the sabbatical logs

​Lena. 76 years old.  Born in serino, Naples, Italy.  Currently lives in Melrose Park, Illinois
 
Interviewed Lena at her establishment, Scudiero’s—a deli that once was a bakery and now a Deli run by her sons.  Lena was a bit anxious before the interview.  She was worried she’d have nothing to say.  She was only 6 years old in 1945 and was worried she would not have much to tell.  As the interview went on, Lena got more comfortable and more emotional.  She mentioned that she had just spoken to her older sister that now lives in Florida about the war.  She said they had cried about their memories.  As Lena spoke about her memories, her eyes became sad and her mind went to her husband.  It was the anniversary of his passing.  Lena missed him and began to tear-up.  Her tears then directed her back to her memories of living in Italy during WWII.  I remember hearing all the background noise in the deli as Lena told her story in a soft-spoken manner.  She too spoke in English with a slight Italian and Chicago accent.  Yet amongst the customers’ food orders, conversations at the tables, and the periodic interruptions of old cliental wanting to say ‘hi’ to Lena, not a single word was lost—her story came in loudly and clearly as if it needed to be told.  I was grateful to have heard it.