My full name is unusual compared to most. Vincenza. My mother promised my grandfather when she was pregnant with me, that I would be named after my grandmother. I never knew her. She passed away before my oldest brother was born. I am the youngest of 4 kids and the only girl. My grandparent’s names were Vincenza and Vincenzo. Both Italians that came to the US from Italy. They settled in Batavia, NY to raise their family. The family home is where the family would gather whenever my parents visited. My aunt was also named after my grandmother. When I was a teenager, she explained to me that my name was Italian for Virginia or Jennifer. My aunt was fluent in the Italian language. She spoke it and knew how to read and write in Italian. She said that there was no J in the Italian language; therefore, the “C” was used in my name. Vincenza. Sounded out in writing is “Vinjenza.” Exactly how to pronounce the name. My aunt was called Jenny for short where I am called Vinni. Why my mother never went with Jenny, I will never know. My other aunt, refused to call me by the short name. Growing up whenever I heard my full name, it usually meant I was in trouble.
Being the baby of the family and the only girl, each trip to Batavia, I got special mentions. Yes, one could say that I was and still am spoiled. At every visit, my grandfather always cleared the kitchen table for us to gather round. He took out his treasured penny jar and began to distribute the pennies to me and my brothers. He told my mother to make sure these pennies went into our savings account when we returned home. Back then, they added up! He made her promise. Mom promised that she would. He would begin counting them by naming my brothers and me. “One for James. One for Charles. One for Russell. And TWO for Vincenza! He did this until the jar was emptied. Each round was the same. One for James. One for Charles. One for Russell. And TWO for Vincenza! Mom took the pennies and had them deposited to each of our accounts when we got home. She honored her promise to my grandfather in both my name and in building my savings account. Just as I was extra special in my father’s eyes, I was my father’s, father’s (Grandpa) special girl.
Writings By Vinni 
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