If I went back in time I'd sit with the 4 eldest and listen to Rosalie tell us it's o, they'll get tired and fall asleep, then turn around and tell the youngest 2 it's going to be ok.
JLR
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Hi. ?The good old days..HA. ?In the early days when everyone lived at 405 the family fights would start Sunday night. ?I don't know how ?the Fox family, our next door neighbors, put up with it, especially in summer when all windows were open. Nonne Ruggieri would be right in there pleading with the brothers to stop. The 4 us then (Rosalie, Mim, Arch, and I would sit at the top of the stairs and watch and listen. ?My memory seems to start when I was 5. ?I would cry quietly and tremble. ?My guardian angel sister Rosalie would hold me close and whisper that it would soon be over, ?they'll get tired and go to sleep.
The fights usually were caused because my father didn't like the lifestyles of Frank and Raymond, especially Raymond who as quite the ladies man. Frank was the first to leave when he married Aunt Mary. ?Raymond stayed on until around 1937. ?He had a room on the 3rd floor and he would sneak up the back stairs so Pop wouldn't see him. ?The twin Melania was gone. ?Ronnie and Millie were young teenagers and tried to stay away from Frank who now was more conservative. ?
I have seen movies that were less exciting than life at 405. ?As the saying goes, if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger. ?I guess that was why Angie was able to put up with all of them. ?Aunt Helen always referred to 405 as Hell House!
We are all survivors. ?Love, Lonie
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Reed Hampton, in the Brown Derby, in the 1960's & 70's, as an old man and when 1/2 drunk would tell the story as a teenager on Saturday nights, when he and friends would ask what to do that night, would almost always say "Let's go down to 405 & watch those crazy Ruggieri's come home. Those kids knew the characters. 1st Archie would come home and somewhat of a scene, then Frank would come home & break the quiet, than Joe would come home & it would start all over but then came Raymond for the grand finale!!! The Ruggieri family should have sold tickets.
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Hi all,
Thanks so much for all the birthday greetings.? I had a cute card from
sister Rita.? Front of the card had a picture of two bananas¡ªone perfect
and the other rotten.? Inside it said, ¡°One more day only matters if you
are a banana!¡±? So true.
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I used to hear many stories about my birth at 405.? I think I was Doc
Donofrio¡¯s first delivery.? Apparently Mom was in labor for days (don¡¯t
remember how many) and when I finally made my entrance, I had severe respiratory
problems.? Mom and I should have both been hospitalized but that was a sign
of the times (and probably finances).? Story goes that I was placed on a
pillow and carried around by several of the cousins¡ªLonie and Mimi?¡ªto help with
my breathing.? Thanks to them I continued to breathe!
Mom found lots of love at 405¡ªexcept from her husband, of course.? But
that¡¯s another story.? Lonie, are you working on that book?
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Thanks again for the birthday wishes.
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Cousin Linda
