Day 12 – The Pasticceria Lady

We are going to be SERIOUSLY OD’d on sweets though.  Right at 4pm the Principal took Doodlebug around the corner to visit the Pasticherria lady.  They were going to deliver the Calla Lilly plant and get a picture.  They returned WITHOUT the picture, but instead, the Principal was heavily laden down with a very large bag FULL of all SORTS of pastries.  He said she kept filling the bag and he kept saying, “No, no, it’s too much”.  She wouldn’t accept any money for it in the end… and even when we unpacked it all he found things in there he hadn’t seen her pack in there.

Franka is a beautiful lady.  She not only was SO sweet to Doodlebug (and all the kids, really), but she, through the little English she had, asked about us, shared about her family, and EVERY time we went in there we’re convinced she not only undercharged us for what we requested, but always gave my youngest a special bag full with a half dozen or more things just for her.  She received everything from extra meringue cookies, to Pizzettas (mini pizzas), to spinach or cheese “things”… she was so generous.  In fact, as I’m remembering, we were in visiting her a few nights before when she greeted another gentleman that entered the shop.  He didn’t say much, but she seemed to recognize him and acknowledged him as she worked on our order.  In the midst of it all, she reached down and took hold of 2 of the 6 large sandwich halves that were carefully wrapped and stacked in the corner of the display case.  It had been a bit odd to see them there (she sells pastries, etc… she’s not a sandwich shop and this wasn’t Panini bread anyway)… and we hadn’t commented on them.  Anyway, she pulled out 2 of them, handed them to the man, he thanked her, and left.  A few minutes later the Principal asked about the gentleman and she explained as best she could, that he had no money to pay because he had no money for food, so she made up sandwiches when she could.  The next day I saw 10 sandwiches set out… and earlier this morning I saw a gentleman eating one of those triangle sandwiches wrapped in the cellophane.  Had the bread not been so unusual for Italy I might not’ve noticed… but her generous heart has gotten around.  What a beautiful lady.