Easy Money..

Which leads to my next story... my aunt had been working, and still living at home.. I would go in her room while all the adults were down stairs. One time my little sister was with me, and we had our new favorite 'colorforms' present ,  we had gotten at Xmas time. I,  had seen the nightstand draw opened a little bit, and I opened it to find 50's and 20's and 1',just  piled up on top of each other,  and I just had to have it.. So I opened  up the box and took the guts of the game out, and filled it up with all kinds of cash. Then my lil sister was was playing with hers, and I took it.., and opened it up, and filled it up with 50'and 20's...and closed it all up. We rode home to the Island, 45 minutes, and just knowing we knew what we had.. I was in like 2nd grade, and she was in maybe kindergarten.. She did not even ask me for a dollar, of it.. So , I put 4 one dollars bills in this lime green wallet my mom gave me in the past, and then I gave my friend  a $5,00 dollar bill. I put the wallet under a pillow in the living room.(no kids  room) . I went to school.. I remember just thinking My mom is going to vacuum or take a nap on that couch, and find my money..So my stomach was turning all day.. Well, when I did get home, I found it there and untouched.. Shew, I made it through those hours. It wasn't until After midnight, our phone rang.. and my Dad, came in my room, and in the moonlight, he was asking me where  I got $5.00 dollars to give her?, and I was like oh crap.. she told on me.. Then my dad said we would talk about it in the morning.. my stomach turned all night long.. What in the world did she do? I kept asking myself.. Well, by morning my Dad  told me She had it in a book, and as she walked into her parents room it fell out... and her parents asked where she got it from, and she told them what I told her.. Well, I had a horrible day at school, and when I came home my dad had me hand over the money, and explain what, and how I did get it.. it was returned to my Aunt.. and I never did turn over the 4 bucks in the green wallet.. I think I bought wax teeth with it.. lol, and my family would just forget that it ever happened.. Except..till this day my brothers, and one of my sisters would still think I am a thief.. But my one sister thought I dated truck drivers all my life also... Wrong!!, and one brother thought I was binging and throwing up my food , if we were out to dinner, and I just wanted to got freshen up in the bathroom.. he made a comment to my little sister ,about my throwing up my dinner.. and my sister stuck up for me.. and said "no , Patty likes her food to much to do that" I was like wtg ,  sis, when she told me what he said.. Later he would see, I dieted and exercised to lose and keep my weight down.. Well, where I should have been punished for what I did ..I did 'nt.. It may have scared me straight, but getting away with things like that.. proved to me that the paths I took in life were going to be very risky, and criminal..
Nevertheless.. a learning experience.. Crime does not pay.. I tried, and tried.. but I see, and have seen it first hand.. It takes some people a longer time then others.. and some ppl already know... I am like good for them... They have shown me..by example.I am impressed!!

Why were my Parents so 'lax'..??

I have been asked recently.. (and many a times in the past..and, I even asked my self.).Where was my mother.. while I was trapsing the niebor hood.. I really knew the answer.She was pms'ing on the couch, this  way before Midol.  Asprin, and wine..were the only things available,and they had just baley got her throuhg it.. So, I would just leave her alone and go play!!! And those later years, where we basically had no "curfew' I was told many stories, on how my parents were not trusted as young children, and in fact, beatenat the drop of a hat. So, when my parents became parents they made a pack not distrust us, and be nosey.. and believe me, they weren't!!! They should have beat us, and pryed ,I agree now with diciplining. My Dad was a man who would talk, and raise his voice , where you knew he was pissed, I did fear him,, He would take back hand me from time to time, and chase me up the stairs,I would be doing one step as fast as I could and he would be skipping 2-3 steps to catch up to me.. I was sad, because I got cauhgt cutting  class, or saying something stupid at the dinner table, after he would ask about a situation that came up.. But they did not snoop.. I had a room filled wiht all kinds of "party paraphnelia, and it stayed left alone for years.. The one story my mom told me was how she would have to wear these clothes my granmother laid out for her, and then, Grams would go to work, my mom would change into something she liked, and tassel up the other clothes, and throw them into the dirty wash basket.. and be dressed in her after school, clothes by the time gramma and pop got home.. One time my mom shaved her eyebrows, and widows peak, the evening of her Prom, and my grandmother beat her with pots and skillets, in a rage, and ended  up taking her to the beauty parlor to get them drawn in.. My mom.. never questioned my taste, and wants in clothes.. We would take a credit card and go shopping, and I would get my boots, and jeans and cool shirts.. (And yet, I still wrote my Dads, parents,, and asked them for money for school clothes..) well that backfired, when they showed up one w/e to tke me out shopping.. I did not want them to buy anything, so I refused to like anyhting at the mall.. I just wanted the cash...

Born a Brunette!!!!

So, since I was young, I can remember bleeding brakes, on the Ford Station wagon, with my Dad, and making sure on the rainiest dark and cloudiest days going to our boat, and pumping the bilge.. Grease under the fingernails was yet to come.. I would listen to every word any of my older guy friends had on keeping a car, truck, or motorcycle in great running shape!!.. I learned enough.. to keep my vehicles running and in great shape.. The only things I would need from  a garage was a front end alignment, and an Inspection sticker.. I even was able to Time my trucks..back in the day.. I used to say, a lot, Ford built his trucks so even a woman could work on em!!! You name it from Solenoids, to Freeze plugs.. I could change it, and whenever something did go wrong I knew what it was.. And anyone Else's car ,for that matter... shocked a hell of alot of men over the years..that was just fun!! Note; many times I was broke down in the middle of nowhere.. and cars would just race by me.. So, if I wanted to get anywhere I would have to figure it out,in order to get moving, So, you see, many blonde's don't know whats under there hood, or did nt in those days, But had I been a blonde I would have had a better chance of getting help.. except for this one instance:
              I remember breaking down on a trip to Roanoke ,Va.. at like 1 am , I thought I would just drive this lil' truck down there, and back,,I had just bought it, used had it painted Black, just like my big truck I bought in LA. (had to sell her,so I could live and go to  Beauty School) So, I bought a another one just smaller...and here I was on the Interstate, in November.. and she popped so loud, and cut off.. So I rolled over to the side of the road.. not a soul in site!!!, I looked up a head and in the distance I see an exit was a head.. about 1/2 a mile. I was just getting out of my truck when this big rig,pulled over...!! I was like holy chit, and a guy jumps out, as fr as I could see, holding something in his arms, I am alone, mind you, and my heart is pounding.. he gets up to me, and says, you may need these, and he had 5 quarts of oil...I was so relieved!!! I thought how nice is he, to pull off the highway,in that big truck, and help..me,, Well, we put them in and it still did not start.. So he called a tow truck for me, and said he had to get going.. I thought Thank-you... and away he went,,, I remember thinking.. I am in a Party-mode.. this can not be happening.. I want to go ..by my situation wasn't going... So, in about an hour.. I was being towed that 3/4 of a mile up the ramp, and on the first right... $65.00 bucks, I remember being so Mad!! I could have pushed my truck,for free... What a rip.. Then it started to rain cold sleet, and the driver, said there was a motel across the street.. Well, I woke the Old couple up, ringing the bell,at the office.. they gave me a room with a phone, and a Black and white T.V that flickered Barnabas Jones.. no cable.. not there any way!!!and so I called the ppl. I was supposed to be meeting.. and we talked for a long while when they realized I was not going to be making it, they left there room, and went down to the Bar, and never answered my calls again.. So, I had to call home the next morning, and sound pathetic, and , that I needed help.. So, a friend of ours, had a low boy trailer, and 6 hours later.. and a slice of cheese on white bread,with no mayo(dry), and nothing to drink.. I was lucky to get that sandwich.. there were no stores around, so this couple fed me.. sorta.. And I sat in their  kitchen awaiting my help.. because check-out time was of course 11 am.. I did not sleep.. I was so mad.. to say the least.. then I had to drive all the way back up North, and basically sell my truck for parts..and within a few weeks I was living back at the house on the edge of Herndon.About a year and half later, it would be burned up,mysteriously, while I was out one night..august 24th 1984....

Patty's Mystery'

I remember when I was in 2nd grade, I woke up late one night to find my legs totally bruised with huge black-n blue spots , and swollen so big. I woke my parents up, and my dad, had to carry me to the car. I could not even put my shoes on my feet, and my moms shoes would not fit either.. It was so bazarre, that the Doctor.. admitted me into the Hospital, and for the next few weeks, if not months I remained there on the 4th floor.. I had Christmas, and New Years there, I also remember my Birthday being celebrated there, so that was Dec. Jan Feb, and March.. Because all those Holidays I had made some kind of a  figure out of a toilet paper card board roll.. and cotton, and construction paper.. I remember my Grandparents giving me this raccoon Russian hat.. I wore with my flannel nite gown, I remember my hate full brother having to get me all my home work.. and I remember waving good-bye from my window to my family out in the snow covered parking lot.. I also knew where the cookies were.. at the nurses station, and I would wait till real late at night, and sneak up there. and get a pack of them.. I finally got back to normal, and the diagnosis, was never determined, so from then on my family and the Dr. just called it "Patty's ( Mysterious )Diesease' I
 never ever to  day  ever had another occurrence of it either.. I had gone back to school, and went straight into 3rd grade..I was back to normal...

Exercise, and Diet.. Exercise, and Diet !!!

So, I started to diet when I was 14 years old.. I began  running to my bus stop, and babysitting jobs. I stopped eating meat.. and peanut butter and jelly sandwich's at mid-night..By the time we moved to Va. I had lost 30 pounds, I was on a stationery bike for 2 hours a day!!! I would grab a radio and good book... and peddle. My dad would say "you are going to wear your knee caps out..) I did not think it would ever happen, and to this day I am thank-full it didn't.  I started Yoga, at home, and Hi-Impact exercises, and walked and  would take swims in the public pool.. (my dad , would never approve of this.. ) It took us  a night to get this. My older sister and I would  climb over the fence to the public pool, and go swimming, and one night we hopped the fence, and we began to swim , when I felt something hit my ankle.. in the dark water, that scares the hell out of me!! I said man, I am outta of here.. When we realized it was the furniture, and the pool had been vandalized,we were seeing blue lights.. , of a cop, coming up, I said " make like the pool fool'.. get under!!, I began laughing while going under the water.. It was all I could do to keep quite, but they flashed the lights on us and we had to come out..so we grabbed our towels  and I grabbed a 5 gallon gas can , I was taking for my Dad.. climbing over the fence, we were  asked questions ,
 about the gas can.. I had in my hands, behind my back.. I said I found it.. well, it turned out to belong to the Lawn crew..., and we were told to leave it.. Well, then we were asked where we lived, and had to show them. When we got to our house, it was after midnight.. and the cop, was going to knock on the door.. and we bolted.. that cop was not sure what he was walking into.. If we were scared, it made him even more the  nervous .. so he pulled his gun and told us to stop.. and with this we turned around and my dad answered the door.. well, we were lectured, and so forth.. and I don't believe we swam at night the rest of the summer.. Well, I had met a girl in school, and we hung out partying, I have written about those days.. It was over the course of the next 30 years, I would gain weight, and lose it gain it and lose it.. After I was put away for 7-9 months, I gained like 60 lbs.. I worked out in there.. but the meals we were feed were pure Carbs.. ..to fatten us up.. see.. It made the County look good.. if we were fat, instead of starving.. skinny women all gaunt, basically , like when we arrived.. I was a slim 129 lbs, like I said when I left there.. I was 189..!!! But I was Saved , and I was going to church.. and I thought  I would just live for the Lord, and I would get wisdom on the things I was to be working on.. In Jail, I grew in the word.. and Patience, and endurance.. among other things.. I was learning how to walk this life out , in the real world..  I guess 2 years into it and the numerous Missions trips I took..Honduras, and England, and Hawaii.. and then Israel, and Rome..  I came back,, and learned how to Roller Blade.. I bought a tread-mill, and I began a regimen of exercise , that I feel now  would blow any ones mind.. I had  good hours at my job.. so I could get up and get on my Treadmill for about 2 hours, then do my Tao-Bo and then Rollerblade for 1 and half hours, then get on my bicycle and cool down for about a hour ride.. I would make sure I had a plan of roads and paths everywhere I lived.. I had the same neighborhood pretty much the 4-5 different address's in Sterling.. And when I moved to Chantilly, I made a route that worked out too.. I did not drink, smoke or chew, and I did not hang with those who do... I had brand new smile, my brother, the dentist gave me.. sorta. I was in the best shape of my life.. I owned my Mobile home , and would stay up all hours of the night painting, and fixing it up.. I found though as the years went on I was still alone... I had some friends , but even they seemed 2 faced and shallow.. It went on , and on... I began to wither.. and the crap that was being thrown into my lap. and the emptiness I was feeling.. I should have stood.. the test, but I did not.. I was hit really hard.. and I took a path.. I know I should not have.. You know in reality, it has had meaning.. I know more now,of course from life's lessons, but in the Spiritual, it has meant growth  for me.. I have more Love and genuine care for the people I meet, and work with.. not just a passing 'put up with them, attitude, till they are gone.. but a real care, and patience, I did not have before.. So, I am graced to say.. I am and have not been Forsaken, or discarded.. as so I may have thought.. many a times. I am still walking this through.. but I seek God, for the paths I am to take.. each day.. I am very Thank-ful..

Music Teachers,and me....

I loved music since I was a baby!! I told you about how I would be singing Send A letter Maria, and Leaving on a Jet Plane, at 11/2 to 2 years old!! I carried these 45's around with me... everywhere I went. I dreamt of a set of Red Drums ever since I can remember, I hung out with anyone who could play them.. I remember a in like 5th 0r 6th grade I asked a friend of mine to play the drums on the stage behind the curtain, at lunch time.. and he did!!! He did Wipe-out a big hit from the 70's. and  it was on the money... I wonder now if he still plays.. but I did get in trouble for that.. I had to plan a dance scene to a modern Rock song.. and do it on stage during lunch the following week,. So I grabbed a few girls I knew, and we did a Dance to Your Momma don't dance and your Daddy  don't Rock-n-Roll.. it went well..  So why all the trouble with my Music teachers..  I went into this music class thinking I was getting into playing the drums.. She.. gave me a Clarinet!!!.. I was like no way!! Well, this teacher was pretty cool, She had brought to our class some tid-bits of news now and then.. Like,  Your so Vain was really written about Mick Jagger.. and as Carly and him were breaking up.. He came into to the studio and joined her  on the last parts of that song.. You can hear him.. and they did date. Some people say other men, but they weren't even linked together.. Mick and Carly were a known couple for a while there.. if you followed.. As I did.. I did because my mom and dad hooked me up.. We had a precription to  Columbia House Records..we would get 5 albums for a penny.. Janis, Cat Stevens, Lee Micheal's, Zeppelin you name it.. I had it all.So, to give me a Clarinet...was NOT Cool.. So, I raised hell the rest of that year... She would be so upset with me and send me to the Principals office all the time.. I was told on this one particular day to shut my mouth, and don;t make a sound , or I would be sent down to the Principals office.. Well she sits me right up front , and she pulls out this trumpet, and begins to put it together, when all of a sudden she blows in one end and this glob of spit comes out the other end, right near my feet.. I was like EWWHhh!! Yuk!!! and she threw that instrument down, and grabbed me by my neck, and turned me toward the door and pushing and grabbing me  saying that's it Didonato, she threw my up against this wall with the phone on it and calls down to the office saying I was on my way,, expect me there... She knows in the past I would kind of lolly gag in getting there, this time she called to make sure I was on my way.. she was pissed... to say the least...  So I finally finished that grade.. and ,  I found out that the next year I was going into Music Class with one of my older sisters Teachers.. Ms M..and she had some horrible habits.. She was a Prude.. Library type woman, She played Beethoven, and was talented, but she picked her nose... with almost every oppt'y. and then put it on this Pearl Necklace, and then put the Pearl in her mouth... Now you have to know I knew of this the year my sister and her friends were telling me about this.. So when I arrived in her class,  and I saw that Pearl necklace on her neck.. I laughed... and even more shocking and gross, she picked her nose and put it on the darn pearl, and then put the pearl in her mouth.. I am having a time  typing this ,,,Lmao.. So my story ends with, the fact that I could sing, but I was supposed to be found.. I wasn't going to take music in school anymore.. I did later take Voice lessons, and guitar lessons, and wrote tons of songs. that remain in note books, and on napkins... but for now, I won't quit my day job...

me ... and my Dad At Ellis Island...Pointing to our Names on the Wall.

Find a block where your people can find you,...

You never know when your making a memory... you wish you were here together again some day...!! (Ricky Lee Jones) And that's what we did.. we were making memories..Being raised with all the best things a kid could want in America.. We were spoiled.. but even that had  consequences. My grand parents were from Italy, there Parents came over by boat, Ellis Island 1894..  My Pop, on my Dads side  was 6 years old when they ,my Great Grand Parents Loretta, and Dominic came to America. They had  My Pop, his 2 sisters , and a little brother Phillip. Phillip and my Pop both had Polio, but Philip died real young, and my Pop survived. Then when he was 7 his Mom died.. and at 9 his Dad died. There he was  in the Bowery, on the streets of New York,  to raise his sisters.. and to that,  he did.. He went into boxing and  became a Contender. He was pretty good from the money, and awards  he got , in which I heard about,  from him, and the pictures I had seen.. In fact he gave me his  Everlast Original, Boxing bag, and his gloves...!!!   He also taught me to Bowl !! He bowled a perfect game!! So, that even the T.V program Bowling for Dollars would not let him compete, because he was a sure win!!!  You see when he met my Grandma.. she gave him an ultimatum.. Get a real job , and give up Boxing.. So, he did and went to work for Grumman's, making ammo.. And so he married grandma D. a seamstress.  She  was awesome with a needle and thread , let alone a Singer sewing machine.. She was working for Barnum Bailey Circus, and she made Gunther-the Lion Tamers outfits.. all the Sequence blankets for the Elephants, and much more. Everything I owned had, a sequence patch of some kind of animal,on it... She also made Liberace' s capes and some suits.. and her and ten little old women further down the road, where the ones who made the Outfits for Kiss, the band.. Well, while they were trying to teach us the Italian language , and how to sew, and crochet.. were rebelling and doing our own things .  I remember this doll house my Dad built me, it even had a double decker(hand-painted) marble  Porch that fit up to the side of the house.. my Grand Parents went to FOA Swhartz the biggest toy store in America, in the city to get the furniture for it.. So , through-out the year I would add pieces like a Tiffany lamp, and a cast iron telephone, a toilet paper holder.. even mini Da'Vinci paintings in the living room.. bunk beds for the kids room it was priceless.. but years and years of moving I finally hocked it in Manassas Va.. for $300.00 dollars.. I regret that now.. I remember about 6 years before Grams died, asking here to teach me to crochet... I was visiting them from Va. and she said" Take a course" I am to old to teach you that now... lol.. Pop and her were married like 60 something years, They even got a letter from the President.. and when they traveled to Los Angles to visit my Dad,and there oldest Daughter, My aunt L.. they would get free things like a bottle of Champagne, and bargains from the Airlines.. It was real nice that they would recognize them. Well, we had our great Grandma, my Grandmas 's mom.. she was so old and living with them while I was still very young, she had gotten gangrene, I was told form the Boat ride over.. the living conditions were very 'raw' and wet, and cold.. and she developed a sore, and it got infected, and she had to have half her leg amputated.. When ever we children walked in the room in there language, they would say.. cover it up.. I had seen it one time, and it was not a good thing for me to see at my age..Yuk.....Well, She was a trooper Great Grandma Renzuala... .. We are in fact on the Wall, on Ellis Island.. 3 names on both sides of my Family..  I will post pictures, as soon as I get this camera to work..ss..lol.. till later..

Halloween nites 1970-1976......

I remember Halloween being so exciting.. We lived in a suburban neighborhood with lots of houses  for blocks on end, and we would get ready for school in the morning, and put on our costumes and go through the neighborhood as fast as we could, and bring our bags of candy home and take off our costume, and then get on the bus, and go to school. When we got out of school, we would come home and change back into our costume and go Trick-or- Treating till 1 am .. our room would be so filled with brown grocery bags filled with candy.. no kidding!!! Remembering  too , in those days you would get a straight pin, or razor.. and even poison.. in our candy.. lol... but as for us we would find this as we sorted out the candy,, and laugh, and then throw it out..Well, I remember on one Halloween the Gang got together, and we emptied out a bunch of eggs with a needle, and sucked blue , and red paint , and even honey,,,back into them from the other end... Boy the time on our hands..huh?.. Well , we had bags, and crates filled with these eggs, and we had 'all',  gone door to door for our treats,.. until like midnight, and then the older group  of us met at the corner.. and we all headed to the assistant Principals house, and like 26 of us , on the count of 3.. threw these  eggs!!! Boom Boom Splat.. Crack... tons of them eggs were thrown, and then the front door opened , and to this day I see, 26 of us, split in half, and Run!!!  All different directions, but we knew where we would meet just in case someone got caught..See our hang-out ...Mills Path was close by, so most us ran there.. where the fire was still burning.. and we cracked open a beer, and partied,, Well that night, I was going to my friends,  house uptown,  in Ronkonkoma,  Her sister picked us up.. And the next morning when we woke up, we went into town.. and while walking , we were coming up to the local glass shop, and there was Mr. L. pulling all theses broken windows out of the back of his station wagon.. well, we walked by and then cut a corner and watched.. oh how devious,,,of us.. (we had  a nice up bringing , and  pretty safe for the most part.). One girl we knew, she had gotten raped in the paths  we hung out in.. I believe to this day it was one of the guys we hung out with.. he always spooked me.. and she was the same girl to have a bat fly down from the top of circling the lamp post , and get caught in her long blond hair... It was horrible.. she screamed and I still see the mess in her hair. All tangled, and she was red and crying and went home.. But this was the 'street light  we always meet at before going down the drinking hole.. Where the mini bikes, and Sl-70' and the one lime green Kawasaki.. would meet .. We had some older guys , Hells Angels- come down on there bikes.. those were the days  with Ape Hanger handle bars for real !!! These guys were much older then me.. but I remember having some great conversations with them.. Plus , either my sister or one of my girlfriends were dating  them. So, I got to hang out .Plus, I was a ' partier,' !.It  was very safe  environment and fun.. being out till wee hours of the night.. and at times I would walk home by myself, and make it.. You could not pay me now!! To do that..now..lol