This afternoon we went to a party hosted by a Dutch-Italian couple who were in college with Mr. Waffle. It was full to the brim with kiddies and we had a lovely time (imagine, there was a time when I believed that this would never be possible). It’s the kind of party your parents used to bring you to when you were little. It features a large dead pig which the host imports annually from Italy in a special case designed for this purpose. It’s all very thrilling.
However, I had two conversations with Italian men which confirmed my worst fears:
Conversation 1
Me: Hi, I shook hands with you at mass the other week and I don’t think you recognised me.
Him: Ah, it was you, no, I didn’t but now of course I know you are ….(very long pause) oh yes, you are, (rummages about in the back of brain)…um..
Finally to the enormous relief of both of us, he produces my name.
Conversation 2
Me: Hello Marco, how are you?
Him: (slightly nervous smile, big kiss on each cheek) how wonderful to see you, it’s been ages.
Me: You don’t remember my name.
Him: (smiling winningly) But I remember YOU.
Me: But my name?
Him: (nervously) But I remember your status.
Me: I beg your pardon? You mean you know my husband?
Him: (winning smile again) Exactly, you are married to Mr. Waffle, no?
I tell you, there was a time in my life when Italian men used to remember me. I’m feeling my age here.
on 09 January 2005 at 23:41
And another thing… You’re married, have a small child and wonder why Italian men have stopped paying attention to you?! You didn’t learn much about Italian men, with all due respect.
on 10 January 2005 at 00:29
Italian men – my mother warned me about them. She still wanted me to marry one however…Alas, my countrymen are too short for me. And like Porchetta too much.
(Homepage)
on 10 January 2005 at 19:49
I wish I could say that…”there was a time when Italian men remembered me.” I just have to be happy that MY man remembers me! LOL
on 10 January 2005 at 21:04
FT, funny. Bobble, you are tall? Lucky, lucky you. JD, hello, where have you been? Kathy, well, all you had to do was spend some time in Italy in your late teens or early 20s, I wouldn’t get carried away here, but ta.. 
on 10 January 2005 at 22:11
Sadly not – I am average height 1.66cm – but my male friends from Rome and southwards were invariably the same height as me. Damn.
on 11 January 2005 at 22:57
I thought it was *bad* when Italian men remember you? As in “oh yess, I remembera you, darling, hehehe”, “Oh godddd”, etc.
Hm.
on 12 January 2005 at 18:08
Mike, well, I guess it depends.
Well, you’re taller than me Bobble, I am a miserable 164.