Italy, I'll be back soon..ish

When I woke up this morning in San Giuseppe, I could not find a reason why I should leave. Well there were the obvious reasons, like school, family, work, etc. So instead I started looking for reasons why I should never go this long between visits again (last time I saw my family was April 2005). Later in the morning, when I was waiting for my ride (my cousin...sleepy head) I was talking to Z E and Z A, who are my Popi Tony's sisters (they always refer to him as Zi Antoino or my Nonno Antonio). Z E said that Popi visited every year, without fail, in May. I decided then and there that I would definitely be back in 2 years, even if no one is getting married. Somehow I will. If you book international flights enough in advance, you can find really good deals and lets face it, I don't really need to spend much besides the plane ticket when I visit the family. So, for now, I will return to Italy in May, like my grandfather, but every 2 years. Later, when my income is higher, every year. Family means too much to me not to. And in that train of thought, I am going to make more of an effort to see more of my family stateside. We're spread across the country, but that's no excuse. There really is no valid excuse to NOT see family. Because at the beginning and end of it all, family means the most.
Another big reason for going back to Italy so often is my grandpa's sisters. Out of the original 7 Bifulco siblings, only Zia E and A remain in Italy and Zi Mario lives in Sao Paolo, Brazil (I really need to get down to see him too). ZE is 84 years old and losing her hearing. That being said, the hearing loss is the only sign of her slowing down, but I'm not taking any chances. ZA is younger by about 10 years but still. She nearly broke my heart this morning when saying goodbye. She always cries right as we're leaving. It's not a big, soppy cry (as I've been known to do in the past). It's a glisten in the eye, sort of defiant cry. She sets her jaw and gets this look on her face that says to you "I don't want to cry but I just  can't bear to see you go." On this trip, I learned that when my grandfather died in '96, the whole family went into mourning. Everyone closed their stores and didn't go to work. He meant so much to them. Giusy has just as much memories of him as I do. And looking through photo albums, I notice that he's very present.
There is a photo that I really want. It's from Giusy's parent's wedding 28 years ago and it's of all 7 siblings. It had to be shortly before Zi Giovanni and Zia Rosa passed away (they were the 2 oldest) It very may well have been one of the last times they were all together. From the sound of stories, Zi Giovanni and Zi Mario didn't go home nearly as much as Popi did. I didn't have time to go and find a quality print shop to get a copy made, so I will either ask Giusy or do it myself next visit. I want it framed and put in my parents house.