Page 3 - PGA Community News - October '19

October 2019 October 2019 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3

From The Editor: La Famiglia…

I visited a hospital with a occupied. It seemed unusual for there to be so many family member. Fourteen people shared the experience
loved one several times last people. Several were speaking Spanish with each other and with this fortunate woman. They provided the love that
month. The waiting area is an adorable 4 year old girl walked around the room smiling nourishes the soul. A loving family. La Familia.
an interesting place to study at everyone. After a half hour, a woman walked from the Over the years I have noticed the strong bonds between
people. procedure area into the waiting area and 13 people and the Hispanic family members. It reminds me of my Italian
Most patients seem to young girl stood up and walked toward her at the end of family and the love and devotion exhibited by my family
have a family member with the large room. They lined up in a semi-circle around her throughout my life. Perhaps it is the common Latin
them for emotional support along with three staff members to celebrate the successful heritage. My parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles
– whether a spouse, child, procedure. With joy in her heart, the woman thanked and cousins were central figures in my childhood and
grandchild, etc. When a everyone for being there. Tears streamed from the eyes adulthood. My father was one of eight children and my
procedure is completed, of most of the onlookers as the woman cried along with mother was one of six. My paternal grandparents spoke
the patient greets the family her family – husband, children, grandchildren and great very little English but they expressed themselves with love.
member and is escorted by granddaughter and the applause resounded throughout the When my father died when I was 15, my uncles became
staff to the exit. room. Then there were embraces, kisses and flowers were a substitute for my father – their brother. They were there
Last week, the waiting area seats were almost all given to the woman. Photographs were taken with each for me in times of distress and times of celebration.
As a real estate attorney, I have had thousands of
closings in my career but the closings with Hispanic clients
have been the most memorable. They often have their
family join them at the closing. We usually bring in extra
chairs so that all the family members can witness one of
the most significant experiences of a lifetime – the process
FINE ITALIAN DINING of acquiring home ownership. A milestone. After the
closing is completed, the gifts are presented to the happy
Come and join us for lunch homeowners followed by photographs. I often become
at La Masseria everyday the photographer so that everyone can smile proudly and
12PM - 4PM lovingly in the same photo.
and take advantage of our There has been commentary in the news lately about the
fantastic $20.00 changing of the structure of American life. When I was a
child, I remember many families who lived in three family
three course menu! residences with the grandparents in one apartment and
children and grandchildren in the other apartments. There
Happy Hour at the bar daily: was interaction each day between the family members
3PM – 6PM – sharing their lives and experiences. People were less
mobile and usually lived in close proximity to the family.
Now offering gourmet In fact, it was rare for a child to marry and move to another
Neapolitan Pizzas part of the country. Now it is rare for children to remain
from our residents of the town in which they were raised. They
attend college and rarely think of returning to a career
wood-burning brick oven. near their parents. It seems the majority who return are
5520 PGA Boulevard, Suite 104 • Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 • 561.660.8272 • lamasseriapbg.com those who have challenges finding employment.
Perhaps we can start a dialogue among Americans to
celebrate family and the advantages to society for the
bonds of family to be stronger. The birth rate in Japan
has diminished over the years so that there are few family
members to care for their senior members. They are
experimenting with robots to be caregivers. The birth rate
in Italy has also been decreasing to the point that the family
structure is not as strong as in the past. I heard recently that
the American birth rate is dropping but you would never
believe it if you travel. Hotels and airports are filled with
families. Every hospitality vendor with whom I speak is
proclaiming 2019 as the best year in recent memory for
revenue.
Let’s encourage our younger citizens to appreciate the
family in America – the wisdom we learn from our senior
relatives, the camaraderie of siblings and cousins, the
strength, love, direction and structure provided by parents,
grandparents aunts and uncles. As we say in Italian, La
Famiglia.
Until next month,
James A. Cioffi, Editor
james@jcclaw.com

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