I from a rich Italian history on my father's side

who immigrated to the United States

Instilling future generations

with a love of big families, rich pasta dishes, and a strong Catholic faith

I am from a big family where teasing each other is a must

The constant bickering making outsiders giggle

From sharing a cramped room with beloved brothers

Where beds lined the room wall to wall leaving little room to move

Except for a closet full of hand-me-down clothes

with a certain number of dots

my mom had labeled as mine

and has labeled different dots for my brothers

From a silent household where mom sang us songs

to wake us up to get ready for the school day

and later we sneakily woke ourselves to play video games before school

From a faith filled home, with crosses in every room, saying prayers in the car, on the way to school, and prayers before we go to bed

I am from a big dinner table where everyone sat in special spots

with siblings leaving the house, one by one leaving empty chairs behind

Even though the family members are never really gone