If you heard a loud raucous roar coming from the Brownstone Inn in Paterson, NJ, this afternoon, it wasn’t a rowdy riot … it was a loving celebration that may have raised some decibel levels a little bit past normal. But, that’s what happened when good Italians get together to celebrate.
And celebrate we did. Over 100 plus strong family — spanning five generations — and friends gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of the DeGrezia family matriarch … Angelina {I never knew that was her real name}. Most of us in the room knew her as Bebe or Aunt Bebe or Mom or Grandma. She was always Aunt Bebe to me. She was my grandmother’s sister-in-law.
At 100 — official as of Friday (Aug. 1) — Bebe remains active and fit as a fiddle. The years may have taken their toll, but you wouldn’t know it from her infectious smile … one that lit up the room continually through the afternoon.
To open the celebration, she was asked by the emcee what she attributed her longevity to. Without hesitation, she took — stole might be a better description — the microphone from him, waved her hand and boomed, “Family … and Love! Love! Love!”
She was right in the mix throughout the celebration, dancing with friends, relatives and grandkids … leading the Chicken Dance and Love Train … and soaking in every ounce of love showed her. Her eyes twinkled as she blew out a long, white candle on her birthday cake. When you get to be 100, you’re cut some slack with the candles.
The whole afternoon was an old-fashioned Italian celebration of exactly what Aunt Bebe said — family and love, love, love. Of course, a sumptuous meal was tossed in because, in addition to family and love, we Italians like to eat!
It’s amazing what this woman has seen. She lived through a world war, the depression, prohibition, another world war and throughout the technological advancements of the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s, 90s and the new millennium! And she witnessed each of the New York Yankees’ 27 world championships!
So here’s to you Bebe! We’ll see you next year!
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Family: We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
The Light 
Funny… I just wrote about turning 50 and here is Bebe hittin 100! Power to her!!!
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I stopped at your spot … Great insight at turning 50. Been there … done that … not sure I’ll make it to Bebe’s status. But I’m comfortable where I am (and it sounds like you are too) and embrace every day for its uniqueness. Power to Bebe and Power to you!
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I really like your five minute Friday posts… a great challenge to write down what is most important to you for a given subject. We all need a Bebe in our lives to remind us of the love, love, love and joy, joy, joy that comes from family!
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Thank you. You’re right. We need to be reminded about the love, love, love and joy, joy, joy and family. Bebe was a sparkling reminder.
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You have a wonderful outlook for life.Thank you for following my blog.Best regard.
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Thank you and I will continue to follow.
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I appreciate that a lot.Jalal
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