PALM SUNDAY AT ST. MARY MOTHER OF JESUS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

These photos were taken last year when I was in New York on Palm Sunday. Actually I came in on Wednesday, April 1st, the day before my Mom was scheduled for an operation. The surgery went well and I spent the next few days at the hospital, sitting by Mom's bedside. I was committed to make the trip because I would never forgive myself if the operation did not go well and I was not there with my family. Last year, Palm Sunday was on April 5th. My husband laughed when I told him that I attended 8:15 a.m. Mass. He almost did not believe me because he knew I did not like to get up early. I explained that I had to since Mom was scheduled to be discharged that morning. I flew back to St. Louis the following Tuesday after we were able to secure a nurse and a homecare aid to provide medical follow up and assistance with chores.

NEW YORK IS ON MY MIND - A FEW NICE PHOTOS OF CENTRAL PARK

I called my Mom yesterday afternoon to see how everyone was doing. Mom told me that there was no school for my nephew and my brother was able to work from home. There would be no reason for being outside except to clean up the snow on the sidewalk. I am sure my sister, CH is so glad that she is so far from New York City. CH left on Monday to spend two weeks in the Carribean. I told Mom we have had nice weather here in St. Louis, sunny and the temperature in the 40s.

Here are a few nice photos I took from our trip to NYC in 2007. I never really explored Central Park during the years I was there. I had fond memories of being a volunteer for a few years helping out the runners at the end of the Marathon. The name Central Park seems to be a good name because I know three other parks that also named Central Park. Do you have a Central Park in your town?

SOCIETA DI LICODIA EUBEA - EST. 1929

Last April, during one of my walks around the neighborhood of Bensonhurst (or Bath Beach or Gravesend, whatever it was), I was pleasantly surprised to see the sign, "Societa di Licodia Eubea - Established 1929 - Donated by Chieto Family" on the building (above) tucked between a Chinese Super Box Buffet and Nails 86, probably a Vietnamese or Korean owned business. With "always in my bag" camera, I took a few photos because I did not wish to take a chance that the next time I visit this neighborhood again whether this "Licodiesi Brotherhood Society" would be around, or most likely would be taken over by another Asian or non-Italian business.

I understand that neighborhoods, particularly in New York or any big cities, are in constant changing as new immigrants are moving into the area. Walking along 86th Street, you will see various cultures such as Russian, Hispanic and most prominently Asians by looking at the storefronts, listening to the languages being spoken by the shoppers, you witness the living history of Bensonhurst being written, just like the Italians and the Jewish people when they settled in this community in early 1900s.

According to Wikimapia, "Bensonhurst (also known as "Brooklyn's Little Italy") is a neighborhood located in the south-central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Bensonhurst runs from about 14th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 53rd Street, encompassing Bath Beach, New Utrecht, and part of Dyker Heights and bordered by the Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Gravesend, and Borough Park sections. For many generations of Jewish and Italian residents, Bensonhurst's geographic boundaries have been defined by the streets where the ethnic mix of Bensonhurst begins to fray. Interestingly, since about 1993, the rapid expansion of the population of Orthodox Jews in neighboring Borough Park, has encroached deeply into Bensonhurst, such that the ethnic geographic boundaries now begin from about 18th Avenue to 25th Avenue and from Gravesend Bay to 60th Street. This 1.4 square mile change represents an expansion of Borough Park and a shrinkage of Bensonhurst, as defined by traditional ethnic boundaries. It represents a historical parallel to the shrinkage of Manhattan's Little Italy as a result of the expansion and encroachment of neighboring Chinatown."

The first time we attended St. Mary, we realized that 9:30 a.m. Mass was entirely in Italian. Just like when we attended Mass at Our Lady of Paris - Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris) and last year at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, we loved the structure of the Roman Catholics Rite of Mass. No matter where we are and what language is being spoken, the universal sense of belonging, of being connected in our faith, we always know what to expect of the celebration. The traditional Mass begins with Introductory Rites, then Liturgy of the Word, next is Liturgy of the Eucharist, Holy Communion Rite and ending with Concluding Rite. The only time we might feel out of place would be if the presiding priest told something funny during his Homily and we would be the only people who did not even crack a smile or looking around wondering why other people are laughing! Also, we would be reciting The Lord's Prayer in English instead of French or Italian!

According to Wikipedia, "Today, the Italian American community numbers over 50,000, or more than one-third of the population. Despite increasing diversity, Bensonhurst is heavily Italian-American, as its Italian-speaking community remains over 20,000 strong, according to the census of 2000. However, the Italian-speaking community is becoming "increasingly elderly and isolated, with the small, tight-knit enclaves they built around the city slowly disappearing as they give way to demographic changes." [3]".

TASTE OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

May 6, 2009 - After spending time at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, my sister CH and I visited The Brooklyn Pizza Factory to get something to eat as we were hungry but it was late afternoon and we had a dinner reservation at 7:00 p.m.

We were greeted by Vacchello who was the owner of this cute pizza place. I ordered a slice with mushroom and pepperroni and CH selected sausage and extra cheese. We both decided on the orange soda and drank straight from the cold bottles! We sat down at a table near a large poster of the Beattles. It was Wednesday afternoon and Vachello was not busy so he decided to stay and talk with us when he brought us the food. He asked where we were from and told us about his new business. We complimented his good food and the place was inviting for neighborhood gathering. We wish Vachello all the best and CH promised to come back soon since she lives around the corner. I told Vachello maybe someday he would expand his business nationwide be sure to include St. Louis!

The next day, after we ate breakfast at The Usual, (where Mike the owner gave me the Canadiens hat), we were walking along on Sterling Place, we heard someone said, "Hi Girls, where are you going?" It was Vachello. We said, "Hello. It was good seeing you again so soon.". We wished each other, "Have a good day". It was a wonderful day in Park Slope, Brooklyn. We met two nice people that providing services and sustaining the neighborhood, the kind of small businesses that keep the charm and connection within the people living in the community. The best part was I got a Montreal Canadiens hat from a real hockey fan - it sure was a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

I did not go into this Brooklyn Gourmet Market Place (on 86th Street) but it looks very nice and there were people in the place waiting in line when I walked by. Below is Pho Tay Ho, a Vietnamese restaurant, also on 86th Street in Bath Beach (not Bensonhurst, or somewhere in Brooklyn). The restaurant, Pho = beef noodle soup; Tay = West; Ho = Lake; is one of my family's favorite restaurant, a regular customer for delivery at least once or twice a month. Each time I visited Qaptain Qwerty, I enjoyed listening to my mother placing the order and then went on to tell the person at Tay Ho about "my older daughter and her American husband are visiting from St. Louis". One time when I met the delivery person at the door to pay for the food, he smiled and greeted me warmly, "Chi ve tham gia dinh vui ve = I hope you have a nice visit with the family." It made me feel as if I could move back and live in New York again with very little adjustments!

HUMOR OF THE WEEK

Call me Dirty or call me Messy but don't call me Sissy! Here is a laundromat with an interesting name, Soapy Sissy's, on Stillwell Avenue in Bath Beach, no longer mistaken as Bensonhurst, but still in Brooklyn, New York :)