Are you curious about the mob?  I have to admit that I am.  Even one of my sisters jokingly refers to me as ‘Carmella” as in Carmella Soprano, Tony’s wife, on the HBO series.

Like most people, I hate violence and corruption.  So my offbeat curiosity about the mob surprises even me.  I’m fascinated by stories of mafia families, their ‘ordinary’ lives outside the bounds of ‘proper behavior.’ I admit, I even had a black tank top printed with white, gangster style lettering - ‘mafia wfe.’ Why?

Honestly, I can’t say.  But there are long, hot, summer days when no other shirt will do, with my cut off jean skirt, dark glasses, and black patent leather platform sandals.  Tacky right?  Yeah, I know.

The Godfather, with the dark, smokey lighting and the secret meetings.  The loyalty.  The family. The family loyalty. All of it peaks my interest, and has for years.  I think basically it’s the family thing I’m drawn to.  The loyalty thing. 

Not the awful crime and violence, but their odd sense of right and wrong.  Am I a mafia princess? No way.  A gangsters wife?  Hardly.  Would I like to go to lunch with those girls?  Definitely!

I’ve read all the books, and still I want to know more. 

The how’s and the why’s, and how their presence in this country has shaped even our own political history, as it’s suggested, in the case of John Kennedy, and his brother Bobby.  Mafiosos reading Richmond chic - please don’t come after me for writing this!  I’m just admitting to a long standing fascination with your lifestyle is all.  In my twisted and romantic soul, you folks are one part Herman Munster, one part Adams family, and one part Leave it to Beaver, all rolled into one.

Strange I know.  When my father attended Georgetown Medical School in the late 1950’s, he was invited to the home of a fellow student, who’s family had a ‘compound’ near Philadelphia.  My dad tells the story of playing bocce ball on the lawn, where he was surrounded by several guys in dark suits and sunglasses. 

The ‘don’, or patriarch of the family, came up to my father, who was there at the invitation of his daughter, a fellow classmate.  I won’t mention her name.  My father was from Florida.  Out on the lawn, after bocce, her dad said to my dad, - ‘Son, I can make you governor of Florida if you like.’ This is about as mafia as it gets I think.  Even though it’s not good, it’s definitely gangster.

Carmella?  As in big hair, glamour shots, mink gloves?  Maybe.  Likely not.  Family loyalty?  Definitely.  As the mother of four daughters, I understand loyalty, and I try to make sure they do too.  I kid around about their futures, and in my best hoarse godfather whisper, finger pointing, I tell them - ‘I don’t care where you girls live when you grow up, you’re all coming to my house for dinner on Sunday!’

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