This wasn’t just any bottle of wine; it was a 2013 vintage from my father’s collection, a prized possession that made the long journey from Romania seven years ago. We’d been saving it for a special occasion, joyous or otherwise. Stored meticulously at the perfect temperature and on its side, it awaited its moment to…… Continue reading The Heirloom Wine
Category: English
Don Steffano – Confessions Of A Romanian Chatterbox
Mother’s Day
BREAKING NWES: as a consequence of this post and more, the car is now in the garage. ****** I found this on Facebook, on one of the Grieving Parents groups: I considered sharing this on social media or sending it to friends and family, but it felt too personal. So, here it is, posted on…… Continue reading Mother’s Day
Rolling Stones
As I was saying a couple of posts ago, I had to go see the Rolling Stones. We got a pair of tickets for free, and since the guys are in their 80s, I was like, “Sure, let’s go!” The gig was epic, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood totally rocked it as usual.…… Continue reading Rolling Stones
The After Loss
This grief is crushing. I miss my old life, the joy I had with my family and with my friends. Now I’m filled with sadness, anxiety, and fear. I’m tired of pretending to be strong. It feels impossible to keep carrying on when everything feels meaningless. Trying to find hope again feels like a constant…… Continue reading The After Loss
Eclipse 2024
(As seen on TV – ABC Network) The Sun looks down upon us and, embarrassed by the sorry state of humanity, it hides behind the Moon. He thought, “Let’s show these insignificant beings what living in complete darkness feels like, even if just for four to five minutes.” The path of total darkness(Arizona was 65%,…… Continue reading Eclipse 2024
The Endless Emptiness
At the end of March, in 2024, we geared up to mark the second Easter without Cosmin. This year, we accepted our relatives’ invitation and found ourselves in a house bustling with two toddlers, two very pregnant mothers, one young girl in her late teens, and another young girl, navigating her journey through life. Never…… Continue reading The Endless Emptiness
The Unexpected Effect of Oprah Generosity
“You’ll get my car! And you’ll GET my car! And YOU’LL GET MY CAR!” Irina declared three weeks ago, after her favorite nephew (TFN, if you’re keeping score at home) had casually asked to borrow it – for just five days. The other favorite nephew—let’s call him TOFN—races his Beemer every other weekend at the…… Continue reading The Unexpected Effect of Oprah Generosity
Love and Longing – Memorial Saturday. Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste.
March 9th, 2024 Instead of Introduction Detailed Glossary of Terms and Customs Coliva (koliva)a dish based on boiled wheat that is used liturgically in the Eastern Orthodox Church for commemorations of the dead. Coliva is blessed during funerals, as well as during the memorial service that is performed at various intervals after a person’s death…… Continue reading Love and Longing – Memorial Saturday. Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste.
Operation: Scorpion
Tempe, Arizona, 2016 My internet research revealed a surprising fact (although, let’s be honest, the internet isn’t always flawless). Apparently, in a household with both cats and chickens you shouldn’t have any scorpions. Now, I understand that knowledge is power, but in this case, my feathered and feline friends seemed blissfully unaware of their scorpion-slaying…… Continue reading Operation: Scorpion
My Doctor
In the doctor’s office. Doctor: “Eat well? Drink well?” Stefan: “Yes, I do. Too well.” D: “You’re fat. Do you exercise?” S: “I walk my dogs.” D: “Not enough. Do more.” …and that was it…
The Bathor Case
When Thatch stretches out, he’s like six feet long … Uncle Tom doesn’t need an alarm or doorbell with Thatch around. A bomb could go off next to him, and he wouldn’t bat an eye. He sleeps like a rock throughout the fireworks, but if a butterfly flits by a couple of blocks away, he’s all ears.
Dana Point (2020)
My Baloo was absolutely stoked with the grassy yard, thick and green, with shade and folks to bark at and let them know that Baloo Of Arizona had arrived … surrounded by a high fence where we’d hang out in the evening and let the dogs play until they fully exhausted themselves …
The Twenty-Ninth Anniversary
As the Americans would put it, it was all about beach hopping! This meant cruising from one beach to another, from city to city, non-stop, for three whole days, just the way My Lady loves it. We set off at the crack of dawn and rolled in at night, making every minute count.
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Hulubești
My Family’s Resting Place I left the post about Hulubești for last because it was the hardest one for me to write. The most important reason I came to Romania was to bring the temporary cross number one to Hulubești, which was on Cosmin’s grave here in Arizona. I was a man on a mission.…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Hulubești
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Bucharest
I was coming from Cișmigiu Gardens and taking the bus to Obor. …I was very tired. I spent my high school years exploring the Gardens’ alleys and riding the boats. Now, I was aimlessly roaming the same alleys, trying to find some of the old times’ charm. I had left through the back of the park, through Sărindar Street, passing by Capșa Restaurant, The Army Performing Arts Center, and the University of Bucharest. … at Michael’s Tail, I managed to get on the bus.
Sheep’s Ass Cheese
We were getting ready to leave for our Danube Delta adventure and I volunteered to do some shopping at the Obor Market. I was feeling super guilty that two whole days had passed (since I landed in Romania) and I still hadn’t checked out the Market. “Yo, Fane,” says Mișu, “buy vegetables and some sheep’s…… Continue reading Sheep’s Ass Cheese
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Brașov
Why the trip to Brașov? I had some personal stuff to do: you don’t do tourism for half a day. Florentina, my friend, who happens to be a girl, took time off from work to come with me, to be sure that I don’t do too many stupid things, as I was on my second…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Brașov
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Germany
Aachen The trip to Germany was all about family. I hadn’t seen my loved ones in ages, so it was about time! It’s crazy how, even if we don’t see each other for years, it’s like we just picked up where we left off, like we said goodbye yesterday. No judgement, just good vibes. With…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Germany
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Danube Delta
Two Men in a Boat During the War Back in 2017, I was basically dragged to Misu’s place, but in 2023, it was totally different. It was like a partnership. We planned everything together in advance, we bought things together, and we prepared the boat together (actually, Misu did the prep while I mostly admired his expertise).…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Danube Delta
Fourth of July Trip – West Point
I explained to my little guy how the fish don’t bite right away, you have to be patient and try several times. After a few minutes, I heard him next to me saying, “Hey, fishy-fishy; hey, fishy-fishy-fishy!”
Nea Fane - Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US 