"The Finest Place to Live"

When James and I were talking about your dad's birthday this year, we agreed that it was hard to think of him as the 81 year old man he would have been. But that changed for me upon noticing an article in the New York Times last Friday June 26 2009: He's Never Left Astoria Behind. Even for me, many recognizable names were mentioned in the article.

Of course, I couldn't leave it at that so I jumped up to investigate a little bit. I remember your dad talking about growing up in the same neighborhood as Tony Bennett. Then Anthony Benedetto, he is only a year younger than your dad so I feel like his experience was in many ways your family's as well. This article mentions Tony Bennett's dad was a grocer but in the 1930 census he and his wife were dressmakers. The article mentions Steinway Street, which is what the census lists as the Dalpiaz/Messa family homestead at that time.

Tony Bennett says Astoria was "The finest place to live". What a wonderful way to remember childhood! Apparently he stared at the Manhattan skyline across the East River and I imagine your dad, his sisters and perhaps the rest of the family doing the same. In 1930 Tony lived on 21st Avenue but the article mentions a two story house on 32nd Street during the Great Depression. Indeed all in the same neighborhood--906 34th Avenue is the Messa/Dalpiaz address in the early 1930s. He raised pigeons on the roof and played in the Astoria Pool (which I do not recall hearing about). The rooftop activities of course bring to mind the pictures from the Astoria rooftops!! The article mentions Steinway Junior High School class of 1942 with his class picture. Is this the same Junior High School your parents attended?

Anyhow, the fondness Mr. Bennett holds for his childhood homes and memories brings great warmth to my heart thinking about your dad especially. It feels just like thie article is talking about your dad--despite the fact he wasn't a world renowned celebrity!!

We are awaiting Kathleen and Nick's arrival tomorrow!

Father's Day and Summer Solstice

As a special treat for Father's Day this year, you have the longest day of the year to celebrate! I hope you are all having a great day with your fathers or with your children. James is spending the afternoon at the Binghamton Mets game with Amy and Ryan. Perfect. I know he misses his dad to this day and especially today so I'm glad he is spending it with his kids at his favorite pasttime. I hope the same for all of you.

In my family history research, I learn many things that surprise me. This hasn't specifically happened recently, but it occured to me that even in today's world we can learn things that might surprise us about our family members. We think we know what others think of us, but those perceptions are often inaccurate. And we don't even realize it! I have very often had my eyes opened by a revelation shared by someone's perception of me or my preferences, motives whatever. We simply do not have the same views of ourselves that others do and such a reality check can be very refreshing.

So, in that spirit, I thought I would share with you all some of my favorite online activties. I am sharing things I think might surprise you as well as give you new insight to my interests. One such website is one that I'll bet Thomas would enjoy very much: The Occasional CEO blog blends history with current events in such an interesting way I look forward to all new posts! Most recently I particularly enjoyed the post: Twitter, Pain, and the Livery Stable Blues: Culture Trumps Technology . Great food for thought. I get regular Grammar Girl updates to keep me current with grammatical trivia.

Podcasts I enjoy on my iPod include Quick and Dirty Tips Get It Done Guy as well as This American Life from NPR; Circuits by David Pogue and Good Morning Gloucester. I've just started listening to Arming the Donkeys explaining recent scientific research and how it affects our lives.

And, yes, I have finally joined the social network world on Facebook. We'll see how it goes. I look forward to all it can offer. Jake mentioned the wide Dalpiaz network so I am very intrigued.

Good thing it's the longest day in the year with all this stuff to keep up with! My family is welcoming a new twig on the family tree today: my sister Paula's son Bill welcomes his second daughter Emma into the world today!

Who knew?

The USA Today paper today described a potential "new" kind of cloud. I never considered there might ever be a new kind of cloud. Did you? Anyone out there more scientifically based than I am that knows something about clouds? This is a cloud I admired one day.

It might be an odd coincidence, but I had just been admiring the cloud formations today as I was finally released from our last day of school (this probably added to their beauty). And sometimes I take comfort in the thought that the sun, the moon, the stars and the clouds today are the "same" sun, moon, stars and clouds that our ancesters admired. I can still rely on the sun, right?

Happy Birthday Dad

Birthday bubbles. Your dad never struck me as being very fanciful so I like this picture because he was having fun with his grandchild. And I especially like the big bear in the background. But this picture also makes me sad because it was taken when we were there for your mother's funeral and I know how sad he was. I'm pretty sure his heart was not in entertaining Amy that moment but he did it anyhow and that speaks to his character. We miss him.

Another universal experience, I suppose.