Louis Nichole 235 Italian Relatives

But it was then at the age of 5, that Little Louie swore he would make the world more beautiful…….after the introduction of the latest decorating trend….. clear plastic slipcovers.

All of Louie’s 235 Italian relatives on the block had clear plastic slipcovers on their “couches.”Little Louie didn’t like the way those slipcovers looked…..and he certainly didn’t like the way they made his tiny little butt stick to the “couch” in the summer months.

So Louie instinctively began decorating….and redecorating not only in his apartment , but his relatives apartments as well…. when they weren’t home.. Louie would constantly move the furniture around in their apartments with the help of cousins Claudia and Anthony who lived on the first floor….who helped him move the furniture from place to place …for which they were compensated 5 cents…. a very handsome fee at the time.

Whenever Louie would go out shopping with mamma, he would always ask her the same question…… over and over again…… “Mama… is it cheap because it’s ugly, or is it ugly because it’s cheap?” He never quite understood why something cheap had to look inexpensive.

So, Little Louie had a mission…. and a passion…….. to create beautiful things that were inexpensive ( which ultimately became his business)… and he did this starting by using inexpensive items and transforming them into something of beauty. Instinctively little Louie knew he was descended from some kind of royalty… He loved gold things…like gold braids and trimmings….gold dishes…..gold silverware…..gold frames. He never met a gold he didn’t like…except for Mrs. Goldstein… who lived down the block…but that’s another story So, Little Louie had a mission…. and a passion…….. to create elegant, beautiful things that were inexpensive ( which ultimately became his business)… and he did this by making something ordinary….. transforming it into something extraordinary.

But Little Louie was also born with a song in his heart, energy to entertain. a dance in his feet and with a garden in his soul. He demonstrated so many different talents: He could sing Italian arias, he was an excellent tap dancer, he was very creative with his hands……. and he did it all with flair.

Louie’s mother would close all the windows in the house when Louie would sing Italian opera or Neapolitan folk songs…. because all the neighbors as well as his relatives up the street could hear him sing. Louie had big voice…. but to his mother little boys should be quiet and respectful….. like most of the other 80 cousins and kids who lived on the block.

But Nicola DiMuzio, little Louie’s grandpa, didn’t agree. He was the only person who acknowledged and thrilled at Louie’s theatricality and dramatic flair. He was a kind and gentle man…born in Italy… and spoke broken English. He lived in the same 3 family house as little Louie … but on the first floor. Louie could always try out a new outfit or a new routine on Grandpa. He didn’t have to say anything……it was the way his eyes smiled every time he looked at Louie as he would sing or dance…applauding with great love and kindness. Grandpa made Louie feel good about himself. He acknowledged Louie just the way he was….which was just fine with Louie…because he didn’t think there was anything wrong with himself in the first place.