IF ONLY she...

If only we all had a voice that could be expressed without criticism or retribution. If only we were all accepted for who we are and not who others want us to be.

Could we thrive by being silent and invisible? By being an outcast and a scapegoat? What would it be like to experience not being supported, encouraged, and recognized for who you are? What would it be like to survive and learn to thrive by just relying on yourself?

This is a story of first generation Italian American parents who suffered through the Great Depression and how that trauma was passed down to their children. It describes a child's survival and resilience, awareness and strength and how this child survived not only the impact of her culture, but an early childhood trauma. The author analyzes the behavior stemming from a child's dysfunctional relationship with her parents. It is funny, sarcastic and sad all at the same time. This childhood is a marinade of the Sicilian and Nablidon (Neopolitan) culture.