46 Years of Marriage

As we were driving to get some snacks ....... I mentioned can you believe that we've been together for 46 years?......... You said having 40 come out is un real......... it's not like 5, 10 even 20........ but 40 we've been married for 46 years and we haven't killed each other. 

I came back with the fact that I never had a relationship that last more that 3 months until you. You said you were pretty much the same.......... you dated alot.......... your serious relationships weren't ment to be........... When I mentioned the married affair ........ that it was longer but that didn't count because , how could it.......... you said we won't go there since we both made mistakes. 

I know I 've slacked off and I haven't written meaningful words to you in a long time, but it doesn't mean I haven't thought of them or that I don't appreciate every minute we've been together.......... Even after 46  years your still the prettiest, the sexiest and the only woman I ever wanted to be with. 

Though my mind would still love to make love to you, my body just won't do what I want it to....... but I can still remember each time we have. 

Know this I've loved you for 46 years , I will continue to love you for however many years we have left. Our actions speak for themselves............. we instinctively hold hands whenever we walk together, we have developed almost mind reading tendencies since many times we think the same thoughts whenever we see something that gets our attention. though we're different we're still the same. 

Happy 46 sweetie, I love you.

My Brother's Journey in Life

 Today Michelle called filled with tears and a voice crackling with sadness as she brought herself to say  "Uncle Nick........ Dad passed away"

Though this was expected since she was forced to put him in hospice to keep him as comfortable as possible after his stroke it still doesn't make it any easier  to accept what we all will have to face one day. 

My brother's journey began on August 3, 1942 in the little house in Montelongo Italy.......... He was named Celestino Ialenti in honor of our father's father, however everyone called him Tino. Our mother Angelina would often lament that he was a sickly child due to the circumstances of the war and that there wasn't much food to provide the proper nutrients for a growing baby but he managed to grow in spite of it. One could say that his love for food was probably a result  of being deprived of it in his early years. Our mother would often scold him for he always sticking his hands and arms into the oil filled jars that had the dried sausages that were meant to last during the winter months. Throughout his life he always loved his dried sausage. 

Even though he was a mischievous little boy he had a mind that could be said to be smarter than most. He  came in first place when the Catholic Church held a contest in all the surrounding provinces  of Campobasso to see who understood the theology of the church so that they could become the next priests. He further showed his mental prowess after we arrived in the United States and we had to learn the english language........... Though we arrived in April  1954 we both were speaking fluent English by the time we entered school that September........... School councilors were using him as a translator for other Italian kids that had immigrated. When it was time to graduate from the eight grade of Immaculate Conception Grade School he was evaluated to be smarter than his peers so he entered Ursuline High School as a sophomore skipping his freshman year. He graduated from Ursuline High School in three years. 

His acedemic achievements took a detour once he graduated ........girls , cars and jobs took over his priorities. Parties and having a good time was all that was on his mind until he entered the service. His time in the service brought a change in him, since he was fortunate enough to avoid going to the Viet Nam War which was esculating ......... he was fortunate enough to have met Bernice who loved him enough to put up with all his shenanigans and they got married. 

She loved calling him Chuck and that nickname has stuck with him........... One nickname however that still puzzles me to this day is the one that he was called by his co workers at General Motors and that was "Cherokee" .......... god only knows how he got that name. 

A year after they were married Angela was born and it was a good thing that I left for Ohio State because I no longer had a place to sleep . The next four years brought the arrival of Michelle and Ceci and his new name became daddy. 

Nanna and Tatta realized that this growing family needed their own space and the house that became 677 Wesley Ave came to be. This arraignment became somewhat of a mixed blessing......... the strain of having in laws so close turned Bernice into a Saint yet the security and the loving attachment that they provided did manage to allow the granddaughters achieve their own individual goals. It turned into a Win Win situation. 

Though we were brothers we were as different as night and day but one thing that never changed was the bond that was formed between us......... he was my brother as I was his ......... the love that we shared can't be explained in simple words ......... the journey that started in a distant land shaped and formulated us into being who we became. 

To My Brother Charlie ......... though you are no longer of this earthly world ......... your legacy won't be forgotten

To Angela, Michelle and Ceci.......... Your parents are now looking at you to carry on what started long ago......... your children and their children have a foundation that most can't comprehend .......... it was built on love and scarifice. 

Charlie My final words to You " You did Good ......... I love you"