The recent death of Luciano Pavarotti prompted me to wonder how Italians, overwhelmingly Catholic, accepted the famous tenor's famous divorce from Adua, his wife of several decades, and subsequent marriage to Nicoletta, his former assistant, several years his junior. It seems it depends on whom you ask.
I spent a few hours in the pronto soccorso, emergency room, the other day. I waited a couple of hours before seeing the doctor, because my foot injury was not life-threatening (and is almost completely healed now). I shared the waiting room with a rather animated middle-aged woman, who, while knowing only one word of English, made herself completely understood with gestures and facial expressions. Actually, she reminded me very much of someone who might have lived in my neighborhood in South Philadelphia, back in the day. The signora was reading a magazine article on Pavarotti and after going through the motions of ripping her clothes and crying over his death, pointed to a picture of Nicoletta, made the sign of the evil eye, and repeated, "Money, money, money." It was clear to me where this woman, whose children call her Mamma Pazza (Crazy Mom) , stood on Pavarotti's leave-taking of Adua.
I got quite a different reaction today, at Sunday lunch, with Guido and Alessandra, good friends with my good friends Michael and Corrado. M & C were very anxious that I meet this lovely couple. Guido, a pathologist who was a resident with Corrado in a Rome hospital, and Alessandra, who works in the Senate in the diplomacy office, explained that most Italians, while still strongly family-oriented, are very secular in matters of the heart. I asked, munching on my portion of a timballo of rigatoni, pancetta, tomatoes and mozzarella, if anyone they knew renounced Pavarotti because of his private life. They said no, it is simply not the business of others if people divorce and re-marry. They responded to Luciano's story with a shrug of the shoulders.
I suspect that the majority of Italians probably share this viewpoint, although I want to thank Mamma Pazza for entertaining me for a couple of hours and I hope her shoulder is feeling better.
Two quick points:
My consultation with the doctor and subsequent X-ray cost me zero, zilch, nada, niente. The intake worker asked only to see my passport.
Alessandra assured me that many American politicians were very much committed to the idea of diplomacy to deal with problems between countries. I was happy to hear that that was her experience of Americans, despite the current mess our government has made of things.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
So glad you were able to meet Guido & Sandra; they are among our best friends in Italy ... very bright, and perhaps because they are so unusually world- (as opposed to merely Europe-) travelled for Italians, we always always seem to view and analyze things in similar ways. As an uptight American, I've always admired in them that characteristic melded with the typically Italian ability to 'go with the flow' and accept rapid change and unexpectedness. As you progress through your language course, we'll expect your well-composed prose to become increasingly peppered with apropos Italian phrases (read: beyond the food terms you know so well!) Glad to hear your ankle is healing. xo Michael (& Corrado) P.S. Yesterday Corrado labored several hours to make a wonderful pasta alla norma ... he spoils me!
How delightful to have had the chance to explore the national conscience on such a timely issue with such interesting natives. And, how kind of Michael and Corrado to put you in touch with them. Always nice to have such contacts in a far away land.
I'm sure they were also delighted to make the acquaintance of a thoughtful, well-informed and provocative American woman. It certainly seems you are making the most of every moment and every experience ... including the emergency room. Hope every day is full of delight and adventure and that you continue to share those moments with us.
P.S. You didn't tell us what mamma Pazza's one word was!
Post a Comment