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Marisa Parker
a book bubble about
Goodbye to Italia
Biographies & Memoirs
Author Insight
Visiting the Church Where my Parents were Married
My family and I were in Europe over Christmas. Whist in Torino, Northern Italy, where my Italian parents grew up, I followed in their footsteps. We visited, La Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata - the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, where my mum and dad were married in 1955. As the wedding service concluded, my mum took a small moment to say a prayer at the foot of the statue of Mary (Maria), the mother of Jesus. The extract from my book depicts this. When my family and I visited, I was only given five minutes to explore this exquisite Church and then, my husband hustled me outside. I was cross with him for doing so, but instantly forgave him, upon seeing our daughter’s delighted, albeit tear-stained face, when she exited the Church, with a new sparkling diamond ring on her finger. Her beaming fiancé followed her out and we all exchanged heartfelt hugs and well wishes. How romantic it was of him, to propose in the Church where the bride’s grandparents were married! Surely, this sings to the heart of all romantics?! I wrote a four-part blog series about following in my parents’ footsteps through Italy; it’s available on my website: www.marisaparkerauthor.com/blog
Book Excerpt
Goodbye to Italia
Walking slowly up the aisle and out of the church, Iucci looks around at her family and close friends, and feels a flash of euphoria. She is now married and her surname is Piergiovanni.
Vittoria rushes up to kiss her new sister-in-law. Dirce, however, is more sedate but surprisingly, gives Iucci a warm and heartfelt hug. For the moment, it seems that the beautiful wedding service has also captivated her mother-in-law.
As is tradition, Iucci breaks away from the group and makes her way to the statue of Maria, the Holy Mother of Jesus. It is time to say a prayer for her and her new husband, and their future life together. As the serene eyes gaze down at her, Iucci solemnly places a bouquet of flowers at the feet of the statue as a symbol of her virginity. She hugs herself surreptitiously. Her stomach fills with a pleasant flutter of butterflies with the knowledge that her wedding night is ahead of her.
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