oh my my

Entrusted in Mamina’s arms—Dad approached the great divide between Sicily and the Island of Hope. He was 4. She was 23. It was 1921. The uncertainty was palpable as the young widow ushered her baby along the unfamiliar voyage to America.

There in Ellis Island—between the bricks and mortar, walls and rooms, in the holding tank as it were, after the months-long voyage from Mazara, Sicily to New York—Mamina held Dad. They made the journey together. The rest was up to him.

I can only speculate from here. The rest of the story is folklore—

Dad worked for his Zii Santo and Paolo at the Atlantic Fish Company—a company Santo started sometime before—on the tough fish piers of Boston. It was about 1930.

It wasn’t an easy way of life. The harsh fish piers of the Atlantic ocean—even on the docks—were unforgiving, especially to a young boy.

Look, Santo was tough. He was a bastard. Smart, tough as nails—a get it done guy. With him, Armando had opportunity.

Dad wasn’t tucked under Santo’s wings by any stretch—he was pulled into Santo’s life.

Dad worked hard as hell. He had the wing span of an Eagle, the strength of a Bull. He was a good worker for Santo but his hands were always wet, cold and stiff. He didn’t like life on the fish pier so he changed it. He left Santo, opened a gas station and built a small business of his own.

Find your tribe

The point is, Dad found his tribe. He was a man among men—boisterous with a big personality—he was a vibe. Be with people you love and who love you back.

From Alan, who worked for Dad as a mechanic:
I loved Mandy. If you didn’t know him, you missed a good guy. He was a standup guy, honest as the day is long. Larger than life, jovial, laid back. I never saw him in a bad mood except when those kids cut us off on the way to Marconi’s. Oh—and your mother was no slouch either.

From Uncle Joe:
Mandy was generous. I loved Mandy. He loaned me his army jeep. Here I am a private in the army with my own jeep. He let me keep it for a week. For one week I was a big deal at Ft. Devens with that jeep. —Mandy had a lot of friends.

Dad found his tribe. I found mine. You find yours and love with it every day. It’s a vibe 💕🇮🇹🧄.

xo

Carla