The dinner dishes have been washed, dried and put away. Mama is still wearing her apron, and the mopine (pronounced "mopeen") or dish towel is still on the table. The scent of the Medaglia D'oro coffee fills the room, travels up the hallway, and out to our driveway! Suddenly, as the espresso coffee is being poured, you will hear, "oh ey mama". This is the expression used by Italians to express their pain or discomfort. Then, the Italians have a certain bodily position as they groan in agony.  "ho un dolore di mia testa", meaning, "I have a painful headache".  The funny thing about my Italian mama is that she can diagnose the root cause of any headache. She will know how and why you got the headache, and how to cure the headache. It is called "The Maloccio."  There will be four reasons that my mama will explain, so everyone will understand why the person has the headache in the first place.  1. Someone gave the person an evil eye, out of jealousy or envy. 2. The evil eye was given as a curse because someone who was envious or jealous of the person's new dress, hairdo, shoes, car, jewelry, home, or upcoming trip to Italy. These are all valid reasons why my mama thinks a person will give you the maloccio. 3. She explains  which person gave the evil eye. Now, I do not know if this is true in some Italian families, but in my Italian family, it seems that the maloccio, or evil eye, is given by a female to another female. In my family, I have never heard the males talk about the maloccio or evil eye. I am not saying that men do not believe in it, but in my family and some of the other Italian families that I know, the maloccio seems to be a female thing. 4. My mama will pinpoint where the person received the maloccio or evil eye. She will help the person trace their steps in their mind to the butcher, the vegetable store, the hairdresser (oh, so many evil eyes given at the hair dresser), the wedding, dinner dance (of course the dinner dance, filled with teased up, newly styled hairdos, gold chains, black or navy blue dresses right from the department store box, and oh yes, possibly at the bank or bakery. Another congregating place where the evil eye could have occurred. 

After the diagnosis is completed, or cause of your headache, my mother will cure it. Are you still with me? Go ahead, have another cup of espresso to absorb this one.  She will get a bowl and fill it with water. Usually the larger bowls for pasta. That works best in the Maloccio process. Then, she will put olive oil in a spoon or a little in a glass, and lay it next to the bowl of water.  Here are the steps: 1. Place the thumb and index finger in the middle of the forehead. As my mama makes some type of stroking motions on the person's forehead, she thinks of a chant, or some type of saying. Now, never, and I mean, never ask mama for the chant. It is bad luck and it is a secret.   An old woman on her death bed in San Donato Val Di Comino told my mama the chant or saying that goes along with the removal of the maloccio.  Then, my mama touches the top of the plate twice, the bottom of the plate twice, and then twice on the left and right of the bowl. I was frightened of this as a kid, but it is normal in my Italian house. Then, she places her fingers on the olive oil that was on the spoon, and flicks a couple of drops into the bowl.  Suddenly, in my mind, I could almost hear e science fiction music playing  in the background as the round circles appear in the bowl. Those are the eyes. Yes, the eyes that envied or were jealous of  you.  Mama says, "e rotonde,e sono grandi", which means "the round shapes are big". See, mama knows her stuff. Then, she extends her index finger and pinky finger into the bowl and puts them right in the middle of the circles floating in the bowl. If those circles are real large, you have a double whammy maloccio!  Shortly after, within a few minutes, the headache goes away. You will see the relief on the headache sufferer's face. It is like Christmas morning again. Then, my mama insists of having a biccerine (bih char eene) or small shot glass of Strega or Sambucca. After all, you have to celebrate the removal of the "maloccio". I have to go out this weekend, but I will be sure to have that little silver horn in my pocketbook.