Written for RDP, where sgeoil asks us
to get creative with the word “generous”.
Thanks, Heather! Here’s my take.
Growing up in The Bronx, I had many cousins and, with the exception of my four cousins in New Jersey, they all lived nearby. Every Sunday, my mother would make a traditional Italian meal with several courses; whatever food was left over became a meal or two during the week and often, my school lunch. Usually, the Sunday meal was just for our immediate family. Then one Sunday, my uncle Vito and his daughter, Marianne, stopped by unexpectedly …. just as we sat down to eat. Of course, my parents invited them to join us. Uncle Vito’s wife was a terrible cook and housekeeper so his visits, with Marianne in tow, started becoming a regular thing. I’m sure there were times my mother would have preferred not having more mouths to feed, but she never complained. It’s a good thing she always made generous amounts of food.
NAR©2026
This is “Mambo Italiano” by Dean Martin
All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy Richy and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Rat Pack king, He was cool personified..
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😎
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Endearing quality to have. Talented cooking skills, too! My southern grandmother was the same. 😊
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Thank you, Michele. I think some of the ills in the world would be cured if people were simply more generous. ☺️
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Yes, and breaking bread together, too. 😊
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I loved this feeling of family.
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It was all about family back then, with different generations sharing one house …. sometimes one room. My sister and I shared a bedroom with our great-grandmother during her last three years. Thank you, Jodi.
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I love this story. Very heartwarming.
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Thanks very much, Heather; I’m so glad to know that. Excellent prompt word!
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Our door was always open for family as well
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That’s what families do. Thanks, Brian.
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Vito and family were certainly blessed by your mother’s generosity!
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They were, Lisa! My mother was an excellent cook who took care of everyone in the family; she would never turn anyone away. Thanks for a lovely comment.
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The Italian memories are the best memories! Oh for my grandmother’s homemade pasta! Always on huge pans covered with dish towels until they were ready to be cooked. Your Uncle Vito was a smart man!
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He was no slouch and knew exactly what he was doing!
Mom would dry her homemade pasta on clean white towels draped over the furniture. By the time we got home from church, they were ready to be cooked. I found a restaurant in Fishkill with strozzapreti that tastes just like my mother’s. There’s nothing like homemade pasta!
Thanks for a great comment, Lois.
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Your mom was a generous woman
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She truly was. Isn’t it amazing how much we realize about our parents after they are gone?
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Indeed. 🥹🥹🥹
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I’m not surprised they became frequent ‘flyers’ 😃and I just love that song 🎶
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Frequent flyers! 😂 I probably would have said moochers! 🤣 Such a fun song that been recorded by many but I think Dino does it best. Thanks, Ange.
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Definitely 👍
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Sometimes it can be good to be distanced away from your relatives.
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Especially the ones in NJ. They were my paternal cousins; with the exception of my cousin Madeline, they were a bunch of low lives and I was well rid of them. I just learned my cousin Louis passed away in early December; I had not seen him in more than 40 years.
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I have a bunch of cousins on Long Island, and I don’t stay in touch with any of them.
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