The Courtship of Antonio and Teresa in San Marco
It seems our 20-year-old grandfather would parade in front of the house of our 17-year old
grandmother wearing a black cape that he borrowed from his brother-in-law, Luigi Fulgaro, who was married to grandpa's older sister, Mary Micheline. This seemed to work and our future grandmother soon fell in love with our grandfather. The intrigue goes something like this. Grandpa's sister would go to grandma's house and bring some clothing that needed sewing or altering-grandma and her sister Maria were working as seamstresses to help their mother with the family bills after their father had died somewhat prematurely. It seems that Mary Micheline wound up the messenger for grandpa and grandma. Messages of affection would travel back and forth between Teresa and Antonio.
However, grandma's mother, Maria Archangela, had other ideas. She did not particularly want our grandpa as a son-in-law. Maria Archangela invited a 27-year-old-man to the house under the pretense of meeting grandma's older sister, Maria. Maybe Maria was in on the ploy or maybe forced to go along at her mother's insistence.
Nevertheless, the get-together went well and the man expressed his interest in grandma to Maria Archangela, much to her delight. However, when our grandma found out what had transpired, she immediately sent word to grandpa. Shortly, grandma and grandpa eloped and were married much to the dismay of grandma's mother.
For some reason, grandpa and grandma were unsuccessful in having children for the first six years of their marriage. In keeping with the logic of Italian beliefs and customs, Grandma petitioned St. Matthew for help, and then walked barefoot nine miles to the church of St. Matthew. (This is a true story.) Nine months later, Rosalia, their first daughter, was born with light skin, blue eyes and blond hair, much to the relief of Maria Archangela. St. Matthew must have listened to grandma because she eventually had seven children.
grandmother wearing a black cape that he borrowed from his brother-in-law, Luigi Fulgaro, who was married to grandpa's older sister, Mary Micheline. This seemed to work and our future grandmother soon fell in love with our grandfather. The intrigue goes something like this. Grandpa's sister would go to grandma's house and bring some clothing that needed sewing or altering-grandma and her sister Maria were working as seamstresses to help their mother with the family bills after their father had died somewhat prematurely. It seems that Mary Micheline wound up the messenger for grandpa and grandma. Messages of affection would travel back and forth between Teresa and Antonio.
However, grandma's mother, Maria Archangela, had other ideas. She did not particularly want our grandpa as a son-in-law. Maria Archangela invited a 27-year-old-man to the house under the pretense of meeting grandma's older sister, Maria. Maybe Maria was in on the ploy or maybe forced to go along at her mother's insistence.
Nevertheless, the get-together went well and the man expressed his interest in grandma to Maria Archangela, much to her delight. However, when our grandma found out what had transpired, she immediately sent word to grandpa. Shortly, grandma and grandpa eloped and were married much to the dismay of grandma's mother.
For some reason, grandpa and grandma were unsuccessful in having children for the first six years of their marriage. In keeping with the logic of Italian beliefs and customs, Grandma petitioned St. Matthew for help, and then walked barefoot nine miles to the church of St. Matthew. (This is a true story.) Nine months later, Rosalia, their first daughter, was born with light skin, blue eyes and blond hair, much to the relief of Maria Archangela. St. Matthew must have listened to grandma because she eventually had seven children.
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