From Andis GJONI
Memorie.al / In the summer of 1942, in the “Flora” bar in Tirana, a lady entered with a hat that she held straight on her head. She looked aristocratic. She had stopped there to greet her uncle’s son, Esat Dishnica, who worked in that bar. At that time, Enver Hoxha, who was wanted by the fascist authorities for his communist activities, also lived there illegally. He probably knew the lady, as the wife of a respected Girocastrian, the engineer Çefo Fico. After they greeted each other and talked a little, Enver addressed the lady: “Isn’t this how you hold the hat, my lady Mebi – and with his hands, he lowered it a little on one side, causing the wide brim of the hat to take a side angle, given a more aristocratic appearance. Then he continued – “But when communism wins, you won’t have hats like this anymore”!
The aristocrat was Mebi Fico, my grandmother. She told me this event years later, but the fact remains interesting that the word of the one who would become the most powerful man in Albania was not confirmed, as my grandmother always remained an aristocrat even in the years of communism. She probably didn’t wear a “hat” with shelter for some time, until she came to America, but I can say for sure that she always remained a great lady, even during the most difficult days.
Mebi Starova (Fico) was born exactly 100 years ago today in Pogradec, on March 14, 1917, and was the little daughter of Hajdar Bey Starova. Her rich family with many properties provided her with a very comfortable life in the midst of abundance and well-being since childhood. Her grandfather, Istref Starova, made it possible to open the first Albanian school in his town.
He had married the cousin of the king of Egypt, and as the grandmother said, the bride had come accompanied by two black maids and two Egyptian horses, very beautiful, because the bride had brought a large dowry, transported on mules loaded with carpets and rugs, filled with gold and decorated.
Her father was a far-sighted and very intelligent man. He had not only inherited a large fortune, but had added even more, putting the money to work very well, with various investments. So he built the modern market of the city, invested in the power plant, brought some tractors to work the land, built cinemas, at a time when even bigger cities, such as Durrës and Vlora, did not have cinemas at that time.
Grandfather also published the town’s first newspaper and built a modern hotel. At the same time, he also thought about the people of that city and the general good, as in the case of the reconciliation of a French engineer, during the First World War, in order to make the regulatory plan of the city of Pogradec.
Hajdar Starova’s wish was that; not only he prospered with his wealth, but the whole city flourished, for this reason agreed the engineer Garrik, a Frenchman, who had come with the French military troops, during the war. This urban study was so valuable that the basis of the Frenchman’s plan became the foundation of what was to be built in the city throughout the 20th century, and especially of that beautiful promenade, which is still admired by citizens and visitors today in the city of Pogradec.
From childhood, Mebi was distinguished by an innate ingenuity. She always had the answer on the tip of her tongue and her words always came out, in whatever situation she was in, with an iron determination and will, she achieved what she wanted.
Of course, the richest man in the city made sure that his children received the best possible education and, for this reason, he also sent his daughter to study at Dako’s school in Tirana, which was the school of famous of the Qirijazi sisters, who had opened the first Albanian language school in the period of Turkey. The school was for girls only.
At that school, Mebi learned English, Italian and French, languages in which she communicated fluently. Under the influence of American and Swiss teachers, she also learned science subjects and especially the rules of aristocratic behavior in society.
She played the piano (with four hands) with her friends. There she made friends with many heirs of the richest and most respected families in Albania, friendships that would continue for years, until today, where our family maintains regular relations with the nephews and nieces of her school friends. .
Above all, she had a thirst for learning. He loved art and literature and enjoyed opera arias, which he listened to at home on the gramophone. I remember him telling me that when he was almost a child, he would repeat the title of Puccini’s famous opera “Tosca” to himself; “Tosca and Gega”.
In 1938, she married engineer Cefo Fico, the son of the distinguished diplomat and statesman, Rauf Fico, and they immediately went on a honeymoon, which would actually last 4 months, in the most beautiful capitals of Europe. Her life began in the vicissitudes of boat trips, in the beloved “gjolin” of Pogradec, and then continued with gondolas in Venice and car trips on the boulevards of Paris, Berlin, London, Rome and, years later, continued with boat trips to the Bahamas, Florida, Mexico, Canada, New York, and many other cities in the USA, where she has lived for 21 years.
After the war (1939-1944), difficult days would come. She would no longer have maids, governesses, cooks and drivers in her home, however, as a true lady; she devoted herself entirely to her family. In the years of fierce persecution, many of the friends and relatives entrusted their assets to our grandmother. She kept their bequests and then returned when times calmed down. Several times she went to an internment camp, dressed as a villager with a scarf on her head, to deliver the old things that had been entrusted to her for safekeeping, to some cousins who were there.
For years, she hosted all the persecuted cousins in her house with food and sleep, at a time when their relatives did not even greet them on the street. When her husband became seriously ill, she sold all her valuables and jewels to save him and devoted herself selflessly to his recovery.
Perhaps it is a unique case in the history of communism in Albania that in the middle of Tirana, in the palace where Mebi Fico lived for 45 years, the residents of the 2nd degree, certainly under the influence of our aristocrat, called each other with; “Lord” and “Mrs.”
Her home was always decorated with Persian carpets, gold lampshades, silver trays and paintings on the walls. Every Thursday, he had visiting day, where he waited and escorted his friends, to whom he always served tea with cookies.
All the events and facts above constitute a kind of heroism in them, if we consider what punishments awaited her, in case her name was put in the red circle. Even in this case, I have the impression that her politeness and longevity saved her, but especially the respect that everyone had for the hard work of her husband, engineer Ficos.
Her legendary cooking created a feeling of special satisfaction and abundance, even in the most difficult years of economic hardship; she always had her “goodies” preserved, like a perfect host. He had a special relationship with me, he generally did not call me by my name, but simply “boy”, everyone knew the meaning well, and the boy was above everyone.
From an early age, she gave me a spoon, a fork and a silver knife, so that when I sat down at the table, I could eat “like a prince”, as she said. And I had and still have a special relationship with him, every evening I go to see him and I have the pleasure of exchanging a few words with him and, at the end, with a kiss, I wish him a good night.
Mebi, throughout her life, stood out for her strong character, was eloquent and expressed her thoughts very beautifully, thanks to the great spiritual world that characterizes her. She had a wide culture and a thirst for learning, even today. A few years ago, when he was about 90 years old, I find him bored one day. I asked him why and he answered: “I’m upset, because the France International television channel no longer speaks French. They have translated it into English. Before, I was good because I listened and practiced French”!
Today she turns 100 years old and of course some things have changed, but until recently, she had a perfect daily routine, with activities, readings and extensive information. He followed the news every day, in three different languages, and also every day, for an hour or two, he read books and magazines. He knew how to “talk” precisely, about any kind of topic. We have always had something to learn from her. Everyone who has known and talked to Mebi Fico has been surprised and satisfied with the conversation.
Her friends had the highest appreciation, as in the case of the US senator, Jeff Klein, who stopped his car on the road to meet her and every year, he does not forget to send her a greeting card, on the occasion of her birthday. She knows how to make you her own, and has always made friends, with the greatest ease, anywhere and anytime. A concentrate of wisdom and experience in human relations, which will surprise you with the sharpness of thought.
Today I recall with pleasure, that the freedom we gained in the 90s, also embellished the life of our aristocratic grandmother, who had days and energy to enjoy traveling around the world once again. She is an active member of the Albanian community in New York and has always participated in various activities, exhibitions, concerts, excursions and especially in the celebrations of the Independence Day of Albania, which she loves so much.
Mebi Fico, walked a lot and saw a lot, was happy with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She managed to build a wonderful family, educated three generations and left a legacy to be envied. She always lived as an honorable and respected lady.
On this great anniversary, just like every year on your day, which is also the day of summer, since the times that cannot be remembered, we will put the summer in our hands and, we will share the cake, which this time will have a gold coin inside. We will laugh and rejoice, who will be lucky enough to get the gold this time, as we have done for years, and we will be sure of one thing, today our grandmother blows out the candles on the birthday cake. 100 springs, happy that all your wishes came true!
Mebi Fico is and will remain a true Albanian aristocrat, not only because she was materially rich, but because she always had the greatest possible spiritual wealth, love for people. Happy our aristocrat! Memorie.al
