I'll be giving  you an inside view on my family study methodology so that you can see how it happens that I seem to never get anything DONE!

First, thank you Angela for being so generous in sharing the ephemera from your Dad's collection.  I spent much of Christmas afternoon scanning and researching.  Here's one example of the trail I followed until I was well off the trail.

As you can see, this is a vehicle registration from 1931 for your grandfather James.  I notice the vehicle is a Willys 6.  This was not familiar to me, so I can't resist doing a little further research.  And this is exactly where the scanning stops and the off course wandering begins.

This is a 1931 Willys Six Model 97.  Pretty snappy.  First it occurs to me that James had a very up-to-date vehicle for himself.  I don't really know what it might mean to be a chauffeur in Freeport NY in the late 1920s and early 1930s.  He consistently held a chauffeur's license but I don't know what it was needed or used for.  So I take another detour to check the 1930 census record which indicates his occupation as coal weigher.  This detour led me to a Freeport City Directory from 1926:

James is listed with Margaret as foreman but, interestingly for me--also listed are James' elusive siblings Elizabeth and Phillip!  Bazinga (as Sheldon would say on The Big Bang Theory).  Of course, I have to link this to these two as well and now the original research is well off track.  But I'm having a grand time and I'm so happy to be able to share it with you all.  More to come.

They Are All Our Children

I've had a difficult time coming up with words for blog posts in light of the Newtown murders.  I can barely think about the shootings, let alone find words.  I know I'm not alone in this.   President Obama delivered a powerful message to the nation to address this and did so in a manner I only wish I could approach in my writing and speaking.

And he's absolutely correct.  Our first job is to take care of the children and we aren't doing it well enough.  Change is needed. 


OK.  Taking a turn now.  I intended to issue this challenge closer to New Year's but it seems appropriate now to reflect on the good things that have happened in the last year.  The challenge is to post ONE single image that sums up what was best in 2012 for you.

Here's mine.  It wasn't so easy to pick just one.  Try it.

My images from this past year reflect my new eye to detail.  Taking time to look, listen, smell and absorb atmosphere and surroundings has brought great rewards.  This picture was taken on a beach in Gloucester on a Sunday morning.  We hadn't been to this beach before and it was another beautiful gem we've discovered in Gloucester.  I love the shadows and the relative size of this clam shell left behind by the tide.  I got down on my knees to take this.  It's a great exercise in perspective to do so.  Perspective is a tool I don't use enough!

So what's  yours?  I challenge you to pick one and post it here with its story.  

It was great to see Jean, Bob, Hailey, Kathleen and Nick over the weekend.  We are looking forward to Christmas Eve when we can hug all the children a little tighter than usual.  You parents might want to give them a heads-up about that :)  

Trentino Blog for you to consider

I get occasional emails from this blog alerting me to interesting new posts.  The two most recent posts are ones I thought you might enjoy:  check it out at http://trentinoheritage.wordpress.com/author/trentinoheritage/

Touring your Trentino Village online and checking out the photo collection are the two posts I'm referring to. 

Enjoy.  Happy Birthday tomorrow Jake!

Your Christmas Bonus

This is quite adorable.  And you thought all I did was waste my time on Ancestry.com!

She left a beautiful memory

Another excerpt from Aunt Rose Jozwicki's journal:

Six months later I lost my dear mother on May 20 1942 (your great grandmother Catherine Contenta Messa).  She left a beautiful memory.  But a loss that I will never forget.  I was miserable and unhappy for a whole year.  I had fear of being left alone in my own home.  I was almost over the pain of mother's death when my brother Louie got a heart disease which was incurable.  It was an infection of the heart valve.  It was called subacute bacterial endocarditis.  The doctor gave him six months to live.  In six months almost to the day, he was gone.  We cried for him so much during those awful months.  By the end of his death he was all but skin and bones.  

He was only 31 years old and had everything to live for.  A good home, a big car, and a good salary.  I was there when the end came July 24 1943.  For many a sleepless hour I have spent since his death thinking of him and those big eyes; the way he looked at mea, as if he wanted help, but we could not do a thing.  His wife did everything in the world that she sould have done for him.  Sulfa drugs and other treatments had failed.  

Tom Lessie and Louis Messa (not sure which is which but I like to think that Louis is on the right with the snappy fedora style hat)

The war was still on, and everyone was very discouraged, most of all the boys of our neighborhood who were gone to fight for their country.

My husband (Walter)  was lucky.  By now he was 37 years old, so they were taking men up to 38.  By the time he was called to the draft board, and his job was essential.  He just missed being called.  We at the home front did everything in our power to help win this terrible dreadful way, by buying war bonds, saving paper, fat tin cans, and by working hard.

In the meantime, my brother Pete was keeping steady company with a firl named Sally Restivo (she was a graduate nurse).  Pete was not in service for he was a diabetic.

On September 19 1943, Pete was married at Saint Rita's church and had a little recption in Sally's mother's house.

 I thought you might enjoy seeing these familiar family names even if some of the history is rather sad.  But these are beautiful memories regardless.
 

Thanksgiving Wishes

Happy Thanksgiving to all far and wide!  How exciting for Linda and Scott to be with Drew in Europe for the holiday!  I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Amy and Ryan are home so we'll be having our feast here.  I made a crucial error in the purchase of our new dining set which is pub-style so the table and chairs are a little higher than the other table and chairs.  The mistake was not thinking about extra company for Thanksgiving and how the "short" chairs aren't going to do the trick which is what I usually would use.  Hmmm..... someone will be chair-shorted unless I figure something out.  Could be an adventure.

The adventure I'd really like to have for Thanksgiving dinner would be to gather up some of the souls I consider "lost" in your family tree and sit them down to a nice dinner and chat.  Your great grandfather John Coffarelli is one of those lost souls to me.  I do not know even when he died yet, never mind his immigration story! 

I'm very curious about your grand uncle Phillip Coffarelli too.  I have some of the background for his siblings filled in, but he's a little bit lost to me right now.  His sister, Margaret DiSabto is another one whose story I would like to fill in more completely.  I am making progress with her but am not yet satisfied. 

To switch around a bit, your grand uncle Peter Manzelli is another such lost soul in my family research.  I haven't yet found "that Nervo girl" your Aunt Mary talked about though I do think I've located his first family.  I would like more details to help complete the picture I have of him too.

Wouldn't it be grand to scoop them all up and sit them down for a big family dinner along with all the other loved ones we've lost along the way?  These are the kinds of dreams the family genealogist has.

What would they think of this?

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless.

Anybody have a turkey?

I don't know if I'm the only one who suddenly came to the realization that Thanksgiving is coming right up.  I thought I had another week but a well-timed calendar check proved me wrong.  While it was delightful to consider we'd have two short weeks in a row at school, it was panic time for preparations. 

I plan to host Thanksgiving this year and had done NOTHING to get ready so off to the grocery store I went on Saturday November 10 (the reason for giving the date should become clear soon).  Since both Ryan and Amy will be home, I was also focused on stocking up the cupboards with their favorites so this was going to be one full grocery cart.  I wandered the store filling the basket and looking for the star of the show  Turkey.  I buy frozen and expected there to be a pretty good selection available except I couldn't find them.  The basket is full to overflowing and I still haven't put the turkey in there.  So, I asked and was directed.  I actually had to ask twice because I was still not finding the turkeys.  Feeling a fool, I approached a clerk at a freezer door and noticed "ah ha! turkeys!".  The clerk stopped me in my track saying "You don't want those--they're breasts."  True.  "Go to the meat room, they are unloading those turkeys off the truck right now." 

Meat room?  I was feeling extraordinarily thick headed by now and couldn't process "meat room" and reluctantly asked.  She meant the meat counter so over I go and ask.  Again.  "Those turkeys won't be here until tomorrow."  There are no other turkeys.

Why does everyone keep saying "those turkeys?"  And why are there no turkeys in this store on a Saturday 12 days before Thanksgiving?  I just cannot believe I'm in the store to do the Thanksgiving shopping and there are no turkeys to be had.  And not because there was a run on turkeys, but because "those turkeys" aren't available until tomorrow (Sunday).  I just want a turkey.  Please and thank you.

Turns out there was some kind of free turkey promotion whereby they would be made available to qualifying customers starting on Sunday.  But not Saturday if you just want a freakin' turkey.  The check out clerk asked if I found everything I needed.  Poor girl.  She was just doing her job.

Back to the store on Sunday.  Saturday's purchase was large enough to make me one of the qualifying customers.  Whoo hoo.  I don't really care.  Just let me have a turkey.  I grab a turkey out of the freezer chest guarded by the guy from the meat room and head to the check out. You can imagine where this is going by the tone of the story.

A helpful cashier pulled us out of line to offer to check us out on the self-serve line.  Whereby it promptly becomes the opposite of self-serve.  There were a number of scanning errors (I was glad to see even the cashiers have trouble with those things) that slowed up the whole process.  I was so close to getting Turkey to the car.  We could both see the door.  I wanted to grab and run but I restrained myself.  Well, James did the restraining, but anyhow..........My turkey was not one of "those turkeys", did I want to go back and get the right turkey?  No thank you very much.  Just let us out of here with Turkey please I beg you.

This brings to mind one Thanksgiving past where I unintentionally ended up with 3 turkeys from this same chain due to the same promotion.  And this year nearly zero turkeys.  I guess there really is great balance in the universe.  Unless you want a turkey 12 days before Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving 1997

Better luck with turkeys to you all.

We spent the weekend in Gloucester happily hugging babies, sucking sea air and generally relaxing.  While I realize that not everyone in the Dalpiaz clan was able to have such a comfortable weekend, I hope it's OK to describe it a bit.  Perhaps it will serve as a little distraction from all the storm related devastation.  We eagerly sought out water while so many others have just had ENOUGH of it and we feel very fortunate in so many ways.

We took a guided tour to Dogtown-- an area of Gloucester that used to serve as the town hub.  It was mostly populated by fishermen's widows and their dogs.  These early settlers didn't want to be close to the water as there wasn't enough protection from the weather so this was WAY up in the woods.  It is a large area criss-crossed with trails and paths (s they say--you couldn't really determine a path) and littered with huge granite boulders.  Some of these boulders have been engraved with words of encouragement and hope.  Apparently a local philanthropist paid out of work men to do this carving during the Depression years.  They have aged amazingly well and are inspiring.

You'd have to sit on top of this monster boulder to carve these letters!

We also visited a local estate which adjoins a large expanse of beach.  We weren't there alone on this past Sunday morning!

And, PS--we also saw seals in the harbor waters.  It was a very nature filled weekend. Another stop was at an orchard for an apple and wine fest.  Look what we found here (this is for Nick):

My aunt and uncle allowed me to bring back the Ryan family Bible (whoo-hoo) which will keep me out of trouble for several days.  We also found some cool family history materials in an antique store (also a first for Gloucester!). 

We returned fulfilled and eager for our next visit.  Now we can say that Sandy is over AND SO IS THE POLITICAL SEASON. 

Happy Halloween 2012 and backwards

Seems a little strange saying "Happy Halloween" when everyone is getting their feet back under them following Sandy.  Odd that these late October storms seem to have become more commonplace.  You might recall that Ryan was born in the midst of the Perfect Storm in 1991 --I was blissfully unaware at the time, but you can't seem to escape the weather news today.

James remembers putting together "home-made" costumes when you all were little--the same for us.  Our poor mothers and fathers having to help create so many costumes!  Very very rarely did we get a store made costume although we'd get a face mask once in a while.  I can still remember the smell of those new masks.

Halloween has certainly changed over the years to become a media event.  OK by me because I enjoy the hoopla and the villianry.  We had no school today due to the storm and it really messed up my wardrobe plans for the week!  I plan these things out very carefully so I can wear all my regalia.  Now I'm short a day, but I'll take the day off.  Much more relaxing.  Talking about a Perfect Storm--if you're teaching this week it's as close as you can come.  Full moon, Halloween and sugared up kids, impending storm and (for us) field trips.  It was destined to be a week to try the patience of Job.  But now it's a day shorter.

I thought you might enjoy a little trip down memory lane in honor of Halloween:

I'm assuming this is Halloween but it's a costume 

regardless--what a sweet angel!

The last picture I took quickly before leaving for the hospital to give birth to Ryan.  My grandmother made her cape for her Fairy Godmother costume.

And, with this, we'll fly off into the night and wish you all a Happy Halloween.  PS Happy 21st Ryan!

Facebook, Schmapebook

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found my grandfather Francis Flynn on Facebook recently.  Really!  As I've mentioned one zillion times, occasionally I surf the internet somewhat aimlessly looking for family surnames or events.  I did so recently with my grandfather's name and there he was, right there on Facebook for everyone to find.  Can you imagine? 

This got me thinking about what he would have thought of such a thing.  Facebook, social networking and seeing himself land there would probably be things about which he would shake his head ruefully.  "Social networking?  That's no big deal---we've been networking since the cave man."  Oh yeah? Well, actually....yes they have.

James tells me your family did not have a party line on the phone, but we did when I was young.  Now THAT'S a "social network" where all kinds of news got shared while others kind of lurked in the background soaking it up.  Another tool used by your ancestors was likely the local newspaper.  Articles and headlines appeared in those days that you would never, ever see today (that's if you ever actually have a newspaper in your hand anymore).  I found some interesting tidbits that I imagine kept the networking wires abuzz at your family's Sunday dinners back in the day.

 This one's a little hard to read, but your great grandfather Giuseppe (Joseph) Manzelli apparently inherited a fair amount of money from his brother--$7500 for Giuseppe and Pasquale!  You don't see these kinds of things in the paper today. Brooklyn Daily Star April 6 1928.

 You should take a look at this one which talks about your grandmother Marguerite Manzelli performing at St. Rita's --all the way at the end it mentions she had a solo.  Also included in this production was her brother Albert as well as Amelia (I'm thinking this might be Emily?).  Take note near the top of the article where it says "A large attendance is expected, notwithstanding that today Ravenswood is practically cut off from trolley communication with the outside world because of the snow blockade."  This is from Mon Feb 16 1920 when Marguerite was just shy of her 22nd birthday.

 From the Long Island Star Journal we have a picture of Andrew Manzelli March 4 1940 all decked out in "Western Regalia for Minstrel".  This would be something else our families had in common as my dad was a regular at the minstrel shows (usually in a dress singing Barbra Streisand, but that's another tale for another day)

This one begs for the rest of the story since there surely is more to tell.  I believe this to be your great uncle Peter.  Hmmmm.  The Gangster Squad??

I'm now quite certain that Facebook currently exists because this stuff no longer does.  But, it's great on birthdays--thank you for all the birthday wishes today!  I love my birthday on Facebook!!

Treasures from a Cousin

Doesn't this look very familiar?  This little treasure that found its way to me via one of your Isoldi cousins that I've become acquainted with online (I'm going to call them e-cousins).  Michael Russo and I have been in touch to discuss the Isoldis.  Your great grandmother "Jenny" was an Isoldi before she married Giuseppe (Joe) Manzelli. 

Grandmother Jenny had 2 brothers (Ralph and Michael) and 1 sister (Amelia).  Amelia married Eugene Russo in 1906 and their grandson Michael has been very generous in sharing photos and information.

I think I've already posted their wedding picture but here you go again for the sake of comparision and a memory jog.

The first picture above is from Amelia and Eugene's 40th wedding anniversary celebration in a shed attached to the house.  It looks so much like your family's pictures that I just smile when I see it.  Some of the attendees are identified: "Attached shed to Eugene- Amelia's house on 43rd St in Astoria L-R: Antoinette Russo (Marino) Louie Dino (family or friend of), Francis Isoldi's wife Alice Isoldi?, 2 women and baby boy - unknown, Celia Russo (tall woman in back), Eugene Russo, Amelia Russo (Isoldi), Anthony Russo, Giovanna Manzelli (Isoldi), Unknown (Manzelli?) Ralph Isoldi, Sarah Isoldi, wife or Ralphie Isoldi, and Ralphie Isoldi, Couple sitting on floor unknown"

James thought perhaps the guy in the foreground might be Uncle Peter, but that doesn't seem like the right combination given this event--what do you think?  Do you know who the woman next to your great grandmother is?  Their 40th anniversary would have fallen in 1946.  This woman does bear resemblance to Grandmother Jenny, don't you agree?  

Anyhow, I thought this was a lot of fun though it makes me miss taking the time to delve into my research.  Here's another I thought the car lovers in the family would enjoy.  The oldest man in the picture in your great grandfather Joe Manzelli.  The other men are Russo family members. It's labeled 1928 Astoria Park.

Gotta love how they are decked out and posed in this picture! 

Bon Appetite!

Happy Birthday James!  Despite all appearances, I have not abandoned this blog nor have I lost interest.  We were in Erie visiting Amy this past weekend, which was very nice as I haven't seen her in quite a while.  We went to this English pub and took this picture in honor of Drew:

This is warm spiked cider--apple caramel...yummm......I thought that was a great idea.

It's a shout out from the Elephant and Castle for Drew's birthday!  Happy Birthday Drew!

I was listening to one of my podcasts recently (another pasttime that I have fallen way behind on) and she was talking about the interesting family history that can be gleaned from recipes, kitchens and food preparations.  I have a pretty good memory of my grandmother's kitchen but absolutely no clear memory of the food she made for us when we visited.  I have a couple of her recipes that my children like very much, but not much memory of the actual meals she prepared when I was a child.

James was able to describe your grandmother's kitchen with some surprising detail considering James' memory bank--this is not a slam on him, it's just that these kinds of details usually escape his attention.  He doesn't recall that your grandmother had a recipe book or collection of recipes--is this the case?  One of the restaurants in Erie offered polenta so James ordered it and told Amy and Michael polenta stories.  This is one way such food memories get shared and passed down.  It isn't all about the written recipe books!

While we were in Erie, Amy bought one of our meals for us.  I believe this is the first time this happened and it feels like she's taken another step toward adulthood.  It was a little hard to accept her offer, but I knew it was important to do so.  I remember the first time I bought my parents their meal in a restaurant and I felt so grown up and responsible.  That I remember that to this day is an indicator of the impact of that small act.  Providing your parents their meal either by preparing it yourself or in a restaurant is a rite of passage that creates those food related memories and lend to the telling of the family story. 

Seven Fabulous Women

As you know, the Dalpiaz "Women of the Clan" gathered to spend the day in Saratoga Springs to celebrate Jean's and Kathleen's upcoming milestone birthdays.  Kathleen was able to spend the week touring upstate New York to see various nieces, a nephew and a cousin in addition to having some special time together with sisters of all varieties.

It was a weekend that began with quiche and ended with mineral baths--a real female gathering.  Although Bob did an OUTSTANDING job, men were mostly not allowed.  Despite 25+ years of marriage, I haven't had an opportunity to spend quality time with the Dalpiaz sisters/sisters-in law absent the cloak of motherhood or spouses.  Maternal and spousal concerns and responsibilities generally take priority over simple girl talk so it was exceptionally relaxing to simply spend time together getting to know you all in a very different way!  I'm so glad everyone could make such a gathering a priority because I know that setting aside those other responsibilities is no small gesture. 

So Happy Birthday to Jean and Kathleen as well as Cheers to a new kind of relationship among seven fabulous women!

Garlic anyone?

I wish I'd paid more attention to your Mom's cooking when I had the chance.  As the days turn cooler, my thoughts revolve more around comfort foods.  It's nice to feel like cooking again after hot summer months.  Near the top of my comfort food list is homemade sauce.  One thing I clearly remember your Mom doing was using garlic in making her sauce.  Not garlic salt or powder, but real garlic from real cloves.  They would often be leftover on the table along with breakfast and coffee!  She would start early in the day, I guess. 

When I how she used these real cloves, I was released from my reluctance to do the same.  Now I'm a garlic nut (well, on the occasion that I actually cook, anyhow).  I freely use garlic in many recipes, but it's always when I put it in the sauce that I think of your Mom and smile to myself.  I thought you should know that.

I think this conversation has been held around the table a time or two already but it bears repeating.  We each have our own spin on our homemade sauce recipe.  It's been ages and ages since I've used fresh tomatoes for my sauce, but there was a time in my life when I did!  My ingredients include diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, a little sugar, chopped onion, spices, and a dash of grated parmesan or romano cheese.  I usually throw this in the crock pot, but sometimes on the stove.  I think the stove method produces better (thicker) sauce, but I don't do this very often mostly because I really love the idea of coming into the house after work and smelling the sauce waiting for me. 

I throw meatballs and/or sausage right into the sauce without pre-cooking.  I like the taste the meat adds to the sauce and I think that gets a little lost in the pre-cooking though I know that's a very popular method--if I recall,  your Mom would pre-cook her meat (am I right?).

I'm certain your methods for sauce incorporate your Mom's techniques along with your own touches.  We can expect our children to do the same.  Of course, sauce is not the only hand-me-down from our mothers and it's not the only thing that make us smile remembering her.  But, for me, your mother is forever tied to the garlic clove!  It's not a coincidence that L-O-V-E  is part of that. 

First Day of School

September 6 2012 will be my 34th opening day of school.  And my last.  I expect it to be somewhat bittersweet and nostalgic.  I expect to be a great deal calmer throughout the year than I typically am.

It appears that I'm the longest serving teacher on staff.  I cannot imagine how that happened.  September 1979 is still fairly clear in my mind, even if I did spend the entire first year in some kind of fog.  One very clear memory is from the end of that first day when I had no idea what I was supposed to do after the students were dismissed.  I remember watching from the window as they loaded buses then peering into the hallway to figure out what the rest of the staff was doing.  I didn't know if we were supposed to stay until a certain time or if we were free to leave.  Just seemed too simple to just go to the car at 3 o'clock, but off I went.  Then I got on the highway going the wrong way: driving east automatically toward Walton rather than west toward my new home.  "Go West" took on new meaning for me when I realized my mistake.  I had to readjust my daily routine which held me in good stead for the ensuing years.  I wonder if I'll know what to do at the end of the day on the last day of school in June 2013.  Let's hope I don't take a wrong turn!

I don't have many clear memories of my own first days of school--even the first day of senior year at the new school in Walton.  I can only imagine the relief our mothers felt along with a little twinge of uncertainty about the required school supply list we'd come home with.  Those were the days when you didn't get that information until you actually got there.  Those were the days when Back-to-School shopping did not generate special inserts in your Sunday paper.

I thought you might enjoy this First Day of School picture from the year Ryan entered as a 7th grader and Amy was a new junior.  Looks like they didn't mind having this picture taken (unlike some other years!).

This series of pictures tells quite a story.  Of course, fashion sense is one story but the story of our home is also present in the background, so it's fun to go back and review these once in a while.

Happy September--special Good Luck wishes to Drew for a wonderful year.  Glad to hear he's safely arrived in England.  Happy Birthday Mallory, Hailey, Sarah and Cheryl this month. 

Florida 2012 for James and Pat

At this writing, Kathleen and Nick are anxiously watching the Weather Channel for news of Tropical Storm Isaac to determine their immediate future plans.  I am glad we are safe and sound in New York State as we keep Kathleen and Nick in our thoughts.

We had a grand visit to Belleair Beach soaking up sun at poolside.  Oh, yes, and the shopping.  There's a little Irish store I'll be visiting again!  Kath and Nick shared many of their stories of the Italy trip which only made us ache for the day that we could do the same.

Then it was off to Disney for a few days at the Happiest Place on Earth.  James was able to fully participate in a NASCAR Driving Experience despite a slight rain delay.  He had a grand time:

We also made a little game of taking some of our pictures from previous trips so they could be recreated circa 2012.  This project turned into great fun, especially with the complete strangers we asked to take these pictures after we explained what we were doing.  They took the job very seriously and these were fun little encounters.  James took on the mission of finding the original picture locations with all the seriousness of planning his next band trip.  I've take the old and morphed them into the new for your viewing pleasure.  I hope this works.  It will require your computer to have Adobe Flash Player and you may need to allow blocked content for Active X controls (gibberish I realize but that's what you'll likely see when you click to view).  Here's hoping this works for you. 

Florida or Bust

We'll be on our way to Florida tomorrow morning for a long awaited vacation trip.  We'll be visiting Kathleen and Nick as well as Mickey and Minnie.  Anticipating this trip has given me time to reflect a little bit on past trips to Florida and Disney.

My first trip to Disney was 25 years ago on a senior class trip. 

I took some abuse from James and my fellow chaperones for taking pictures of flowers on this trip.  As I go through those pictures, I am happy to note that I believe my picture-taking skills (and equipment) are much improved in the ensuing 25 years.

1996-the first trip with the kids.  Epic trip because we got to spend time with Kathleen and Nick, my sister Kathy as well as our friends the Hamiltons who also took their first trip with their children in 1996.

This was our dinner at Tony's which I remember for being so NOISY! 

2000 marked our designation as the "Millenial Family of the Week" at Disney.  Our room was decorated for us and we got some nice little gifts including beach towels I still have.

I remember this trip especially because all the kids seemed to care about was the pool and TV.  I vowed that any future trips would only require a pool and ESPN!

2004 it just so happened that our trips fell 4 years apart.  This visit was rich with character sitings--including these guys:

Three Stooges

2008 was timed so that the four of us could have one (probably last) big trip together before Amy left the nest and it was WONDERFUL!  Absolutely full of wonder.  I'm a sucker for Disney!

How happy do these guys look to you?

2012 promises to be epic on its own as it will be our first trip without children (either school children or our own!).  Stay tuned and I'll catch you up on the other side. 

Visit Report

Robert and Bobbie were able to come for a visit this past weekend and we had a grand time. I can't remember when they were here last, but it's been a while and it's always nice to have one-on-one time with siblings.

James was supposed to entertain us at the Binghamton Mets game along with two of his buddies.  He's been "chosen" to wear the spiedie outfit and race down the sidelines between innings with a hot dog and a bottle of mustard.  Yes, you read that right.  It's a between-inning amusement for the spectators and he'd been "lucky" enough to score a chance to participate.  Again, yes, you read that right. 

So, against our better judgement, Bobbie and I accompanied James and Robert to the game.  Who could miss such a highlight?  Alas, it was not to be because the DealChicken budged his way into the race earlier than planned.  DealChicken won.  (still reading it correctly) So, even though Bobbie and I lost out as witnesses to this pinnacle of a True Met Fan Experience--we were all surprised by the following:

Yes, 27 wonderful years--many of the most recent spent in these very seats. It was nice to spend it with Robert and Bobbie. (Thank you for dinner!)

Bob said he'd never been to Cooperstown so off we went!  We went to the Farmers' Museum and to the Fenimore Art Museum.  Although it was the hottest day of their visit, we spent most of it outdoors.  Bobbie also experienced a first---

Bobbie and I worked on some genealogy and neither of us can say for certain what the guys did during that time.  Before I knew it, they were getting into the car so they could visit with the Bulman clan. 

Next week, we'll be visiting with Kathleen and Nick.  We hope Ernesto stays away.

Memories.....

Earlier this week we heard from Kathleen that she'd taken a spill on her bike.  So, of course my first thoughts were:  BLOG!  I'd been considering "bikes" as my main topic for this post.  I understand your dad bought a tandem bike to help provide transportation for you and most people have fond memories of their childhood two wheeled adventures.

But then we got a request from Thomas for some pictures of Racing Days for the Dalpiaz Boys which sent me searching through old pictures that hadn't seen the light of day recently.  And both James and I got sucked right down Memory Lane.  I thought you'd all enjoy the same.

This appears similar to the connections the media is trying to make between the 1948 London Olympics and 2012. 

Here's one I love from 1986--I suspect it's Danielle's birthday.

And another birthday celebration.  Two Jeans with matching necklaces.  Your Mom is leaning on a space heater and Jean has a similar grip on her:

They both look really happy.

Moving to the cousin category:

I think this might be Angela and Jean?

Maurizio showing Olympic style swimwear of the time period.  James says he thinks this is the closest your Dad ever got to the water in the pool!  But again, he looks happy.

And since it was the Defiant that got this started, I guess we'll end with

So Kathleen can rest easy (especially her tailbone) until I'm digging around for a topic next week.......

The shooting at the Batman movie premiere in Colorado last week is very much on our minds this weekend.  When such tragedies occur, attention turns to the disturbed individuals at fault seeking reasonable explanations which often are just not there to be had.  Two seconds after the "why" comes the political jockeying -- in this case, to gain a foothold in the gun control debate.  This post isn't about that.

It's about the loss of innocence in the most benign of activities:  going to the movies.  An incident such as this could occur anywhere innocent people are gathered but this time, it was a movie theater.  Going to the movies was a very big deal for me as a youngster.  First of all, the theater was not close to our house so it would require one of the two adults in the house to leave the other behind for a while.  There would be the question of supervision--needed or not?  I clearly recall my mother phoning her friend to ask if "Romeo and Juliet" was appropriate for my adolescent eyes.  Thank goodness this friend was more forward thinking than many other of my mother's friends and I got to go to the movies and see my very first bare behind in cinemascope.

Otherwise, going to the movies was not a common occurrence even as a family.  I think you might have had a bit of a different experience possibly because you had easier access to the theater.  I find it very interesting that during this time period of the late 60s, Batman was a popular TV series.  I know we enjoyed watching it even though I imagine my parents were rolling their eyes.  But it was innocent fun that evolved into this dark movie trilogy which has already drawn its share of tragedy and drama.  Going to the movies went from a "special treat" to premiere midnight viewings full of costumes and devout fans.   

These days it's a financial commitment to purchase a movie tickets even for a matinee.  And now we'll be thinking twice about our safety even though there isn't much that can be done to prevent disturbed individuals from attempting to carry out their demented plans.  So, as they say:  dance as if no one was watching and cherish every moment you are given.  God Bless innocent victims.

All Prettied Up

I learned an interesting lesson recently.  I'm not that interested in preparing meals during hot weather.  Well, to be honest, I'm not all that interested in preparing meals at all but that's neither here nor there for this post.  I purchase food that can be pulled out of the refrigerator ready to be served after a little warm up.  Recently I had 3 nice pieces of grilled lemon chicken breasts sitting in the refrigerator just waiting for one of the hungry males to come along and make short work of them.  Prepared mashed potatoes were also available. (perhaps you already know how I am about potatoes so I buy them ready made and I'm not even embarrassed about that)

A couple of days went by and I was pushing that chicken pretty hard--"Hey, there's chicken all ready for you in there if you are hungry"....."How about the chicken?  You liked this the last time." and the now famous:"That chicken is just going to go bad".  No takers.

Then the weather cooled enough for me to have an appetite at dinner.  I was alone so I put a piece of chicken on the plate along with some corn and had a feast.  James will generally eat what's left for him in the microwave when he comes home after the ball games, so I made a plate for him and one for Ryan.  Then I waited for the next hungry male to come through the kitchen.  Ryan's eyes lit up when he saw the chicken, mashed potatoes and corn all ready for him and he enjoyed it thoroughly.  He raved about how good it was. 

I refrained from mentioning this was the very same chicken I've been trying to sell all week.  I realized that putting it all on the plate together fait accompli was the key to success in this case.  The ingredients were all there and available but having someone else put it together and hand it over got the chicken eaten.  This is not unlike my dinner making preferences, but, again, that's not for this post.

It's like family history research work.  The key elements are all there just waiting for someone to put them together.  Sometimes you just can't put it together until it gets handed to you in a lovely package.  And now we get to the real point of today's post.  I have located 3 Coffarelli siblings in one house!!!

You may remember my struggles figuring out what happened to all of James Coffarelli's siblings.  I finally was able to find them all as adults and still had some work to do with matching them up from the time they were children in their parent's home through adulthood.  One sibling I was having lots of trouble with was Lena.  She was in the middle of the pack and married Anthony Fierro in 1919.  After that I kind of got stuck and wasn't able to find Anthony and Lena together as a family.  There were several Anthony Fierro's and that was causing some issues.  Lena died in 1930 so I didn't expect to find her in the 1930 census.  She was newly married in 1920 and could possibly have a child by then but I couldn't be sure I had the right Fierros.

As is the usual circumstance, I was seeking different information and fell onto the 1925 New York State Census for Tony and Lenora Fierro in Freeport.

Right hand page near the top

Children listed include John, Vincent and Louise.  Also in the same household are Elizabeth Coffarelli (Lena's sister) and Philip (Lena's brother)!  These are two souls who were a little bit lost to me and now I have 3 siblings together in one house in 1925.  Fait accompli.  It feels so good to find them --like they've been waiting for just that!

This is the child Louise in her Freeport High School yearbook in 1942

This is a contemporary picture of a woman named Louise Fierro born about the same time

 Do you think these are the same woman?  I'm not convinced (nose seems very different) but it's interesting she has the same name and was born about the same time as "our" Louise Fierro.  I think her married name was Wyant and they lived in Oklahoma City.  Ring any bells?

Regardless of this woman's relationship to your family, I am very pleased to be able to show you a full plate of Coffarelli siblings today!  Now go clean out your refrigerator.

Flashback July 1995

Maybe it was seeing some of Gabrielle's pictures of New York on Facebook.  Maybe it was my wandering through the 1995 picture album.  Maybe it was finding the obituary of a distant Coffarelli relative.  Whatever the reason, I thought it was time to travel back 17 (!!!) years to Gardiner NY and the Coffarelli family reunion.  That day was such fun and I thank Angela and Bill for hosting.

I was going to forward this to Gabrielle through Facebook, but why not put it out there in the blogosphere instead?  Andrew, Amy and Gabrielle.  Classic.  Pretty close to Hear No Evil; Speak No Evil and See No Evil they way they are sitting there the same but differently for each.

And this is one of those absolute treasures you find when you go back through your albums.  I believe this is Angelina Sapienza, Angela's grandmother.  Good thing she's holding on to Ryan's chair for him.  Ryan just cracks me up in this one.  Doesn't look too happy but he's going to sit like a good kid.

Uncle Johnny chose his Gardiner Fire Rescue shirt for the event.  I have a feeling it wasn't the only one he had.  Stephanie and Amanda bonding.  A rare picture actually. 

YaYa Cousins

And the classic of all classics.  The Dalpiaz men circa 1995

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.