Reading this weekend about the Federal Writers' Project - I'm speaking on the subject this Wednesday at the main library - I came across a familiar name: Jerre Mangione, the man who served as national coordinating editor.
I got to know Jerre in the 80s in Philadelphia. Searching my bookshelves I came across his book, The Dream and the Deal, and, opening it up to the title page I read the inscription he had written to me and Hania. It was dated "Labor Day, 1987."
The inscription reminded me of a meal we had shared, at a cafeteria in Center City. We both took spaghetti, but only I took bread with it, which I thought was necessary for sopping up the sauce. I asked Jerre why he had refrained.
"Italians never eat bread with pasta," he said. "It's redundant."
I have not eaten bread with pasta since.
