My Mom, Nancy, met a slicked up street pretty boy ( on right) named Domenic Licciardello. His best friend was Joe Turks. It all we ever him by. Originally "Turks" short for "Young Turks" which was a political term, which was an individual inside a large organization who's progressive and seeks prominence and power. Lord I know what your thinking. 2 Italians In New Jerseys Little Italy. "Turks", obvioulsy the Muscle and as dangerous as he looks, that left "The Duke"..My fathers Nickname, as the idea man. My Grandfather, Mario, wanted my father to join the Army and get away from This-a-"Istigatore " (troublemaker). To us that name came with one meaning. In the Godfather the Man Sollozzo, who Michael Shot in the Reastuarant was named "The Turk" Because he got Drugs from Turkey where they grew the Poppi seeds. Turk was a nickname for a heroin dealer. My Grandfather argued with my Father . He said "He's-a thief...I watcha him steal a Potato". Dad said "Maybe he's broke and hungry". Pop said " Nooooo He no Broke-a-if he dress-a like dat" If he Hungry , he steal-a-Apple. ....What ? he walk away and eat'a potato ?..he steal-a Potato Justa for fun ...its iun his nature...."he's-a NO Good, Domenic... stay away from dis 'a-Turk-boy, or (the Italian phrase for kick your A**) "I'm-a-gonna- give-a-you a kick inna Pants"

If my father and were watching an Italian movie with English subtitles...he'd like to poke me and say.."hey Carm, ya wanna know what they REALLY said ?"...lol
EX: There's a scene in The Godfather where Marlon Brando is meeting in his office with Johnny Fontaine, the singer in the White suit and Johnny's crying because he needs the Godfather to get him a part in a movie. Brando stands up slaps him and says "You can act like a Man, not like a Hollywood Fenocchio"
I asked him, what's a Fenocchio ?"He'd say "Like da fenooch (fa-nook) who was dancin when I first met your Mother". (That went over my head) until I found this picture. I'm still not sure the exact meaning of the word, but It has something to do a guy with too much estrogen and not enough testosterone...lets just say, male Ballet dancers weren't understood so well among the Alpha Male Italian's in my neighborhood.
So, This is the picture. A typical scene of anyplace my Mom would be invited. They'd also Say " Nunziada (Nancy) bring-a you- accordion"...and Like "Tinkerbell" over here...everybody would start dancin. My mother was working for the New Jersey state Governor at the time, who had to offer some culture at one of his functions.

My father crashed the party. Now you have in one room Nancy the Professional Musician, Domenic the professional Italian, Lou Turks The professional ( lets just say bill collector)..and of course, "Tinkerbell" the Professional ...princess in pink tights. My ol man looks around to see where the Music is coming from and he see's ...My Mom, who he Called "Walter Winchell" (The national newscaster), because he said "she had something funny to say about everything, wether you wanted to hear it or not" Destiny was beginning to unfold....however nobody knows what happened to "Tink."

This was my Fathers Father Morris or Mario Licciardello and his Blonde wife...From Northern Italy, Francis.She was 16 and he was almost 40. Great deal if you can swing it. Now he was opposite from my other grandfather. he was the ruff gruff one. I worked my First Job with him. Carrying plaster, bricks, and anything he pointed at to the trunk..all day. He paid me 25.00. I bought my first Fender Electric guitar> It had no insides so you couldn't plug it in...But to me it sounded fantastic...tho nobody heard me play lol. He was Ruff shy and wealthy...she was timid  and quiet.(.She always looked scared to me ) This is why we have so many Mario's in the family. All the kids wanted to be top of the list for an inheritance or as least a gift. 5 Cousins and even an uncle Mario later...he still figured out a way to take it all with him.  and us..The Family with a dozen Mario's running lose...We got "ugots".. ( Street slang for" Nuthin but my ****")

This is My Mother..A.K.A. Momma Nancy..over 70 years ago. She was 12-13 here. Her passsion for music and to play the accordian was so great that she convinced Her Mother and Father Caramagna that after 2 solid years of practice and learning every Italian song ever written..lol..To buy her an Accordian. The price of a great one in the 30's was 350.00 or a medium size car or even a down payment on a house.  And you know she was, as his first child,  his  pride and joy. She was "thee Music" of every gathering...weddng, reunion, Birthday..or visit. The room was always filled with Her playing and taking requests from anyone who could think of a song title. It reminded us of Italy and Sicily. She was a musical prodigy and a star on her way to a stellar career in show biziness.  Everybody knew and expected it.
She practiced for 5-8 hours everyday, years after year. She became a the bright and shining hope of the Caramaga's ability to have a Star in the family. After she played classical music at Carnegie Hall in New York she was on a fast track...that is until she met a slick Handsome Tony Curtis look alike who could do any dance and she had no defenses prepared for .....

This is my Mom's Dad, my Grandfather Carmen Caramagna (pronounced Car-Main-Ya) The Italian tradition is to Name the 1st Son after the Husbands Father and the 2nd after the Mothers.   He came to America in 1916 with his parents but went back Sicily to fight in World War 1. When he returned he was a war hero, handsome, witty and charming. Looking for a beautiful Italian Girl to marry and start a family. He had no money but he had everything else. And the women fell all over him too. He even played the Guitar and sang to them . He was a Mack Daddy before the word was invented. He had his pick of any Mona Lisa he set his gaze on. That's why what happened next didn't make any sense to anyone of us.......