the sabbatical logs

​Went to visit my great aunt Maria, otherwise known as Zia Maria.  As we sat at her kitchen table and she made me coffee, her neighbor Rosa stopped by.  Talking, coffee, and more talking led me to interview Rosa.
 
Rosa.  82 years old.  Born in Bagheria, Sicily.  Currently lives in Bagheria.
 
Rosa told her story of what she remembered when she was around 9 or 10 years of age.  She didn’t have a story, per se, but clip-its of memories that came to her as she spoke.  One memory in particular that seemed to cause more emotion, more facial expression and a slight change of tone was one where she recalls waiting in lines at a ‘cucina economica’ (a soup-like kitchen) to get plates of spaghetti.  She then smiled and said, ‘si, si, mi ricordo la vita’ (yes, yes, I remember the life) and then pauses. I’m not sure why she smiled.  Maybe it was the memory of something she seemed to enjoy.  She was a little girl, waiting in line with other children, they played as they waited and then were given a plate of spaghetti, as the War became backdrop.  The interview was brief, very brief and I may not use it in the overall project yet her story just like all the others made me reflect, pause, and ponder how ‘la vita’ truly was for these women.
 
I made plans to do some research towards the end of the week or next week at the local library.  The problem is working out a schedule to go.  The library hours are not consistent and there are only afternoon/evening hours available twice a week, at least that is what is printed on their website; however, on my way to the train station the other day I had passed the library and it was open.  According to what was stated on their website they should’ve been closed…hmmm. I asked a local living near the library and he tells me; ‘it appears they open whenever they wish to be or whenever the library attendant shows up’--Culturally Sicilian.