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Correspondence from Cousin Chuck Miceli began to arrive in April regarding the family reunion of the Miceli-Spano families that was scheduled for September 1 to September 3 in the Catskill Mountains in New York. As time neared an itinerary listing times and activities was received from Cathy Miceli with a suggestion to bring snacks or home made cookies for the goodie table.
Knowing the characteristics of Italian families, I knew that Cousin Sadie would bake her mother’s gembelli, Cousin Grace would bake a variety of Italian cookies and Aunt Rose Chiarelli her famous moscadelli. I was not about to compete with the experts so instead chose to bring the infamous Tastykakes.
The drive to Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York, was a delight. The weatherman was most cooperative in providing an especially sunny day minus the humidity. The journey took us through the breathtaking mountains to small towns with an Americana aura, winding roads, open fields, dotted with gorgeous willow trees all adding to the excitement and anticipation of seeing over 70 first and second cousins and meeting for the first time the children of the second cousins which made them our third cousins.
The serenity of the drive brought my mind back to childhood and Aunt Philippina and Uncle Phil Miceli, the parents of eleven children; Nicholas, Cataldo (Ky), Rosaria (Sadie), Philip Jr., Joseph, Grace, Carmella, Charles (Chuck), John, Daniel and David, who resided on Spring Alley in Pittston.
Uncle Phil was my mother’s brother and we spent a great deal of time in their home. It was a place where I loved visiting for it meant being with my Cousin Sadie and all the other siblings and babies. The house was alive with the smell of baking bread, the sound of a washing machine, the traffic of children coming and going out of doors, raised voices of children at play, and the comfort of strong and steady parents.
Uncle Phil, a strong, handsome man was self-educated. His formal schooling ended in third grade when he had to go to work in the mines as a breaker boy. Growing up he was mechanically inclined taking things apart and reassembling them to learn how they worked. At a young age he devised a short wave radio that was able to transmit and play music. In his early 20s, Grandpa Miceli purchased a car and presented it to him. When Grandpa came home one day the motor was taken apart and laid on the ground. A not too happy father wanted to know why? “To learn how it works” was the response from Uncle Phil.
Aunt Phillipina, or Aunt Phil as we called her, was a beautiful and special lady. She was devout and spiritual who transmitted her love of God to her children. Each morning when St. Rocco’s Church bell peeled at 6:30 a.m., she was dressed and ready to attend mass. She had a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and yearly she would ask neighbors and friends for a donation to decorate an arch with calla lilies to celebrate His feast day. The picture of her kneeling on the kitchen floor surrounded by her children and who ever else was in the house reciting the rosary is a memory that made a great impact on me.
As directed, I placed the boxes of unopened Tastykakes on the goodie table early Saturday afternoon. Each time, I returned to the Sans Soui room for meals or activities a quick check on the Tastykakes was made. The supply was obviously being enjoyed as their numbers dwindled.
It was at Sunday’s breakfast that I found Susan and Ernie Grab (sister and brother) with Tastykakes in hand quibbling as to who should have the last package of krimpets. It was then that Susan asked, “Who brought the Tastykakes?”
Like George Washington, who could not tell a lie I raised my hand in response.
“Tell me, Susan, what is so special about Tastykakes?”
“We don’t have Tastykakes in Connecticut. I remember when we came to Pittston my mother Grace would buy boxes of the cupcakes and my sister and two brothers sat in the van devouring them. By the time we got home they were all gone. Just love them.”
Eating a Tastykake in our growing up days was like getting a piece of gold. Two varieties of the cupcakes chocolate and vanilla with butterscotch icing were on the store shelves. There were three cupcakes in a package, larger in size, and individual packages could be purchase along with an assortment of pies. Tastykakes to us was like an Oreo cookie is to the present generation of children.
Cousin Nick claims the Tastykake is not as good as when he was a kid but still loves them. Cousin Ky relates they are not in every state but are the best. For Cousin Phil, “They bring back a lot of memories. I loved them then and still do.” Cousin Sadie remembers “My mother cut each cupcake in four so we could all have a taste. They were most delicious and we wanted more.”
The krimpet is Cousin Grace’s favorite. Cousin Joe admitted that he hid the cupcakes when he got them and Cousin Chuck recalls licking off the icing and then eating the cupcake.
The reunion came to an end on Monday morning following breakfast in a most heartwarming manner. Michael Miceli, son of Chuck a professional photographer, had taken pictures throughout the weekend of everyone. In an expertise manner the photos were made into a video and shown before departure. Tears welled and fell with the beauty of the sight and also with the realization that endings and memories are tucked away sometimes forever.
On departure a thank you was given to Cousin Chuck and his niece Cathy Miceli for all the hard work and the success of the reunion. Chuck’s closing thoughts, “I am a memory maker.”