I used to be involved in many more activities, but in recent years, it has gotten more difficult to find the time to continue with all of them. I have mentioned playing cards on this list below. However, it seems that as my friends, cousins and I get older, we are much more involved in our own little worlds and now getting together could be a monumental task. We used to get together to play a sport every Sunday morning and would usually get together one night during the week to have an Italian card or poker night. Despite these obstacles, we still manage to get together once in a while.

Racquetball
My cousin Pat and I get together once a week, usually on Wednesday nights right after work and play racquetball for an hour at the Woburn Racquet Club in Woburn, MA. Racquetball is an awesome sport when played with a partner who is at the same skill level. It is intense, requires skill, good endurance, speed, and quick reactions. Pat and I are pretty evenly matched thus giving us a great workout. We have been playing racquetball for the last six years. Initially we would have up to eight people playing on a given night in four courts. People who used to be regulars included my cousin Angelo, Cousin Pat, brother-in-law Ronnie and my friend Attilio. Other regulars were comprised of people that I worked with. For the most part, today it’s Pat and I who still play on a regular basis.

Fishing with Dad and Ronnie
For about four or five years we had the fishing bug. We loved to go fishing and went fishing any chance that we had. Most of our trips and the most enjoyable was fresh water fishing which usually was at a nearby lake, pond or reservoir. We would usually go on Sunday mornings before 7 AM and try to be back home by 12:30 PM. This was so that we would have enough time to shower and get ready for our weekly family function of some sort. One of our favorite spots was at Walden Pond which is a reservoir in Saugus, MA. Of course it was illegal to fish there. Nevertheless, it was close, had tons of fish and was very scenic. The regulars included my brother-in-law Ronnie, my father, my friend Attilio and of course me. Occasionally, my friend Sammy would join us. Our usual routine would involve picking everyone up in Ronnie’s van. Since his van at that time was meant for cargo, there were only two seats in it. As a result, he and dad would sit in the front while the rest of us would sit in the cargo area on the floor or on a bucket. After we picked everyone up, we would go buy the bait, pick up the coffee and off we went. We would park the van near a horse stable and then walk in the woods for about a half hour before getting to the reservoir. I really enjoyed going every week. Catching fish was secondary to spending quality time with Dad and Ronnie in a picturesque setting. There was nothing like sitting on a boulder overlooking the water, with a cigar in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. This was especially true in the fall when the foliage on the trees enhanced the scenery and made it that much more enjoyable. From time to time we would also catch a fish (usually a large mouth bass) which helped to create some excitement, but that was secondary.

Occasionally we would go salt water fishing. Usually we would charter or go on friend’s boat. We had always talked about buying our own boat, and at one point Dad had even put a deposit down on one. The truth of the matter is that we don’t have the time to make the investment worthwhile. Maybe at some other point in our lives when the kids are grown up and we have less functions to attend. Salt water fishing is much different than fresh water fishing. When catching a fish, salt water fish are bigger, stronger and more fun to catch than fresh water. However, I enjoy the scenery much more while fresh water fishing. When salt water fishing, we would usually target blue fish which are fun to catch or striped bass which is a great eating fish.

During the last couple of years, we really haven’t been getting out as much as we used to. I am not sure if it’s from a lack of interest or that we have been too busy. Probably a little of both. Most of our recent fishing has been mainly to occupy and entertain the kids. Usually its been a quick trip to Breakheart Reservation or during our summer vacation at Lake Winnisquam in New Hampshire.

Fantasy Football
For the past five years, my cousin Pat and I have organized a family and friends fantasy football league. If nothing else, this league has helped all our close cousins and friends stay in touch with each other. The season usually kicks off with a draft night. This year draft night was held in my back yard underneath a tent. A lot of preparation and work goes into organizing and maintaining our league. Pat and I are co-commissioners and organize, run and do all of the work necessary to keeping the league running. Draft night is in my opinion the best part of the league. It’s when all of the participants get to choose their players for the entire season. Players are real NFL players and weekly scores are based on their performance in the real game. Teams go head to head and we keep track of scores and statistics. After NFL week thirteen, we start our playoffs which run until NFL week sixteen. That’s when we have our super bowl and determine our champion. Getting into our league requires a small fee which generally goes towards weekly and end of the year prizes. People who participate in our league are my cousins Louie, Angelo, Pat, Sev, Johnny, Orlando, John, my brother-in-law Ronnie, and my friends Attilio, Dimitrios, Sammy, Mitch and my wife’s nephew Michael. Our league is on the internet and we will usually get together to watch the games while watching the live scoring on the internet.

Saint Anthony’s Feast
For the last six years, my cousin Angelo and I have had a booth at Saint Anthony’s feast in Boston’s Northend. Although there are many festivals during the summer in the Northend, Saint Anthony's is the one that is special to our family. It takes place on Endicott Street which is where we used to live in my grandfathers building. My parents, my sister and I lived on the first floor, my aunt Emilia, uncle Carmen, and cousins Louie and Angelo lived on the second floor, and my grandmother, grandfather and uncle Anthony lived on the third floor. Today, my aunt Emilia and uncle Carmen still live there, my cousins of course have moved out with their wives and families, my parents moved to Revere, my sister and I are both married with children and have our own homes. My uncle Anthony still has an apartment on Endicott street, but most of the time lives in Milton with his wife Nancy. Both of my grandparents have passed away, God rest their souls. They are truly missed.

Saint Anthony’s feast usually takes place on the last weekend in August. Usually, most of my relatives would come to visit during that time including relatives from New Jersey and Toronto. For the past six years my cousin Angelo and I have had a booth at the feast in front of my grandfather's building. In the beginning our intentions were to make a few bucks but to be honest it isn’t any more. Since Grandpa and Nona passed away a few years ago they were a big part of the feast as it meant so much to them. It reminded them of the feast that was held in their home town of Montefalcione in Italy. Now that Grandpa and Grandma have passed, relatives still come to the feast during that weekend and hang out in front of Grandpa’s building. Our booth is located right in front of the building. Angelo and I sell several items including antipastos, salads, wraps, and of course Italian slush. Although its a lot of work and long hours, it has now become tradition for us to be there. Family members and friends will usually hang out by our booth spending quality time together. The two of us have started a new tradition and although it’s a lot of work, we have fun doing it. Of course making a couple of extra bucks on the side is always helpful.

Making Liquors with Sammy
Sammy and I will get together a couple of times a year and make our own liquors. It’s more of a pride thing rather than a drinking thing. We usually give most of what we make away or will drink it while in the company of family and friends. It’s actually pretty good. Liquors that we have made in the past include Annisette, Kahlua, Orange Brandy, and ever since Sammy came home from visiting his relatives in Sicily a few years ago, we also make Limoncello. Although we take credit for the recipe’s, the truth is that the Limoncello recipe came from Sammy’s in-law’s in Sicily and the rest of the liquor recipes came from a good friend of mine Ralph Polcari. The Annisette and Limoncello recipe can be found on the recipe section of this web site. Come and visit me and we’ll have a drink together.

Working at the Store
Polcari’s Coffee is located in Boston’s Northend and is owned by my good friend Ralph Polcari. My cousin’s Louie, Angelo, Pat and friends Attilio and Bobby have worked there since they were kids. I have worked there since I was twelve, Louie and Angelo were even younger. After school I would catch the bus and head into Boston. (I am not sure if I would allow my twelve year old to do that today.) I would try to get to the store by 3 PM and work for three hours until 6 PM, then catch the bus and go back home. In addition to working weekdays, I would usually go in on Saturdays and work the entire day. During the summer months, I would pretty much work there full time. I continued to work at the store through my school years, into high school and then through college. The store is a big part of my life as through the years I have had several great experiences and met several people while maintaining a close relationship with my cousins and friends that work there.

Today, my friend Bob pretty much runs things at the store with Ralph still having a presence. The rest of us still go in on a rotation every other Saturday. With the exception of Bob (who has made the store his full time job) the rest of us all work in different professions but still value our rotation at the store as it serves as a place to spend some time with Ralph and it keeps the rest of us in touch with each other.

Italian Cards
Ever since I was a little kid, living in the Northend, I would play Italian Cards with my grandfather. My grandfather loved playing Italian cards, it was usually a daily activity and he would play whenever an opportunity arose. Funny, we never played for money or anything else. It was always just for fun of it and bragging rights. The two games that we would play are Briscola and Scopa (sweep). Both of these games could be played one on one or two teams of two. Briscola was especially fun as part of the game involved signaling to each the cards that you had in your hand. Of course we all spoke Italian when we played, even if it was my cousins and I playing. It just made the game that much more fun. Today, my grandfather has passed and my uncles don’t seem to play much. Occasionally, I will get together with my cousins and have a game but it’s pretty difficult getting our schedules to agree with each other. Funny how life has gotten so complicated. We used to get together at the drop of a hat and today it’s nearly impossible. From time to time my friend Sammy, Attilio, Dad and I will have a game. When we do manage to get together, it’s still fun. I always reminisce the earlier years.

Bocce
Once of our latest fads is to get together during the summer months and have a game of Bocce. People who usually participate are Sammy, Attilio, Dad, Ronnie and Bobby. During the last couple of years we have had some pretty competitive games in my back yard. We usually enjoy a cigar and a glass a wine while in the company of friends. Funny how competitive it can get even if we usually don’t play for anything. Bocce is another reason to get together and spend some quality time with friends.

Thanksgiving Day football
Although we are not as young as we used to be, every Thanksgiving some of my close cousins and friends get together Thanksgiving morning to have a game of touch football. Usually the teams are the older guys against the young guys. As the years go on, the age separator keeps going up. I think that last year it was anyone who was thirty four and older was on the old guy’s team and everyone who was younger was on the young guys team. The funny thing is that even though the younger guys seem to be faster and taller, the older guys seem to win most of the time. But in recent years, the scores are getting closer and closer. Last year went into overtime before the older guys pulled it off. Of course we’re all sore and can’t walk for about a week after we play.

Fig Tree’s
Ever since I was a kid and lived at home with my parents I swore that I would never have a garden or even more so have a fig tree. My father had both and I couldn’t understand why we had them. I continuously nagged my parents to put in a swimming pool instead. Today my father has a built in swimming pool where the garden used to be located. I live in my own home about a mile away and of course I have a small garden with three fig trees. The truth of the matter is that my friend Sammy is into gardening, plants and trees. He possesses many different types of exotic plants and trees including fig trees. A few years back during the spring, Sammy came over my house with two fig tree’s. I planted them in my garden and each year I have to bury and unbury them in order to survive the New England winter. Since then, I have inherited another tree which I have planted in my garden as well. Although they are a lot of work, today all three trees are very productive. I give most of the figs away to family and friends. My wife continuously asks me why I do all of that work when we give most of the figs away. I guess it’s a traditional thing at this point in time.

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