I Am a Romantic - Our Etruscan Sarcophagus

My last post, the review of the book "Tomato Rhapsody," referenced the early Italian civilization of the Etruscans and resulted in a few conversations about my affinity for this unique group of people.  It has prompted me to write up what I call "Our Etruscan Story!"

When people talk about having lived another life at another time and in another place, they often say they are the reincarnated Cleopatra or Marc Antony.  Jay and I believe that we were an Etruscan noble couple...specifically Larth Tetnies and Thanchvil Tarnai, a couple who lived in the settlement of Vulci, Italy around 350 BC.  Before wondering what I have been smoking, listen to our story...

Jay and I became reacquainted with each other in 1998.  We were both happily single, employed in fulfilling jobs and had no intention of ever remarrying.  We enjoyed seeing each other socially but we were reluctant to venture into a lifelong commitment.  Jay was unsure if it was actually possible for a man and woman to have a mature and equal relationship where each person was respected and fulfilled.  Yet, we related so well to each other, so much so that once Jay remarked, "We seem to fit together so well...we must have been lovers in a former life!" 

Then, on a trip to Boston to attend a reunion, he ventured into the antiquities section of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and came to a compelling Etruscan sarcophagus of a married couple, in the prime of their life, lying together, facing each other as equals, gazing intimately into each other's eyes and holding each other tenderly with love.

He says he was stunned and he must have stared at it and walked around it for an hour...all the time thinking that this couple demonstrated what he wanted in a relationship.  Maybe, just maybe, it was possible.

He returned to Los Angeles, told me what he had experienced and asked me to marry him.  He seemed so confident that this was meant to be, so excited and sure, that I trusted him and said yes!  Over the years we have learned more about this couple and this sarcophagus. We discovered their names and their lineage. Jay took me to Boston to see the sarcophagus for myself.

Boston Museum of Fine Arts

We were able to purchase a photo of it from the museum that is framed in our bedroom.  On a trip to Italy in 2002 we visited the town of Vulci, just north of Rome in the province of Viterbo, where the sarcophagus was excavated from the Ponte Rotto necropolis. As we stood on the bridge over the river Fiora we thought, our couple had lived here, walked these paths and maybe even stood on this bridge.

Vulci, Italy - Bridge over Fiora River

"Corny" as it may sound, we looked at each other, thanked Larth and Thanchvil and renewed our marriage vows. Before leaving we tried to talk to a woman at a souvenir stand nearby and in our halting Italian told her about the sarcophagus.  She grabbed a book, "Le Donne In Etruria" off the shelf, turned to a page and there was a picture our sarcophagus. Of course we bought the book, even if it was written in Italian!

The Etruscan society was unique in Italy.  They were there before the Romans and had a profound influence on the Roman civilization.  They loved life, they valued family and they honored and treated their women as equals.  It is not surprising that such a couple would commission a sarcophagus that portrayed their values and their love.

Whether we are truly Larth and Thanchvil reincarnate is unimportant.  But the fact that love is eternal and that a couple who lived so many years before us could have such a profound effect on our life decisions is amazing to me.  We have been married for over 12 years now.  We believe we have the kind of marriage that we wanted and that "our couple" portrayed.  We will always feel connected to the Etruscans.

I Am a Reader - "Tomato Rhapsody" by Adam Schell

How can you not pick up a book that has a photo of a delicious red tomato superimposed over a glorious Tuscan landscape while cherubs (putti) hold a banner reading "A Fable of Love, Lust & Forbidden Fruit?"

Pick it up I did, and buy it I did, and read it I did, and delight in it I did, and meet the author I did, and try a couple of recipes I did.  In truth I received good value for my purchase.  Tomato Rhapsody by Adam Schell is not my usual type of book.  It is unique in that it is part fable, part history, part Shakespearean opera, part comedy and part romance.  It is a work of fiction and is set in Tuscany in the 16th century.  The plot is built on the story of the introduction of the tomato to Italy by the Spanish who brought it from the New World.  In this particular fictional account, "the Spanish" was a Spanish Jew who survived the Inquisition in Spain by traveling with Columbus on a later trip to the New World and ending up in Italy with the tomato...the "Pomo di Amore."

The story reads like a fable with a third party narrator keeping you apprised of what is going on behind the scenes.  What I found most interesting were the historical tidbits the author worked into the story; things I had never, ever heard before!  Like, the use of the language "Etruscanato Antiquato"...which the author claims is an early Italian dialect that evolved in Tuscany in the centuries after the ancient Etruscans were conquered by Rome.  It is largely a rhyming idiom...theorized to have developed as a means to facilitate memorization before the widespread understanding of the written language.  Is this truth?  Is it fiction?  Whatever...it adds so much to the enjoyment of the story.  Much of the dialogue is written in this rhyming format and it gives it a Shakespearean feel.  Italian words and phrases are used throughout and the bawdy humor is fantastic!  The ability to understand the Italian idioms made my enjoyment more pronounced.  The cast of characters are bigger than life and I was quickly drawn in to the various personalities and stereotypes.  You will recognize them.

The story line is predictable but knowing what is probably coming even adds to the enjoyment.  This story form is also reminiscent of Comedie del Arte, the improvisational street theater that developed in Italy in the 16th century.  If you are an Italophile and can't spend enough time physically or mentally in Italy, you will enjoy this book.

There is a website for Tomato Rhapsody and a Facebook Tomato Rhapsody Community Garden Group.  After reading the book, I wanted to meet Adam Schell so I went to see this creative author, who was preparing one of the recipes included in the book and signing books at the Hollywood Farmers' Market.

Adam Schell preparing "The Good Padre’s Lemony Tomato & Mint Panzanella Salad"

He signed my book and when I asked him about the historical accuracy of the "Etruscanto Antiquato" dialect  he merely smiled and raised his eyes to heaven!  Well, I wasn't surprised!  But, it certainly added to the story!

He signed my book..."To Patricia, a woman of obviously exquisite taste. May the sauce be with you!"  and "May the sauce be with all of you, as well!"

This book is my review for March for the Italy in Books Reading Challenge.

I Am a Mother - Celebrating Marc's Birthday

I have always believed that a child's birthday is as important to the mother as it is to the child.  After nine months of carrying that growing fetus, of feeling it twist and turn, kick, stick it little foot under your rib cage the infant is born and is placed in your arms.  Even though you are surrounded by a medical team, during those hours of labor and delivery it is just you and that baby.  So, each year, on the birthdays of each of my 3 sons, I recall that day with a special memory and I feel a tug to that child stronger than any umbilical cord.

My youngest son, Marc, turned 41 on March 21st.

Marc Andrew Altieri - March 1970

Born 5 years after my second son, I was a more seasoned mom when Marc arrived.  I had "my act" more together.  Since his two older brothers were already in school, his toddler years were unique in that it was just the two of us.  I was a stay-at-home mom, so during the day he and I would deal with the world.  We ran errands together. We sang songs in the car and we talked.  His little personality was so vital and alive.  He had an opinion about everything from the time he could put four words together.  In fact, he told me once, "Mommy, I think my hobby is talking."  And talk we did.

I have so many wonderful memories of raising that little boy.  And as I planned his family dinner to celebrate this year, I wanted it to convey my love for him.  I got out the "You Are Special Today" plate that has been used over the years with the celebrant signing the back to memorialize the event.

I prepared favorite dishes, like his special tomato salad and his German Chocolate Cake.

And I had gifts ready that I thought he would like... frozen servings of his favorite childhood recipes that he could take home with him to enjoy later.

And an afghan that I had knitted.  Cuddling up in blankets has always been a treat to Marc.  When he was little he had a "Blankie" that he carried around with him.  He slept with it, wrapped himself in it while watching TV, and hid under it when he was pouting.

He is 41 years old, and as I look at his mature "man's" face, I still see the little boy inside.  He is a man, living his full life in the world and I am proud of him.  But, I would give anything to be able to pull him on to my lap one more time, to rock him to sleep one more time, to rub his head in my lap one more time, to cheer him as he pitched at his Little League game one more time, to hear the noise of his playing the drums in the garage one more time.

Marc Altieri - All Star Pitcher!

But the years are past and I relive those moments only in my memories...knowing I will always hold him close in my heart.

 Happy Birthday, Marc.  I am so glad that I am your mom!

I Am a Treasure-Hunter - Learning about Geo-Caching

It's never too late to have a happy childhood!  Thousands of adults throughout the world, who either loved treasure hunts as children or never had a chance to go on one, are learning this through the activity of geo-caching.  This week, our Omnilore Hiking/Walking Group had a chance to try it on our monthly walk through the areas of Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.  One of the members invited Mike, an active geo-cacher, to join us and introduce us to the finer points of geo-caching. 

A few comments about Geo-Caching.  It is a high-tech treasure hunting game where "adventure seekers" equipped with GPS devices locate hidden containers, called caches, that were placed in various outdoor locations. Once found the cacher logs in their name on a log contained within the container and then replaces the container for someone else to find.  All of this is pulled together by the Official Global GPS Cache Hunt website.  Here, those who have hidden caches, log in its location so that others can know of its existence and try to find it.  Someone wanting to go on the hunt will download the GSP parameters of the location and set off on a hunt.  Once a cache has been located by someone, the person can go back to the website and record their find.  Who would want to do such a thing? Well according to the website, there are 1,319,813 caches hidden throughout the world, so obviously many people do. The website provides a central place for finding caches sites, communicating with other "cachers" via Forums, purchasing special equipment and experiencing a sense of community.

Here is a little account of our experience:

Our group met at Hermosa Valley Park.

Mike explained the activity to us, showed us his special Geo-caching GSP device and explained what we were going to do.

Using clues to figure out the first cache's latitude and longitude (memories of 7th grade geography class) we set out to look for the first cache.  Our route took us south along the wood chip jogging path.

Finally the GPS told us we were within a few feet of the first cache location.

Jay poking his head in the tree!

Trying not to look obvious, we began the hunt and after a few minutes found the tiny container, strategically attached to the end of a stick that was hidden in the hollow of a tree.

Checking the log inside we saw that many had already located the container and logged in, cachers from as far away as Spain.

Mike told us he has found caches in many countries, using the activity to hike while on vacation, and he even found one hidden on the Great Wall of China!

We replaced the container so it could be found by others, and continued on our way to two other caches in the vicinity.

The last one took us down to King's Harbor in Redondo Beach where Cindy's eagle eyes spotted it.

Cindy finding the cache!

Like with most things, there are people who want to spoil the fun. These are non-geocachers called Muggles (after the non-magical persons in Harry Potter!), and they will remove the cache so it cannot be found.  When this happens, the cache is listed on the website as "muggled" so others don't waste time hunting for it.

Since we found ourselves right across the street from a small marine museum, the SeaLAB, we stopped in and paid our respects to the jelly fish, the eels, the rockfish, and even some outdoor sharks.

The return route took us along the Hermosa Strand where we walked past tourists and watched volleyball players enjoying the sand and sun.

A Tsunami warning sign reminded us of the recent tragedy in Japan.

Two miles and two hours later found us back at the Hermosa Valley Park where we enjoyed our picnic lunches and laughed and talked about our escapade.

John, Lynn, Steve, Mike, Dennis, Cindy and Jay

We decided that it was an interesting activity and probably one that would be fun to share with grandchildren or to use when looking for something different to do in a new city. Who says there is nothing to do in retirement?  Want to go on a Treasure Hunt?

I Am an Herbalist - Appreciating Rosemary

The first year that Jay and I were married, he came home with a little Christmas tree for our small living room.  It looked different to me from other pines or firs and when I reached out to press the needles with my fingers a wonderful, herbal fragrance spilled into the room.  This was not pine, it was Rosemary, or Rosemarie, or Rosmarino (in Italy.)  My first memories of Rosemary are in my paternal grandmother's kitchen.  She was from the Le Marche region of Italy where porchetta is a traditional dish.  There is nothing more fragrant or tasty than pork roasting in the oven pierced  with skewers of rosmarino sprigs.  After Christmas we planted the Rosemary bush, not too far from the door where I could run out for a sprig whenever a recipe called for it.

Rosemary is an ancient herb.  There is much myth and superstition surrounding it. Sprigs of it have been placed under pillows to ward off evil spirits and bad dreams.

"There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance" says Shakespeare's Hamlet to Ophelia.  It is often planted around war memorials and in cemeteries. It symbolizes loyalty and friendship so often I will tie a sprig of the herb to the ribbon of a present I am taking to someone.

It is said that "in the house where rosemary thrives, the women of that house are its strength."  I even read in the Treasury of Botany that Rosemary will only grow well if the mistress is the master so many lords of the manor privately injured a growing rosemary to destroy evidence of their want of authority!

There are recent study results that suggest that it also protects our brains against neuro-degeneration from free radicals and can help our brains and memory.

Today in our Mediterranean Cuisines class we are going to be discussing spices and herbs used in the Mediterranean area.  As a treat I am bringing some Rosemary Lemon Cookies.  I found many versions of this recipe on the internet and here is how I ended up making mine:

Rosemary Lemon Cookies

1 cup butter at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg - crack open and reserve about 1 tablespoon of the egg white
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tablespoon of rosemary leaves, very finely chopped
1 Tablespoon of lemon zest, very finely chopped
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of raw sugar

Beat butter and sugar together until light; add egg (minus the 1 tablespoon of egg white you are reserving for later) and vanilla.  When well blended, add the rosemary, lemon zest, salt, flour and mix well.  I end up using my hands.

Divide the dough in half and using some waxed paper, form the dough into two logs about 1 1/2 inch in diameter.  I placed these in the refrigerator overnight. You could probably just refrigerate them for a few hours so that you can easily slice the logs.

After they are chilled, preheat your oven to 375 F degrees.  Brush the logs of dough with the reserved egg white and roll them in the raw sugar to coat.  Slice the logs into 1/4 inch slices and place on parchment paper covered cookie sheets.  Bake them for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are beginning to brown.  Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

Oh...by the way...my Rosemary bush FLOURISHES!

I Am A Contributor - Helping Others with Micro-Loans

I can always count on my son, Joe, to help me keep my perspective. He sends me emails with heart-rending stories of people and events that make me poke my head out of my little cubbyhole and try to remember that not everyone has the life experience that I do.  Every November Jay and sit down, around Thanksgiving, and reflect on our life.  We say we are not rich in the financial portfolio sense, but we are wealthy in that we have each other, our health, supportive family and friends and are able to met all our needs.  Our cup runnith over and we take time to share some of what we have with others by making our annual donations to charitable causes.

It is always a quandary to decide where to send our dollars.  We want our donation to have an affect so we search out organizations where only a small percentage of their contributions is used for administrative overhead costs.  Websites like Charity Navigator are helpful.

In 2008 we heard Muhammad Yunus speak at the MIT graduation and were impressed with his message. He is called "The Banker to the Poor" and is the founder of the Grameen Bank, one of the first financial institutions to provide micro-lending.  He believed that providing small loans to people, especially women, gave them the power to rise out of poverty.  We began donating to various micro-lending institutions but we never could "follow" our donation.  Then our friend, H.E.,  told us about Kiva, an organization he has participated for many years, that got us excited.  Kiva.org is a microlending organization whose website says "Empowering people around the world with a $25 loan...loans that change lives."

Kiva facilitates small loans to persons in various parts of the world who need a "leg-up" to start their business or improve a business already going.  It is a very personal experience because you see the face and know the story of the person who is going to receive your contribution.  You become a part of a team of lenders that is sponsoring this person.  The recipient agrees to make monthly payments to pay off the loan and your percentage of that payment is credited back to your account.  When you have your $25 paid back, you can loan it again to another person.  Here is a simple diagram of how the process works:

At the moment we are sponsoring three individuals:
Teyyub is a man in Azerbaijan who raises livestock. He requested a loan to help him buy 15 sheep and fodder to build his business. He is married and has three children and has been in business for 15 years. We are one of a team of 43 lenders providing his loan and he has paid back 74% of his loan to date.

Mairam is a 57 year old woman in Tajikistan who is trying to put her 6 children though University with the proceeds of her small business selling women's clothing in the central market of her town.  We are one of 40 lenders sponsoring her loan and she has repaid 61% of her loan.

Just this month we had $25 of our previous loans repaid so we loaned to another borrower, actually a group of women in Mexico, who have joined together to help each other get ahead and support their children.  They sell tamales and would like to expand their business to carry other food products.  We are one of 97 lenders in this activity.

We like the philosophy of micro-lending.  It isn't a handout but rather a hand-up. It also communicates our confidence and belief in what the person is doing.  It allows us to feel a connection, even if small, to the global community.  It seems like such a small thing to do and hopefully it helps someone else to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

I Am a Tourist - A Trip to Pacific Palisades

In Southern California, you can go on vacation any day you choose and be a tourist for a day.  Sunday was a beautiful day so we decided to get in the car and drive to someplace not too far away to "see what we could see!"  When you drive the usual routes between home, stores, gym, university you can lose touch with what is changing in other parts of the city.

We had not been to Pacific Palisades for a long time so that was our destination.  We took the 405 freeway to Sunset Boulevard and then headed west.  Driving through Brentwood and passing Doheny Drive reminded me of my days in the early 60's when I commuted to classes at Mount St. Mary's College. Wide, winding streets with homes set far back from the roadside, often hidden from view by high walls or hedges, hint of a life that is different from mine.

Pacific Palisades itself is a little village.  We treated ourselves to a stop at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and I enjoyed sipping a Chai Latte while we walked the surrounding streets.  We stumbled on Village Books, a small independent bookstore that was quite active. There is something about a bookstore that makes you instant friends with others who are browsing the books.  One woman was searching for something engaging and we began to compare favorite books.  I was thrilled to see her purchase one I recommended...The Handyman by Carolyn See.

The highlight of the day was a hidden treasure that Jay introduced to me when he made a sudden right turn while we driving on Sunset, taking us up a fairly steep grade to what ended at Will Roger's State Historic Park. I had heard of the park but had never been to it.

There nestled in the hillside was a huge expanse that used to be the home of Will Rogers and his wife, Betty.  It was delightful.  Will died too soon in a plane crash in 1935 and after the death of Betty, in 1944, the house and property was bequeathed to the State of California.  The house is now a museum and even though we were not able to take the tour of it,

Standing in front of the house

we peeked through the windows and tried out the rocking chair on the patio.

The grounds are spacious with hiking trails and paths.

Walking up to the horse stables, we saw young girls who were there to practice dressage,

saw families flying kites with their children in the large lawn area,

and tried to imagine the games and even airplane landings that used to occur on the large polo grounds.

There is also a small Visitor Center highlighting the events in Will Roger's life.  He was quite a versatile man, known for his wit and pithy sayings.  As we read some of his quotes we couldn't help thinking how they still applied today, maybe even more so.  Like these:
       All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance.

       A fool and his money are soon elected.

       Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

       Get someone else to blow your horn and the sound will carry twice as far.

and especially this one:

      Everything is changing, people are taking the comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.

Just another wonderful day in Southern California!!

I Am a Gardener - Preparing Seeds for the Summer Garden

After weeks of overcast skies, rain, and cold (for California) temperatures this morning dawned filled with the glorious sun and the garden beckoned.  First thing I did was pick a bouquet of Freesia and Gerber Daisies.

Freesia and Gerber daisies from the garden

Rain is wonderful and everything was lush and green and the soil was easy to work so the first hour or so we weeded and trimmed back existing plants and then began to prepare the soil to receive some new plants.  We compost our kitchen scraps and the "closed" compost bin had produced enough ready new compost to work into the soil before planting the onion starts I ordered from Dixondale Farms. 

Onion starts planted March 5, 2011

Once the onions were planted, I prepared the nursery.  Over the years I have learned how nature will continue to gift you with seeds if you are patient and allow plants to go through their natural life cycle.  I have had all the lettuce I could want from lettuce seeds.  The lettuce in this large pot is from a scattering of dried lettuce seeds and I am begging people to come and take some of the starts.

Red leaf lettuce starts

On today's nursery agenda was the planting of my saved tomato seeds.

Recycled jars holding saved seeds.

I have a large germination tray that one of the gardeners at Cal Poly's Organic Farm gave to me during a visit a couple of years ago.

I start my seeds here and those that germinate and grow beyond to the two first leaves graduate into larger containers until they are big enough to go into the ground.  This are some red leaf lettuce and some butter lettuce especially for my son, Michael.

I can never remember what is planted where, so I have to mark everything.  Years ago I read about recycling old aluminum blinds by using them for plant markers.  They cut easily with a pair of scissors and a permanent Sharpie adheres to the aluminum.

I put the printed end into the soil so the sun doesn't bleach it away.  So, the seeds are all in place, they got a nice misting and then I place them right near the front door so I have to pass them often and won't forget to keep them moist by misting.

If I am patient and if nature does her work, in 6 to 8 weeks I should have tomato plants ready for the garden.

Yes, I ache a little bit.  My body is reminding me about muscles that haven't been used recently.  A hot shower feels good.  Since this is such a lovely spring day, we re-instituted our special evening event, (Thank you dear friend, Norman!) and enjoy a 5:00 pm  cocktail on our front porch.

Cocktail March 5, 2011

Tonight it was an Americano made with Campari!  Yummy.  Life is good!