My strawberry life,
I am in a state of perpetual conflict,
I love The GodFather and the thing is that I have always wanted to be Michael Corleone,
The do good war hero who always understood his father, and because he understood his father, he knew he must stay away. He had to build a different life for himself, and his father could not be more proud of that.
To have the intense yearning, love, and ultimately reverence for his father, to say that, not that he needs to, not that he wants to, but is going to go and do the things he never imagined doing, without thought, without a shaky hand. Because what must be done must be done.
To say, "I'm with you now, Pop" is the ultimate hardcore family oriented, love. To die to yourself.
As I have grown I have come to realize that I must be Vito Corleone, and that one day I will have my Michael, whatever form that reveals itself. I will build for myself through respect, through reverence of my past, through love for my family and community, build something new, something unfamiliar, to rise above my station and garner the perfect balance of influence, fear, respect, and love.
I actually do have a big problem with the representation of Italians, Italian-Americans more specifically, as being lawless gangsters with an aesthetically pleasing touch, because we are so much more than that.
But ultimately, through my life I will show the world not only what I am capable of, but of what a curated set of acts can produce, to be deliberate enough to care, to love, to influence the community in a positive way.
I'll drink to that C'ent Anni!