Thursday, May 31, 2007

HAPPY GRADUATION - GRANDSONS


THE PHOTO (ABOVE) WAS TAKEN AT “LA NOSTRA COSTA DAY” IN DAVENPORT LAST YEAR. THE TALL GOOD-LOOKING LAD ON THE LEFT IS ANDREW FRITTER. REMEMBER HIM IN ‘LA NOSTRA COSTA’?? “DAMN YOU MARE!! FROM THEE I SNATCH THIS INNOCENT SOUL” (Pg. 365).

ANDREW GRADUATED LAST WEEK FROM VALLEY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN JOSE. ANDREW IS INTERESTED IN STUDYING THE STARS. A TRIP TO MARS IS NOT UNLIKELY FOR THIS INDUSTRIOUS LAD.

THE OTHER GOOD LOOKING LAD IN THE PHOTO IS MICHAEL IVANO FRITTER. AS I WRITE IN THE BOOK, FELLOW STUDENTS HAVE A PROBLEM PRONOUNCING HIS MIDDLE NAME (LNC: Pg.33). EVEN SO, AT HIS GRADUATION FROM VALLEY CHRISTIAN JR. HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY, IT WAS A THRILL FOR ME TO HEAR HIS NAME ANNOUNCED OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER AS HE RECEIVED HIS DIPLOMA: MICHAEL ‘EYE-VANO’ FRITTER. (DON’T WORRY MICHAEL ‘EE-VANO’, ONE OF THESE DAYS THEY WILL GET IT RIGHT.) MICHAEL WILL BE ENTERING VALLEY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL THIS COMING FALL.

THE PRETTY LADY IN THE PHOTO IS MY DAUGHTER MADELINE FRITTER. SHE IS HOLDING HER DOG ‘GRINDER’ (HE DID NOT GRADUATE.) UNFORTUNATELY, MY OTHER GRANDSON WILLIE FRITTER WAS NOT AT THE EVENT AND THUS NOT IN THE PHOTO. HE ALSO WILL BE GRADUATING IN TWO WEEKS FROM RUCKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GILROY.

HAPPY GRADUATION, GRANDSONS. BUONA FORTUNA E SEMPRE AVANTI!! *******PAPA IVANO

6 comments:

Canadian Furlan said...

Hey Ivano Comelli. I am a Canadian Furlan. My parents also as your were born in Friuli. My father born in Pasian di Prato Udine 1924 and my mother born in Bressa di Campoformido Udine 1927. Both are still here with us today and in great health. My Father still drives and plays cards with his Furlan buddies, the one's that are still around. I read in the Friuli Nel Mondo about your book and your family history and also about yourself living in California. I am presently the secretary of the Fogolar Furlan Club of the Niagara Region. We live in St Catharines Onatrio. There is a rather generous group of Furlans in our area. There are as you may already know a number of Fogolar Furlan CLubs in Canada and the USA. Our Fogolar Furlan CLub also represents members of the Western New York regions, like Buffalo, Niagara Falls NY etc..
I will definitely be very interested in reading your book. We visited San Francisco two years ago and I attempted to see if there were any Italian American Clubs. We were only there for a week.. not enough time. We have a friend in San Mateo CA, he grew up in San Francisco and he mentioned that he is a member of the Northern California Veterans Boxing Association which had quite of few members of Italian Origin. Please keep in touch...Ivano.. I really like to know how many Furlans are in the State California. Viewing your photo I can say you look like a typical Furlan...

Take Care

Doriano

Anonymous said...

Caro Doriano: Thank you for your e-mail. Because you used the Blog I can not reply directly to you via your e-mail. Hopefully, you will read this message.

My information has it that there are no Fogolar Furlan's in California. That is a shame since the Furlano's were certainly a part of the History of this Great State. I am in contact with a number of descendents of Furlanos, however, most of the origninal immigrants have "crossed over Il Ultimo Ponte" An exception is my Aunt Lina (Bressani)Gemingani who immigrated from Nimis, in 1947. (I have a whole Chapter in the Book about her life.)I do have a first cousin Angelina (Bressani) who lives in the Victoria Region of Canada.

Doriano, If you will contact me by using my regular e-mail address:

ivcomelli@arilion.com

I would like to continue this conversation with you
re: the Friulanos. (BTW: I was even thinking of titling the book: FRIULANOS,LA COSTA, L'AMERICA).

Thanks for reading the La Nostra Costa Blog and also for purchasing my book. Let us know how you like it. ivano

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone !! This is the Canadian Furlan again. You can drop me a line at furlan06@hotmail.com. I would be glad to hear from all the Friulani out there in California and anywhere else in the World.
Ciao e Mandi

Doriano

Anonymous said...

From: "Reno Cantarutti" Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 11:16 AM


IVANO Once again thanks to your book via FRIULI NEL MONDO , I have
found a new FRIULIAN in CANADIAN FRIULIAN DORIANO . DEGANO . What makes
this even more special that he new my uncle JOHN very well via the
FOGOLAR FRIULIAN . So I have his E-MAIL address and I am sure we will
become well acquainted. Hope you had a good holiday . RENO

Unknown said...

thanks pop

Anonymous said...

You are welcome, Grandson. I am glad you found the article on my "Blagga". The article that I just posted at the top of the "Blagga", about an Italian Immigrant who was born in Brazil might interest you. It was written by his eldest son who also writes about his experiences in Italy in World War II. Some of the comments associated with this article are also of historical significance. If you or Christhoper , Michael, and Willie, want to post an article on the Blagga, just send it to me by regular e-mail: ivcomelli@arilion.com . I will then post it. An article about the planets or the stars and how they effect our lives, surely would be of interest My blagga fans would love a change pace. Keep in touch. PaPa Ivano