The company I keep

  • I had the pleasure of actually knowing my great, great, grandmother, who passed away on my 10th birthday during a lunar eclipse. She was 97 years old.
  • The above grandmother marched in the women's right to vote protest of 1919. She left a note for her husband that read, "gone shopping" and came back three days later.
  • My mom's dad hitchhiked across the country with Janis Joplin and was the person who did her light shows during her concerts, as well as sold pot to UC Berkley students. He died of a brain tumor before I was born.
  • My great uncle Sabato (Saturday) Settembre married a woman from another city in Italy who's name was Domenica, thus making them Saturday and Sunday September in English. I was the flower girl for their youngest daughter's wedding, she did not have a calendar-related name.
  • My mom almost named me April May Settembre, citing that April was her favorite name, my dad said it sounds like a stripper and begged her not to, but she still laments that my last name ruined her plans for naming me.
  • My dad was born in Italy and came to this country when he was a young child. He had a "Made In Italy" tattoo on his ass, not unlike the scribbles found on the fabric butts of Cabbage Patch dolls.
  • I also have a tattoo on the same cheek, a different saying though. Reason for my tatoo was in honor of my dad who was suppose to put this particular saying on his other cheek, but passed away before he had the chance.
  • My dad owned his first pizza place at age 19
  • My mom used to dance at Studio 54 and was once asked out on a date by Richard Gere, post American Gigilo, pre Officer and a Gentleman.
  • Although my sister and I had the same parents, we received the opposite physical traits. She had black hair, I had blonde, she was tall, I wasn't, she was dark skinned, I was light, brown eyes, blue eyes. What a pair we would have made if she had only lived past three-years-old.
  • My mother felt something was going to happen to my sister when she was born. Two hours before she was hit and killed by a car at age 3, my mom said to my Dad, what would we do if Serina dies and started crying.
  • Years before it actually happened, I had a dream regarding my father's death and how I'd find out about the news. When I was 17, I found out about his death in the EXACT same way as my dream (at school). When it happened in real life, it was like I was sleep walking.
  • Sometimes I fear that I made it happen by dreaming it.
  • He passed away the same year as my husband's mom did, so we were both hurting and mourning the loss of a parent at the same time.
  • I met my husband on the subway platform on the E train at 51st street in NYC, I had just gone on a bad date with someone else.

14 comments

  1. Good lord, girl, no wonder the stars shine in your eyes, you have a lot of fascinating characters coming before you. I can't claim even ONE interesting person in my past that did anything close. We've kinda all been farmers and so forth, completely uninteresting.

    * My mom almost named me April May Settembre, citing that April was her favorite name, my dad said it sounds like a stripper and begged her not to, but she still laments that my last name ruined her plans for naming me.

    HA! That's funny. It DOES sound like a stripper's name, unfortunately.

    * My mom used to dance at Studio 54 and was once asked out on a date by Richard Gere, post American Gigilo, pre Officer and a Gentleman.

    You didn't say if she accepted, though? :)

    * My mother felt something was going to happen to my sister when she was born. 2 hours before she was hit and killed by a car, my mom said to my Dad, what would we do if Serina dies and started crying.

    Ugh. Sorry about that; it would have been interesting for you to know her, I bet.

    * Years before it actually happened, I had a dream regarding my father's death and how I'd find out about the news. When I was 17, I found out about his death in the EXACT same way as my dream (at school). When it happened in real life, it was like I was sleep walking.

    Creepy. Have you had other such premonitions that worked out? Perhaps that's why you're so good at PR, hrm?

    * Sometimes I fear that I made it happen by dreaming it.

    You're a hell of a gal, Tara, but...I doubt it. :)

    * He passed away the same year as my husband's mom did, so we were both hurting and mourning the loss of a parent at the same time.

    Good that you could lean on him and vice versa.

    * I met my husband on the subway platform on the E train at 51st street in NYC, I had just gone on a bad date with someone else.

    Having been on the subway platforms in NYC once before, I find it hard that anyone could feel romantic there, but...love prevails. :)

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  2. Wow. I'm blown away by that. No wonder you turned out to be one of the most fascinating people I know.

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  3. I found this post to be remarkably powerful. It's like the real life Forrest Gump / Benjamin Button. The stories you shared are fascinating and touching. Nice post Tara.

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  4. You truly do have some interesting stories to tell!

    *V*

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  5. This post made my mouth drop and give me chills. What a fascinating lineage and sense of perception.

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  6. You come from such an interesting family! The story about both your and your mom's premonitions gave me goosebumps.

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  7. all i can say is wow. this is an amazing past and you definitely have had some extraordinary people in your life.

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  8. Wowzers. Can't think of anything else to say, just that. :)

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  9. thanks for this post. i had a sister who passed away at a young age. i'm always thinking about what it would have been like to have an older sister, what she would have become, how our relationship would be. i feel your pain...

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  10. There are some people who are born to live colorful lives....and you seem to be one of them.

    ps. I found you through Katelin's blog, and I think I'm going to stick around.

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  11. I'm glad you are keeping the fascinating lineage rolling. :)

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  12. The company I keep:

    My daughter did a semester in London

    Traveled through Europe

    Lived in NYC West Village

    worked on wall street and times square ares

    Owns condo in LA

    Has her BA & MA from great schools

    Has a dream job

    Wonderful and hadsome husband

    10 top blogger in LA

    20 top influencial person in LA

    Calls her mom everyday

    She's my best friend



    Audrey (tara's mom)

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  13. I'm behind in my blog reading which is why I didn't see this sooner. But like everyone else, all I can say is.... WOW. I loeved it!

    And I love your Mom's response to this!

    I know that I stink at keeping in touch, but I think of you often...

    Miss you,
    Di

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  14. Wow that is quite a list but you seem very interesting!

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