Frankie Laine – That’s My Desire

By , March 1, 2004

My father’s parents both emigrated from Sicily, independently of one another. They met in New York, fell in love, and got married. I think they hoped/ expected their children would also marry Sicilians. Their eldest, my uncle, married a Sicilian girl, and the youngest, my aunt, was set to marry that girl’s younger brother in an arranged marriage. Did that make sense? Anyway, you’d think that two out of three ain’t bad, but when my father began dating my mom, who was Mexican, they were not very happy. They went as far as to send my dad back to Detroit (they’d moved from New York to Detroit before coming to Los Angeles) to meet the nice Sicilian girl they had arranged for him to marry. It was all for naught. He pretended to go along with the plan, and arranged to return to Los Angeles to purchase a ring or some such thing, but it was all trickeration and chicanery, and once he got back to California he stayed for good.

Currently Playing: Frankie Laine – That’s My Desire

Meanwhile, Frankie Laine was all the rage in the world of music. The song that made him famous was “That’s My Desire,” which had made it as far as number four on the charts back in 1946. You can click the above link to hear the song, if that is your desire. Haw haw. Get it?

When my dad got back to Los Angeles he learned that Frankie Laine was scheduled to perform in Hollywood that night, and immediately asked my mom out on a date. She said she would go out with him, but there was a show she really wanted to see. He told her that he also had something in mind he wanted to do, but maybe they could do both. They didn’t need to, as she had the Frankie Laine concert in Hollywood in mind too. So they went, and lived happily ever after. Later that year they were married, and after some time my grandparents finally accepted Mom into the family, and turned her into an honorary Sicilian.

Frankie Laine - That Lucky Old Sun

The song came on the radio the other night as I was driving my Mom home from her weekly chemotherapy appointment. My father passed away a little over two years ago, but he and my mother had more than 50 happy years of marriage before they did, and he’s still missed. My mother shared the story with me, and I liked it so much that I am now sharing it with you.

I am realizing that as you age, your life becomes more and more memories of the past, and less about the present or the future. I hope I’m making the most of my youth while I have it, and creating lasting memories to one day share with my offspring. Today’s Question: Are you?

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12 Responses to “Frankie Laine – That’s My Desire”

  1. That was fantastic.. thanks so much for sharing

  2. YukiTonbo says:

    it sucks to be missing someone, i think it is by far the hardest feeling to live with…..

  3. the story about your parents was really sweet.

  4. rips31 says:

    living every day like it’s the last.

  5. CHiTaLiaNO says:

    The song is a bit too wistful sounding for my taste, but i think that its good nonetheless….Ehh, none of the memories i have so far are good enough to remember and reminisce about when i am old…but don’t worry, i’m young…

    20,000 women? Geeze, dat’s alot! Race huh? …haha sure…but can i get a head start of at least 50 guys first?..hehehe

  6. Peasprout says:

    @CHiTaLiaNO, With a head start like that I may never catch you!

  7. Auriale says:

    Aww that’s such a sweet story, a true inspiration for intermarriage and intermixing of races… even though more people are afraid to shun tradition, people of all different kinds fall in love :)

  8. trace310 says:

    love your story. glad to hear your mom has finally become an honorary sicilian. ;) i want a copy of this sweet song!

  9. CHiTaLiaNO says:

    @Peasprout, What if I make YOU one of the first 50 guys ehh?:) but u might be a tad too young for me, i only go for 60-80 yr olds hahahha–ewwwwww, gross, gross- now i can’t get that image out of my mind…ick…heh

  10. shadowluv says:

    This song makes me feel nostalgic for a sweet romantic night. Your parents story is wonderful, ty for sharing.

  11. Peasprout says:

    @CHiTaLiaNO, I need to get permission from Fizzy before I agree to that.

  12. Betty Grable says:

    Ay, that is certainly the most adorable lil story.

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