, would be going to America with papa not him.
Papa took Gætano aside, closed the door behind them and then explained. "There's much to know and little time. You know we are the descendants of the Rabito knights and the Duke and Duchess of Palermo ... The Duchess of Palermo, your great grandmother, was the overseer of the midwives and the Chamber of Ladies in Waiting at the Royal Court of Italy. Two weeks after my father, Gætano I, was born, the Duchess departed Palermo with her new born to assist her brother's wife in the delivering of her baby here on this Island. Just one week after the Duchess, your great grandmother, arrived on Lipari Island, she died of pneumonia at the age of forty-three. Gætano I, my papa, nursed at the left breast of the Duchess' sister and his cousin nursed at the right breast of the Duchess' sister until she also fell ill and died of pneumonia."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Diana
©2009 – Rexino Mondo
The King enters the Crimean War on the side of England and France. History's pinnacle is suddenly interwoven, engulfed and sucked up into black purple whirling clouds that dampen the wailing sounds of the tortured as King of Sardinia through meticulous planning methodically adds the Italian States on the peninsula to his domain and in 1861 through stamina and savoir-faire becomes the first King of a United Italy. The first Census is taken and finds the King's cousin, the heir of the Duke and Duchess of Palermo, the second largest city in Italy, missing. By order of King Vittorio Emanuele II, a search commences to find the lost Duke of Palermo, Don Gætano mi Rabito I. By command of King Æolus, the Lipari Islands continue to be torn apart for decades by fierce impetuous Æolus winds.
And then on Sunday, June 7, 1885... silence. All that can be captured is the soft sound of the squawking sea gulls; the gentle splash of the oncoming ocean against the huge gray rocks, leaving white foam to turn and run back to sea; the smell of salt from the ocean's air; sea weed entwined in the driftwood from an old Spanish wreck; the ancient Greek-Roman fortress; and citadel setting tall on the mountain, silhouetted against the soft orange horizon of a new day; and the cry of a new born baby in the distance, of which, creates the atmosphere surrounding the aura and birth of Gætano mi Rabito III, heir of the Rabito knights; the Duke and Duchess of Palermo; and Anna of the Cave ... And this is where my story begins.
As Gætano Mi Rabito III grew, he; his older sister Luisa and his younger brother Giacomo, played in the many historic caves on the hillside overlooking the crystal clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea below, dotted with tiny distant fishing boats, white sails, and flying nets. Sometimes their mother Anna would take them to one of Lipari's natural clear turquoise hot bubbling springs to swim and splash during the early part of the day. Then off to the blue emerald grottoes by the sea to visit with the fisherman at the wharf, where Anna bought fish and seafood for that night's dinner. They'd always manage to get home just in time to have all the preparations in place before Gætano senior, drenched in white powder and coughing, would get home from a day's work in the pumice mine.
On Sundays, Gætano senior, Duke of Palermo, Knight of the royal court of Italy, Papa, would guide his family through the winding alleys up to an old majestic the century cathedral on the hill, where they all had been baptized by the senior priest. There were no schools for Gætano junior to attend. His learning came from sitting at his father's feet by the fire while his papa told him of the many stories that had been past down from one generation to another. As he spoke, describing the ancient civilizations that visited their island, Gætano's eyes grew large as saucers. Papa told of Æolus, ancient King of Æolian lands and god of wind; how Æolus protected his people's ships by filling their sails with wind and blowing them safely to shore while with the same breathe, blew angry tornado winds to sink the oncoming enemy frigates. Papa seeing his boy's anxiousness to know everything, told him, "These very islands where we live, now called 'Lipari,' were once named the 'Æolian Islands' by King Æolus.
There are hundreds of gods and goddesses. The father of all Roman gods is 'Jupiter' and the father of all Greek gods is 'Zeus.' There is the Aphrodite, the Geek goddess of love, sexual rapture and of radiant beauty. She was loved by all the gods, worshiped by mortals who garnished her with rubies, diamonds and gold during her Aphrodisiac Ceremony of sexual intercourses, considered to be part of the Celebration of Love. No one could resist her. Aphrodite was born of churning foam generated by her father, Uranus’, genitals thrown to the ocean after being castrated by his son. The Romans called her Venus, the goddess of love who used her mesmerizing powers and beauty to protect her people from the corrupt judges of the underworld.
There is Apollo,' god of sun; 'Hebe,' goddess of youth; 'Hephæstos,' god of fire; 'Rhadamanthus' and 'Æacus,' judges of the underworld and 'Pluto,' god of the underworld." Each day Gætano hurriedly finished his chores and was anxiously waiting to hear more. He was most impressed by the many stories that surrounded the goddess known to the Greeks as "Artemis" and known to the Romans as "Diana." In the flowing rich Italian dialect, his papa told him, "Diana was the most beautiful goddess ever seen and protector of virgins and virginity; moon goddess; goddess of the woods; goddess of the hunt and goddess of the golden bow. She was of endless energies. Goddess Diana’s beauty brought enemies to their knees. She was adorned, worshipped, and prayed to by all tribes. The famous Temple of Artemis-Diana was erected for her during the sixth century BC in the ancient city of Ephesus of the lands of King Æolus, god of wind father and protector of our Lipari Islands. Artemis's temple was burned to the ground in the early part of the fourth century BC. Later in that same century it was rebuilt even greater than before extolling Diana’s beauty and love.
In the late afternoon crowds would gather on the hillside to view this famous work of art. The beautiful pure white translucent marble would shine and appear to be huge glittering crystal mirrors melting like blue ice against a pink sunset that in turn created a strange aura of light encompassing the outer edges of the temple where Diana lived. Her temple stood for over six hundred years until it was completely destroyed by her enemies in 262 AD. When the third council of Ephesus met in 431 AD, they condemned Artemis-Diana by proclaiming that she was not their mother god Mary was mother of God. Even with all the tribes still adoring and holding her as their special goddess, the council would not listen. King Æolus brought Artemis-Diana here to stay and protect our islands that were then called Æolian Islands. Our people called her only by Diana.' Some say they have seen her in the woods by the caves. Others say she became 'Anna.' Some believe that goddess Diana protects us against Vesuvius, Stromboli and Ætna and turns their hot spuming lava into gushing fountains of golden water. There are many legends of Diana."
The King enters the Crimean War on the side of England and France. History's pinnacle is suddenly interwoven, engulfed and sucked up into black purple whirling clouds that dampen the wailing sounds of the tortured as King of Sardinia through meticulous planning methodically adds the Italian States on the peninsula to his domain and in 1861 through stamina and savoir-faire becomes the first King of a United Italy. The first Census is taken and finds the King's cousin, the heir of the Duke and Duchess of Palermo, the second largest city in Italy, missing. By order of King Vittorio Emanuele II, a search commences to find the lost Duke of Palermo, Don Gætano mi Rabito I. By command of King Æolus, the Lipari Islands continue to be torn apart for decades by fierce impetuous Æolus winds.
And then on Sunday, June 7, 1885... silence. All that can be captured is the soft sound of the squawking sea gulls; the gentle splash of the oncoming ocean against the huge gray rocks, leaving white foam to turn and run back to sea; the smell of salt from the ocean's air; sea weed entwined in the driftwood from an old Spanish wreck; the ancient Greek-Roman fortress; and citadel setting tall on the mountain, silhouetted against the soft orange horizon of a new day; and the cry of a new born baby in the distance, of which, creates the atmosphere surrounding the aura and birth of Gætano mi Rabito III, heir of the Rabito knights; the Duke and Duchess of Palermo; and Anna of the Cave ... And this is where my story begins.
As Gætano Mi Rabito III grew, he; his older sister Luisa and his younger brother Giacomo, played in the many historic caves on the hillside overlooking the crystal clear blue Tyrrhenian Sea below, dotted with tiny distant fishing boats, white sails, and flying nets. Sometimes their mother Anna would take them to one of Lipari's natural clear turquoise hot bubbling springs to swim and splash during the early part of the day. Then off to the blue emerald grottoes by the sea to visit with the fisherman at the wharf, where Anna bought fish and seafood for that night's dinner. They'd always manage to get home just in time to have all the preparations in place before Gætano senior, drenched in white powder and coughing, would get home from a day's work in the pumice mine.
On Sundays, Gætano senior, Duke of Palermo, Knight of the royal court of Italy, Papa, would guide his family through the winding alleys up to an old majestic the century cathedral on the hill, where they all had been baptized by the senior priest. There were no schools for Gætano junior to attend. His learning came from sitting at his father's feet by the fire while his papa told him of the many stories that had been past down from one generation to another. As he spoke, describing the ancient civilizations that visited their island, Gætano's eyes grew large as saucers. Papa told of Æolus, ancient King of Æolian lands and god of wind; how Æolus protected his people's ships by filling their sails with wind and blowing them safely to shore while with the same breathe, blew angry tornado winds to sink the oncoming enemy frigates. Papa seeing his boy's anxiousness to know everything, told him, "These very islands where we live, now called 'Lipari,' were once named the 'Æolian Islands' by King Æolus.
There are hundreds of gods and goddesses. The father of all Roman gods is 'Jupiter' and the father of all Greek gods is 'Zeus.' There is the Aphrodite, the Geek goddess of love, sexual rapture and of radiant beauty. She was loved by all the gods, worshiped by mortals who garnished her with rubies, diamonds and gold during her Aphrodisiac Ceremony of sexual intercourses, considered to be part of the Celebration of Love. No one could resist her. Aphrodite was born of churning foam generated by her father, Uranus’, genitals thrown to the ocean after being castrated by his son. The Romans called her Venus, the goddess of love who used her mesmerizing powers and beauty to protect her people from the corrupt judges of the underworld.
There is Apollo,' god of sun; 'Hebe,' goddess of youth; 'Hephæstos,' god of fire; 'Rhadamanthus' and 'Æacus,' judges of the underworld and 'Pluto,' god of the underworld." Each day Gætano hurriedly finished his chores and was anxiously waiting to hear more. He was most impressed by the many stories that surrounded the goddess known to the Greeks as "Artemis" and known to the Romans as "Diana." In the flowing rich Italian dialect, his papa told him, "Diana was the most beautiful goddess ever seen and protector of virgins and virginity; moon goddess; goddess of the woods; goddess of the hunt and goddess of the golden bow. She was of endless energies. Goddess Diana’s beauty brought enemies to their knees. She was adorned, worshipped, and prayed to by all tribes. The famous Temple of Artemis-Diana was erected for her during the sixth century BC in the ancient city of Ephesus of the lands of King Æolus, god of wind father and protector of our Lipari Islands. Artemis's temple was burned to the ground in the early part of the fourth century BC. Later in that same century it was rebuilt even greater than before extolling Diana’s beauty and love.
In the late afternoon crowds would gather on the hillside to view this famous work of art. The beautiful pure white translucent marble would shine and appear to be huge glittering crystal mirrors melting like blue ice against a pink sunset that in turn created a strange aura of light encompassing the outer edges of the temple where Diana lived. Her temple stood for over six hundred years until it was completely destroyed by her enemies in 262 AD. When the third council of Ephesus met in 431 AD, they condemned Artemis-Diana by proclaiming that she was not their mother god Mary was mother of God. Even with all the tribes still adoring and holding her as their special goddess, the council would not listen. King Æolus brought Artemis-Diana here to stay and protect our islands that were then called Æolian Islands. Our people called her only by Diana.' Some say they have seen her in the woods by the caves. Others say she became 'Anna.' Some believe that goddess Diana protects us against Vesuvius, Stromboli and Ætna and turns their hot spuming lava into gushing fountains of golden water. There are many legends of Diana."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
