I love everything about being Italian...the food, the music, the beautiful people, the scenery. This book will give you a glimpse into what life as an Italian is like. I'm not a TRUE Italian. My father was American, and my mom is directly from Napoli, so I'm half Italian. You take the best part of being Italian, the best part of being American, put them together and you get ME.Italians are hospitable. I remember hanging out at construction sites when I was a kid. When the men were on break, they enjoyed teasing me and sharing some of their sandwiches with me. Italian sandwiches are the best. They are made on crispy Italian bread, none of this limp white bread we like to use in America. Get a group of Italians together and they will all seem to be talking at once. It's not rudeness...it's passion for what they believe in. If you feel uncomfortable hugging or holding hands, you best learn to overcome that.Anyone who is even part Italian will recognize some of these stories. I hope you will laugh, cry, and eat more delicious pasta. Speaking of pasta, I will share some things from my past-a, but this book is also about the present-a and future-a. First generation Italians sometimes talk a little funny. Here's an example of something my mom would say..."I'm-a having-a da pasta for pasta Sunday-a night-a." Most people would hear that and wonder what was wrong, or they might even call the police, but my sister and I know that it means the pastor (pasta) is coming over for dinner (pasta) on Sunday.Sometimes Italian food tastes better the next day as leftovers. Mom liked to say the spices got married and had babies. It makes sense to me! Mangia!James DivinePS. Do you like tiramisu for dessert? It's one of my favorite desserts and is SO expensive at a restaurant, but it is easy and cheap to make! I didn't include a recipe in the book because it is something I just recently learned to make. It's not "my own" yet. I encourage you to look it up and try it.Good storytellers are like good cooks. They know how to spice things up...Fannie Mae Duncan