Letters from Italy

On Christmas Day, while in Mexico, I received a post on my blog from Mariangela Paoli from Italy wishing me and my family a Merry Christmas. She is the niece of Fr. Livius who was the Pastor at St. Scholastic Church where my family attended for 50 plus years. In June, Fr. Livius passed away at the age of 94. Mariangela happened upon my blog back then when I posted about his death. She didn't feel comfortable leaving a message until Christmas Day. Since then, myself along with Judi & Jim and Marge and I think maybe John have been in contact with her through email. We've exchanged stories and a few pictures too. The pictures I've posted are of Mariangela's father, Fr. Livius' brother in front of the small chapel that he built in dedication to the "Heart of Jesus" and one of Mariangela, Fr. Livius and her father and family in Italy. Please take notice of the cake on the table that was the creation of Mariangela herself. People say it's by chance that we've connected, to find out that she has been praying and lighting candles in Italy for Judi is much more than chance.

Below are the comments that Mariangela left on Christmas Day for me. The second one is from Christmas Day too after I talked to Margie and she e-mailed Mariangela. Thank you Mariangela for you've truly touched our hearts.

"Merry Christmas to you. If I am not wrong your name is Ann. Mine is Mariangela Paoli (one of Fr. Livio nieces). I found your blog and what you posted about my uncle. I laughed a lot when I read "...I'll always remember sitting there not being able to understand much of what he was saying due to his heavy Italian accent...". I can assure you that every time he came to Italy he spoke Italian with a very heavy American accent and we had sometimes problems in understanding him ...If you want to contact me my e-mail address is mariangelapaoli@virgilio.itHave a nice time.CiaoMariangela"

Dear Margie and dear Anne thank you very much for replying.I found Anne's blog when my uncle died and I felt like a nosy parker reading some of Anne's blog. As I never used a blog I tried to find Anne's e-mail address until my daughter explained to me that one can post a comment. Still, I did not want to intrude so I lingered. Then at Christmas I was on the Internet and checked again her blog and I thought: "Well I can always send a Merry Christmas", that's not a real "intrusion" ... or at least I hoped so. Now that you tell me that you are 10 I understand my confusion seeing so many pictures and so many names. I did not know who Judi is (now I can make a connection between photo and name) but when in August I read that she wasn't well I lit a candle for her and I often pray for her. I think Joe is Anne's son and that in October she was very sad and worried about a meeting regarding him: I could feel Anne's pain like I knew her. "A Mother's Tears" made me think. It is difficult for me to find the words in another language but I try, hoping to say them right. Sometimes we are happy and selfish and do not consider people who are suffering and when we are suffering we think than only we are suffering without thinking that there are so many people like us. (I think that what I wrote it is a bit confused but I hope you understand what I mean).I am happy to hear that Uncle Livio was very nice to you. My father always spoke very well of him. I cannot say I knew him much. I met him for the first time when I was 17 and then he came back to Italy only a few times (the last one was in 2001). When he came he had only a few days to stay with our family. He was very close to my father. Uncle Livio invited him many times but my father was afraid of flying even if he was curious to see where Uncle Livio lived. I have Uncle Livio's letters to my father from after the war till the '80. After that they usually used the phone. Uncle Livio was the last one of all his brothers and sisters. He lived all his life in USA and the only strong link he had with his family was my father. I still remember them talking and laughing. When together they spoke dialect (in Italy you have hundred and hundred of dialects). Sometimes he could not remember a word and so it was really funny seeing my father trying to help him find the words and Uncle Livio getting angry for not remembering. (You have to consider that Uncle Livio went to America in 1938 and came back for the first time in 1972). Or the time when they wanted to prepare coffee and forgot to put the water in the coffee maker!!!I live in the centre of Italy, in Fabriano, where there is also my brother Fr. Ugo. I am the youngest of Uncle Livio's nieces and nephews. I am 52 and have an adopted son (married and father of two girls) and two daughters. The girls attend university. I am an administrative clerk.I apologize if I am too intrusive with this long letter but I was really happy when I found your blog and found out how you appreciated Uncle Livio.Thanks again for writing.Merry ChristmasCiaoMariangela