all hail columbus
i cried during the columbus day parade.
i wish i could say that i don’t usually cry at parades, but i’m not sure that’s true. there’s something just so overwhelming about seeing so many kids all dressed up and excited and doing what they’ve practiced and being proud of themselves in so many ways: some of them are beaming, some staring straight ahead, some ignoring their mothers who are frantically waving and trying to get a picture. it chokes me up to see henry staring at the clarinets and snare drums, waving his little arm to everyone on foot and on trolleys and floats.
as if that weren’t enough, i couldn’t help thinking, “this is it. my last little italy columbus day parade.” and that got me in the gullet. i know it’s taken years, but this place is home. it’s where my begonias bloom. it’s where we pluck mexican midget tomatoes at midnight. it’s where i brought home my baby, bungled through mothering an infant, and wrote my first book. this place has given birth to so many things. it’s a precious place. and perhaps more precious because i knew we would never stay.
and then over the next few weeks will be interviews upon interviews for residency programs. another year of our life up for grabs.
is this how columbus felt when he got in his boat not knowing whether or not he was about to sail off the edge of the world?
Filed under cleveland, life |5 Responses to “all hail columbus”
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I was just telling someone here today about the Columbus Day Parade in Little Italy. I’m sad we missed it this year. Little Italy was such a fun and unique place to live. I really miss it. As always, I love the way you wrote this. You never cease to amaze me Jesse. I’m proud to know you
Good luck with your pregnancy. We’d love to see picture when she gets here 
I cried during the Columbus Day Parade too! Richard and I were watching near the church on Mayfield. The World War II veterans really got to me.
Good luck with the upcoming interviews. There are so many things about Cleveland that I miss…never thought I’d say that while living there…okay, maybe during the last year I thought I would. Anyway, enjoy it while you can and at least you’re making a list of the things you love through your writing. What book did you write?!
o yes me too.
Let’s hope you get sent back to the west, back where the air is refreshingly thin. Columbus Day parades aside, come on, that’s home.