Getting Back to My Roots

A friend of mine from high school lost her father last week. I went to the wake in South Boston to say goodbye to her father and to show my support. While in line to pay my respects I noticed that what seemed like all of Southie was there. In addition I also saw that the Principal and Vice Principal of my high school was in attendance. It was nice to see such a show of support for my friends family during this time.

A few days later I had a desire to walk around Castle Island and so we went. I spent alot of time at Castle Island as a kid and with this friend who recently lost her father.

That night we went to a Greek Food and Music Festival at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church in Somerville. We met a woman who had grown up in that Church and who seemed to know everyone at the festival. I realized at that point that I had completely lost track of the people I had grown up with in St. Williams Parish (now known as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish) in Dorchester. I felt a sense of sadness for my lack of connection to my roots.

I went to church at the Paulist Center in Boston this morning. As Mass was celebrated I was reminded of the Catholic traditions I was taught growing up in my parish in Dorchester. I acknowledge that Mass at the Paulist Center is celebrated very differently than what I had learned growing up, but the core of the beliefs and traditions is the same. I was happy to to feel a sense of connection to that.

This is all very wierd to me. I spent a good part of my life early adult years trying to erase alot of these parts of me. I deliberately lost my Boston accent, I wasn't in touch with many of the people I had grown up with, and I hardly ever took the trek over to Southie and Dorchester to appreciate the beauty of the neighborhood or the ocean. This all started to come to me when I had a conversation with the husband of my friend who had lost her father about where I was looking to buy a house. When I mentioned that I really wanted to buy in Arlington, he told me that Arlington lacked character, unlike Southie, Somerville, and Salem. I have a good friend who grew up in Arlington and she would be shocked to hear what he had said, but after more thought...I started to think maybe he was right. Arlington is nothing like Southie, Dorchester, or Somerville. This made me feel sad. I really want to feel close to my roots, be true to who I am, and to appreciate it. I have alot of good memories of my growing up in Dorchester and Southie and I hope to continue to celebrate that. Even if I get a ticket for double pahkin my cah on Broadway.