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When Adolf Hitler declared war on the US, it was a pivotal moment in my grandmothers life. She stated "because she had several family members serving for the US at the time, it was a very scary time in her families life." While I can't necessarily understand the fear that my grandmother experience, I can sympathize with her emotions because I know how hard it was for her to talk about the death of her brother, Martin.

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Dec. 12, 1941: Germany declares war on U.S.

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Download a PDF that you can enlarge for easier reading

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Stemming from the multiple conversation we had about relationships, my grandmother explained her thoughts on the cultural change within them. She grew up in a Catholic family where it was "customary to be married before having children." She stated that "in today's world it is common for women to have children at a very young age & before marriage which wasn't really looked highly upon." She was married before she had children with both of her husbands. I can resonate with this because if I were to have kids, I would also want to be married & financially capable of taking care of them.

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My grandmother had a brother named Martin (who my dad was named after). He was one out of thousand of soldiers who died in the Battle of Monte Cassino in which he was awarded a Purple Heart. He was stationed in North Carolina & buried in New York alongside my other uncles. My grandmother did not go into depth too much on this story because it was a difficult tale to tell.

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My grandmother grew up in a time where family was of utmost importance. With that being said, she stated that "today's people think too highly of materialistic items when you should be grateful for the things that you already have." This is something I can greatly agree on. People worry so much about what the next person has or is doing. Social media platforms are very toxic when it comes to materialism because everyone thinks that riches & branded items are a must-need.

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My grandmother didn't have much of an opinion on politics. Though one thing that she did mention is how "the US government has become more & more corrupt over the years." Her birth year is 1928 & has seen 17 presidents in office. Most notably, Ronald Reagan and Dwight D. Eisenhower — these two were her favorites. Ronald Reagan was the first president that she "actually favorited when voting." Being that I've only been alive long enough to see four presidents, it is crazy to see how fast time flies & how much could happen over the years due to the government.

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My grandmother is such a cat lady. For as long as I've been alive, she has always had a cat. She is actually on her third one now that the other two have passed. My grandmother said that she has always grown up around animals & is an animal lover. She recalled a time when "her son brought had a cat that would climb up the ladder on his bunk bed to sleep with him." This very memory seemed to be one that my grandmother loved because she could not stop laughing when recalling the story.

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My grandmother stressed the importance of getting an education or being education. She stated that being educated can set you up for a successful future. Though, it was mentioned that college isn't necessarily the right route for each individual. As long as you make an effort to become educated in some way, there will be a path that is right for you & will lead you to a successful career. She told me that it "brings joy to her that I am invested in pursuing an education to become a physician," & this warmed my heart.

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While interviewing my grandmother, she told me a story about how she had wished that her father would allow her to further pursue a hobby in playing the piano. She loved the experience that she had when learning but was not able to carry it out. My grandmother said that your interests will "keep you on your toes" & is something that you can rely on when you feel lost. It is something that can bring excitement back into your life in dark times.

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In this interview, my grandmother said to value your personal relationships. Whether that be family, friends, or a significant other — these people play a huge role in your life. She stated that is was important to surround yourself with people that love you & whom you love. These will be the people in which you confide in & who should ultimately support you through everything. Though, my grandmother did stress the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with these people because it is not worth holding onto a negative relationship.

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While relationships were a huge topic on conversation, my grandmother also stated that independence is an important part of life. She zoned in mostly on the topic of financial independence. For example, not relying on your significant other to take care of you financially. While she grew up in a different time where things like this were customary, she also always had a job to support herself if need be. My grandmother said that "it is important to have your own money & assets so that if anything were to happen", you would have that financial backing.

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This childhood memory that my grandmother spoke about was the epitome of what its like growing up with an Italian family. While it was a short-lived tale, my grandmother told me about all the times that her mother (my great-grandmother) would spank her & her sibling with a wooden spoon. She states that "when we would try to touch the food before it was ready or were in the kitchen while she was cooking, my mother would chase us with a wooden spoon." This story is especially familiar to me because my dad would tell me the same story but with my grandmother doing the chasing & spanking.

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This photo shows a broad description of the Belluscio last name which has since been changed to Bellus amongst the vast majority of the family. Helen emphasized the change being brought upon by the Belluscio migration from Italy to New York for "undisclosed reasons" haha. The name is known to be attached to the physical appearance of those who possess it. "Bello" deriving from the term handsome & as most know "Bella" meaning beauty.

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This is a memorable moment of my Grandmother's life. The entire family came together in celebration of her mother & fathers 50th marriage anniversary. Helen, my grandmother, was able to identify several people in this photo. Though most notably her mother, father, two sons (my father & uncle), & daughter. The vast majority of people present in this photo has since passed. This picture was especially cool to see because both my dad & uncle are present in this picture when they were young! I also have not gotten to see too many pictures of my grandmother during her own marriage and it was very heartwarming. In addition, it was amazing to see all of the family members that I was not able to meet but heard so much about!