This chapter is not formal or of any nature, just a few emails that were sent during the writing. I had hoped I could get more to send but partially my fault as was not sure how to get in touch with everyone. I do ask as with these that anyone that has connections to please give me an address or email and I would be more than happy to send them a copy. As you read these please remember they were not edited, just happy emails.
Dennis 2-15-13
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From: Dennis Stafford <seacabin305@yahoo.com>
To: “shirleymp2@yahoo.com” <shirleymp2@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, February 4, 2013 12:36 PM
Subject: Cousin Dennis
Hi Shirley, this is Dennis Stafford and not sure if I am mailing to the right person.
If so I wanted to ask you about my parents when you knew them as far as watching out for them when they went on dates or anything else you may have……….I am trying to put a book together and although it is more about growing up in Tampa I would like to include those around me. I do have a picture of you that I have included so far.
anyway anything you can share would be great.
Also all your kids names would help too.
thanks so much,
Dennis
Ps hope all of you are in great health, say hello to hubby Joe and Rosemary for me as well.
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From: Shirley Perez <shirleymp2@yahoo.com>
To: Dennis Stafford <seacabin305@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 7:15 AM
Subject: Re: Cousin Dennis
so good to hear from you Dennis
what you are doing is so wonderful and i’ll help all i can – you know my parents divorce put such trauma in my family relation on dad’s side. Yes at that time as in now it has its effects on people and as in life it changes the perception on both sides. I address what I saw to a degree (very minor) but know that there was love and passion on both sided.
as far back as i can remember, i recall when your mom and dad owned that little store on osborne and i remember all ofyou when you were little boys in that little room in back of the store – i thought you all lived there and i felt so sorry for you because they were so poor – i thought that for years – but i think roseanne just recently told me that that was not where you lived. i seem to recall that grandma and grandpa were not too happy with that skinny tall boy from tennessee that your mom chose for her hubby and he was so shy and not at all like us italians. he was so quiet and serious but oh so very nice and gentlemanly. I realized that growing up and know that prejudice was there, but my dad accepted it. He was accepted in the family for he did love and care for my mom but knew that there was always a feeling. I believe he got over it, but at times during arguments it was brought up. I dont think my mom ever had a problem with it nor did we as sons.
my whole life everyone has told me i remind them of Matilda – always looking for a good deal and always loving to use coupons and so very thrifty – just like me – she would have loved going to garaage sales with me – i even took mary a few times and she loved them – every time i would go there she’d ask when we would go to one without the girls knowing about it.
oh and it just came to me – when we were all having a family day at clearwater beach when i was little, i was underwater drowning, and all of a sudden, Matilda’s arm snatched me up – she literally saved my life. i will never forget that. this is great, stories like this are what I am looking for.
i don’t know why i don’t remember a lot about matilda and stafford when they were courting. maybe i was too young. i was about 9 or 10 (i think) when tommy asked grandpa if he could marry mary and i remember that so well. i thought it was so amusing – his face was so serious and it was in italian. this too is good
i don’t think i ever saw aunt Matilda when she didn’t give me a cookie or the very first thing she would say when i visited her was “do you want something to eat”. she was like Nonna, food was important to them and if you did not eat it was an insult.
as i recall more i will jot them down and tell you.
you know i had no idea our grandparents had so many brothers and sisters
i thought they did but when we visited santo stefano d quesne(sp)??, we tried to find records and couldn’t. have you ever visited there – or the City of Mistretta? that was awesome, especially if you were a mistretta. I have not been there yet but it is my dream vacation
oh and by the way, you probably don’t know, joe and i divorced the year of our 50th anniversary. and altho i was devastated at first and everyone felt sorry for me, i am having the time of my life traveling, enjoying my independence, and doing whatever i like whenever i like along with all my widowed girl friends who honestly feel a little guilty having so much fun after their husbands have died. sorry to hear you had to go through that but guess now days we live so long have so much that perhaps we want even more. I know the feeling but so glad you are able to take care of yourself and have the support you need.
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Shirley if you could send me pictures of your mom, or Rosemary I would love to place them in the book. Please remember this is a book of me growing up and includes all those around me. Not a Mistretta tree but it is a very big part of my life.
If you remember me visiting at your Moms house that would help too.
I have found memories of us all even though we were very distant. I lived experiences through Joe and Jr. and thought I knew you that way. I also remember going to your lake house to ski one time and driving Joe’s car with Jr. I loved the reaction when I shared that at Jr.s bierthday party it was so funny to me when Joe reacted………..but he did great.
I will be in Pinellas county after the 16th of Feb. perhaps I will write you more as I get more time to put down this information.
I am sorry that so much dislike went on because of the divorce, but I worked with Paul, although not perfect as with all people he did talk about all of you and I could sense the pain in his heart when he did.
Shirley none of us are perfect, (except me) ha so we must learn to give and take as we have done throughout the years………..
I think writing this book will have many underlying messages that we will all be able to identify with. Anyway send any pics or info you can, if you can send info from Italy great, it would be nice to know how Nonno and Nonna meet. Same with your mom and dad as I never knew that either.
I am so glad to hear from you and welcome any news.
Your cousin,
Danny
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let me know if i can be of any more help to you.
i wish we could have a family reunion – wouldn’t that be nice.
shirley
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1-10-2013
Eunice and I live in Ocala. MY oldest son Keven lives with us. He lost his job 2 years ago and finally found a job with Swift as a long distance driver.He is on the road most of the time so he seldom is’nt at home.
Tony and his wife live in South Carolina . Bri Bri is attending South Florida.Isabelle lives at home.
Michele and her family live in Mooresville N.C. She works for U.S. food as a payroll clerk.Her 2 children Hailey and Miranda are active in soccer and keep their parents busy.
It was nice hearing from you again. If you want to chat give me a call at 352 861-9995 or 352 209 7043 cell.
Happy New Year to you also.
Paul
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2-4-2013 From Bobbie Mistretta:
Oh gee ……………..we’re going back 50 years…………..I recall the opera music after a HE meal around the noon hour. I had never seen so much food at one meal. I know I probably gained weight since I wasn’t shy eating all that was prepared. I recall Nana making ravioli, she was the first person to introduce me to coffee………Cuban coffee, at that and I really liked it. Jennie was sort of a fussy lady, but I enjoyed her sense of humor. I recall Frances telling me NOT to get out in the sun because I would get skin cancer.
Just little bites like that……………I don’t know if you know this, but after Ray died I was blamed for his death and because of that, and until Mimi actually apologized to me through his son John, I didn’t have much to do with the family. I BEGGED my father to straighten that misconception out, but as usual, he said just forget it and it will go away. I have a REAL BIG problem being blamed for something I didn’t do, no matter how big or small. I’m way too honest and it really hurt me.
I know you don’t want to use any of that, just information as to why, living as close as I did to Tampa all those years, I felt I wasn’t welcomed
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Bobbie
2-3-2013
Very nice! I think I would change that they were form Italy, since they were actually both from Sicily and that is a different culture and actually a different language. My understanding too was that they didn’t meet until they were both in Tampa. Dad tells me that while Nana was rolling cigars, her future mother-in-law told her she was a beautiful woman and that she had a son for her to marry. Nana said “no” since her older sister had to get married first as was the cultural custom. The lady said, (would this have been Zula?)……..” No problem I have two sons……..” (Paraphrased) so the two Mistretta boys married the two Costa sisters………….anyway, that’s what I always heard. Whether they knew one another in Sicily, I don’t know
Good Work! Thanks
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Bobbie
5/13/13
Boy, this is hard since I rarely got to Tampa, but………………
I remember picking a Mango off the tree in Nana’s back yard and was told I’d have to get into the bathtub to eat it. I did!
I remember as a 3 year old getting colored chickens from Pepe for Easter.
I remember Nana and Frances cleaning that house on Howard Ave. EVERY morning! I now know why Dad married my mother. There was NO dust in our house!
I recall having Nana serve spaghetti for lunch. Thinking that was it, I ate it all. Then came ALL the other food. No wonder I gained weight every time I visited.
I remember walking to Matilda’s store, helping where I could. I LOVED being around her and wished she was my real mother.
Boy, Danny, this is hard since they are fleeting memories. Take these and put into prose as you like.
The only time they visited I was away at college. I do, however, remember Jeannie visiting once when I was about 10 years old. She was shocked at all the HUGE Christmas trees that grow everywhere in Mn. …..Needless to say there aren’t any evergreens in Fla. Yes, there is Bobbi, they are called – Palm Trees! Danny
Hugs
Bobbie