with cousins Antonio and Elio
Every year, we go to the Christmas dinner at the Italian social club of which both Paul and his dad are/were members. We take up a table of 12 and enjoy 5-course meal of antipasto, salad, ravioli, meat and veggies and dessert all enjoyed in conjunction with a craft of table wine (although we usually supplement with our own). The 30-35 or so tables are set up on a platform that covers the bocce ball courts. Old pictures of Italy, specifically anywhere near Genoa, as well as photos, plaques and trophies from bocce ball tournaments cover the walls. A new addition is a wall of photos that include women taken during the club's 100th anniversary, which was celebrated last year.Just before dessert ends, there is a raffle for things like log of salami, jumbo pack of uncooked pasta, or a gift certificate somewhere local. Typically, this is also when Santa Claus comes in and gives plastic candy canes filled with chocolate kisses to all the little kids. Parents step in to get a photo of their kids with the jolly 'ole man.
After dinner, most people go upstairs where a good old-fashioned 3-piece polka band plays music for dancing in the "ball room." A second bar is also up there so people wander from it to the sides of the dance hall, intermittently taking turns dancing as well. This is all very old fashioned with ballroom dancing; some even literally bring their dancing shoes and don outfits just made to twirl. They are very good.
This is where the simple 2-story building turned into a magical castle for Ava and Bettina. The second their eyes set on these couples dancing to a real drum, trumpet and accordion, they wore tiaras and everyone was royalty. Their eyes lit up as they watched people circle the dance floor. Seeing this moment, I told Paul he'd better ask one of his daughters to dance. Ava instantly said Yes! Bettina wanted in too. A complete stranger, captivated by toddler party-dressed "cuteness" asked her to dance. Without even answering, Tina took the hand and walked out into the circling splendor of dancers. This was a riot watching how much they were enjoying dancing. (Click here to see a video of Paul and Uncle Dave dancing with the girls)
They didn't sit one dance out. Strangers came over all the time and they would dance with them all. They learned to twirl and soon, Tina's "frankensteps" were getting a little bit lighter and bounced with the beat. I figured it had to be around 9:30pm or later and went to the coat closet to fetch the little ballerinas' jackets for the short walk home. When I got there, I realized the clock read 11:15pm -- way, way past their bed time!! They saw me coming with their coats and ran away screaming, "No!" A group of a dozen or more older people, who'd been admiring the girls, started complaining as well: "Let them dance!" OK - one more dance.
At 11:30pm, we walked home, the girls chatting excitedly about their dancing, the band and the Christmas lights that decorated the houses all the way home. They didn't notice their exhaustion until their heads hit their beds. Clearly, this event was a highlight in their Christmas season, and we were still more than 2-weeks until the "big" night.
