March 8, 2013
Umbrella days.
A Sicilian face peering out from under a coppola.
A river of cars streaming past his eyes.
Angelus bells clanging.
But he sits calmly waiting for the bus.
Until the americana approaches.
“I have a cousin in Florida!” he says. “My name is Emanuele.”
His skin is cracked as a Sicilian riverbed in summer.
“Give my greetings to America.”
“OK!” I say, because I can think of nothing better. “Buona serata!”
***
Jann, I’m battling pneumonia but I give you my word that in spite of experiencing such difficulty in drawing a breath, this post had me smiling from ear to ear! How I love meeting the wonderful Sicilian people that share your village! And these shots! Damn you’re good, woman! Loved the post!! 🙂
Greetings from Canada too! I love the way you introduce us to random citizens of Ragusa. It makes me miss Sicily a little bit more and a little bit less at the same time!
Debra, thanks for dropping by!!
Sicilian understatement. I know it well. Love this Jann xx
Thanks, Janine.
His skin is cracked as a Sicilian riverbed in summer.
–love the description of this sweet old man, Jann.
Xxx Kisses from America.
Kisses to you from Sicily, xxxxxxx from Emanuele and me.
I remember going into a second-hand bookstore in Tokyo. The owner says to me… “Where are you from?” “Canada – Vancouver, Canada” I reply. “I have a friend in Toronto. Maybe you know him. Phil. Phil from Toronto! Do you know him?” (oh how many times have I had this conversation). “Um, no, I don’t think I do.” “Okay, maybe when you go home you can look for him. Say hello from me. Osamu. He will recognize my name.” “Okay, I will look him up. Phil in Toronto. Osamu says hi.” With a big grin, Osamu bows and pushes a beat up paperback into my hands. It is in English and I am guessing that Osamu’s reading skills are not up to his speaking skills. The cover was plain brown with the title in small print. “Lesbians at Large.” Yes, it was exactly what it sounds like. I actually pondered hanging on to it in case I ran into Phil from Toronto so I could pass it on to him!
That is one weird-wonderful-funny story, Diane!!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing it here!
His skin is cracked like a riverbed in summer.just the summary of life.Nice simile jann..take care
Hey Cemal- I like your comparison too. 🙂
did the bus arrived?..sometimes in Sicily it’s a long wait:
great picture!
brava l’Americana! 🙂
Who knows if the bus ever arrived, Lucia. I hope so, but I did not stay long enough to know…. Yes, the wait can be long, but the worst thing is that in this town the bus stops have no posted schedule, so you never know if you’ll wait 5 minutes or 60.
great picture and hello Emanuele for USA. 🙂
Grazie, Jo.
Wonderful Jann… 🙂
Thanks Jeanne. I hope my readers check out your beautiful blog, collageoflife.
I’m sure he thought his request was rhetorical. Wouldn’t he be tickled to know how his greeting was actually conveyed to America?
Tickled pink I hope, Sam.
Please tell Emanuele that this American sends greeting right back to him! Wonderful photos! Vanna
Thank you Vanna! And welcome to the blog. I had a great time visiting your blog and looking at the bathroom re-do. FUn!
I get Hartford,CT and Detroit,MI all the time!
Linda, I’ve never gotten “cousins in Hartford.” Usually I hear New Jersey or New York. But maybe folks in Siracusa all migrated to the same place, Hartford & Detroit?? Wouldn’t you like to go there to find all those relatives??
Wonderful picture, Jann! And greetings back to you, Emanuele.
Thank you Toni!
And our greetings back to him.
Ciao Nancy & grazie
There is a real talent to making a good photographic portrait and you demonstrate it with every one you produce.
Sei gentillissima!
Greetings to Emanuele from Australia! Great portrait, Jann.
Grazie mille, SG
If you see him again, please tell him that America (specifically Florida) sends greetings to him!
Thanks Rosann–I’ll be on the lookout for him to convey your greetings.
How wonderful it must be, being able to go up to strangers, get them to open up, and snap their picture! Just one difference between Sicily and the States, I guess. Here, most of us would become suspicious if a stranger took our picture, ha!
Debbie, I do feel a little freer here taking portrait shots of strangers, but I do it all the time in the US, too. Some people won’t let you, but surprisingly most do!