My grandfather sent this to my grandmother Christmas 1952 while he was in the Navy. It might be the most romantic, sweetest thing I have ever read. I cherish this card. I know they are looking down on me and my whole family this lovely holiday. I will meet my soul mate soon, just like my grandparents, I have a feeling they will send him my way the moment I’m not expecting it! Cherish your family and friends like no other, it doesn’t matter how many gifts Santa left under the tree, all that matter is love sweet love! Merry Christmas to YOU!!

It’s been ten long years and I still have yet to recover. I pray you never experience loss like I have but I’m afraid it’s just something we cannot avoid. So, hold on to the ones you love as long as you can and never take a moment for granted. I love you Ma, forever and always. I am a firecracker; staunch, feisty and genuine. These qualities I’ll always attribute to you. miss you.  (Taken with instagram)

Tonight I’ll toast a beer for you, my darling<3 [11.11.11]

Dying Easter Eggs with my big brother!

Once upon a time (tuesday, July 21, 1981 -to be exact) my dad so graciously made the cover of The Boston Herald by being held up by gunpoint by “bandits” at a very famous restaurant in Boston. My father and his brother asked to keep their identities private, their names were removed from the article and only the back of their heads are shown in the photograph. My day, Giovanni, is to the right… with the gun on his hip. There are obviously some holes in this article but my dad was not willing to share any more information with me. Please jump to any conclusions you feel are warranted.

The holdup on Hanover Street

For more than 40 years Nick Maiocco has worked to make his European Restaurant in the North End a Boston landmark.

Yesterday, after three masked gunmen invaded his Hanover Street establishment and left two employees handcuffed in a meat locker, Maiocco began to wonder if his efforts were worth the trouble.

“We’re world-renowned… people come here from all over,” he said. “But what has it come to… just so some punk with a gun can come in here and blow you away?

“Times have changed. Everyone’s on drugs and everyone’s got a gun. Who needs this… maybe it’s time to pack it in… get out while I’m still breathing.”

Maiocco is a co-owner of the European, which is the oldest Italian restaurant in the city.

Almost a year ago to the day, he was the victim of two shotgun-toting bandits who held his kitchen staff at bay and relieved him of more than $1100 in cash.

Yesterday’s robbery, which occurred shortly before 7 a.m., was apparently unsuccessful. The bandits fled after failing to open an office safe.

The three had knocked on a rear door and were admitted by a unsuspecting kitchen helper who thought they were delivery men.

Once inside, the bandits ordered the two employees to lie on the floor and demanded to know where the money was kept.

The two victims are brother. They asked that their names not be used.

The gunmen then ordered the brothers into a meat locker, where they were handcuffed together. The handcuffs were placed around the stainless steel frame of a food rack.

One gunmen, described as being no more than 16 years old, remained in the meat chest holding the brothers at gunpoint while his companions ransacked the office.

“They came back a second time,” one of the brothers said. “They were upset and threatened to kill us if we didn’t tell them what they wanted to know.”

“This is your last chance. Now where is the money. You had better tell us,” the gunmen demanded.

The would be robbers apparently panicked when they couldn’t get the safe open and fled out the back door.

The two brother were left handcuffed in the meat chest.

Before the gunmen entered, the brothers were preparing tomato sauce. The pans had been oiled and placed on the gas flame.

“We could hear the pans sizzling. I though the place was going to catch on fire and knew we had to get out of there fast,” one brother said.

Fortunately, the food rack they were handcuffed to was on casters, so they managed to pull it across the floor with them, out of the meat chest and over to the stove to shut off the flame.

Once that was done, they freed themselves from the food rack with the aid of some fancy acrobatics. One of the brothers climbed inside the five-foot tall rack and climbed out over the top, joining his brother on the other side.

They then called the police, who had to use a pair of heavy-duty bolt cutters to free them.

Maiocco stood by the front door of his restaurant and began talking about the arrogance of the would-be holdup me.

“They’re crazy… life has no meaning for those kind of people… they’re all gun happy.”

When asked if he thought the gunmen could be youths from the neighborhood, he responded: “are you ——ing me. They wouldn’t dare.”

Maiocco’s assessment wasn’t universally shared.

“There’s no respect anymore… they’re all on drugs these days. They’d kill you for a dime,” said one elderly shopkeeper.

Just bought my momma some tulips cuz she deserves it! Tulips always remind me of my mom, now let’s just hope LeLe keeps her mouth away from dem leaves! (Taken with Instagram at MBTA Wellington Station)

Chris is one very happy camper, all decked out for Mardi Gras! Thank you @kategracebauer @mynameisjm !!

Sweetest most amazing Valentine I have ever had! p.s. He gives the greatest hugs! instagram)

Poor Chris has the flu so me and Bobby our making him a Sunday breakfast. I hate it when my baby is sick! (Taken with instagram)

This is what dreams are made of. (Taken with instagram)

Mama making pizza; anchovies pressed into homemade dough, doesn’t get any better!