Maybe because I was the oldest male member of my generation quite early in life I sensed I had a responsibility to fulfill towards my family. It was self-evident that I should protect our family and do what I could to help any in it. I felt this towards the young and old alike.
I remember asking Mom to have our cousins over to our home in the summer and when I had a little bit of money saved up I brought my Italian cousin Rita to the nicest boutique store in Fregene, a place called Decio’s, and bought her a real nice dress with most of my savings.
Rita’s dad, my uncle Luciano and I, were also great friends and use to go tout fishing together. He was the one who brought a Fiat 500 into the yard of our villa at Fregene and we drove that little car around the outer perimeter of our yard dozens of times on what was intended to be a bike path shifting back and forth from first to second gear.
The photo above was taken by me together with the help of my brother after I planned to have everyone get together at my grandmother’s apartment in Rome for dinner.
When I was in about the fourth grade, my younger brother came to me in desperation because a bully had been hounding him and would not leave him alone. Without hesitation I immediately went to rescue my brother and in the only fight I was ever involved in during my entire life and without harming the bully, I made sure the kid never touched my brother again.
Later, when my Dad and Mom found out what I had done they were pleased, but did not say very much or even praise me. At first I was surprised that they had remained quiet, but then after some time and thinking about it I came to understand that they felt I had simply discharged my duty. In their mind I was fulfilling my responsibility as the older brother of the Ripamonti family and therefore commendation was not required or even appropriate since I was simply doing what I was supposed to do.
What they thought then, is what I think and would say today.
When we do what is right we should not wait around to see if others will sing our praises.
Soon afterwards, that same year, the ex-bully and my brother both came over together to let me know how wonderful their new found relationship was now. The ex-bully even thanked me for helping him become such good friends with my brother!