" I've come through many countries and across many seas,
my brother, to do these sad obsequies,
to bring you posthumous presents and hopeless wishes
and make a useless speech to your dumb ashes;
My poor brother, since fate has callously
taken you, and cheated me of your company
here are these merely conventional things,
traditional sad funeral offerings:
take them-all wet with your brother's tears-and my
last greeting and everlasting goodbye."
Gaius Valerius Catullus (ca. 84-54 BC)
My father did not like to talk about his life in Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, but as he got older he began to regale us with stories of his youth and of other family members. I wish I had had the foresight to have tape recorded him or taken notes. I have written this book because I felt these stories were too good to be lost, especially to his grandchildren. Most of the names outside of our family are purely fictional, and many of the details of the events are completely made up only for the sake of coherent prose. Please accept these tales in the spirit in which they are intended.
The author was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a graduate of Indiana University and practices neurology. He lives in Indianapolis with his loving wife, Carol.
