Welcome Emily Anne!

We are very excited to hear of Miss Emily's arrival into the world, especially since it heralds the beginning of a new generation for the Dalpiaz siblings. Another layer of family history is about to be woven into the tapestry of your story. How do you like that flowery language?

I find it interesting to note how names follow down through the lines. New parents usually do not do this deliberately but first names often repeat themselves several generations laters. Of course, you know that Jake has a great great grandfather Jake (not his given name, but it's what he was called) as well as a great grandaunt Emily. I have no idea about Lindsay's family but perhpas there is even a Lindsay back along the line somewhere.

Anyone up for naming a baby Costante??

First Weekend Summer 08

Here we are already on the first full weekend of summer 08. What are you all doing?? To update you on some rural upstate activities, Ryan is playing summer baseball, basketball and football. This alone keeps us on the road (thank you gas prices) and mostly out of trouble. He has now finished his Regents exams and is officially done with his sophomore year.

Amy is home and working and the Binghamton Mets and for elementary summer enrichment. She is enjoying the downtime with her friends and giving some extra love to the cats. She plans to visit Allentown and the new boyfriend next week. She is really feeling like she misses her cousins and wants to have a Ya Ya get together sometime soon.

James is outside right now revving up his new weed whacker. More power! He'll be marching this summer and getting ready to take his band on the last trip under his direction. They plan to go to Florida next November so the fund raising is in high gear.

So, again, what are you doing this summer? What did you do the summer you were 16??? Or don't I want to know.....???

Since graduations are high on the list in June, I thought you all might like to see this. It appears that your grandfather attended night school at the elementary level. I imagine it was to learn English but I've never heard anything about this--do you know the story? Looks like your grandfather was about 33 years old with young children in the house when he attended this program. It must have been very important to him and I see the importance of education survives in his descendants.

Welcome June!

This will certainly be an exciting month for all of us. I am enjoying Jake and Lindsay's blog and look forward to a new branch on the family tree this month! That's a great first baby picture there!! Congratulations Jake, Lindsay and Marisa on your graduation. We are very proud of you all even if we can't be with you all too much.

Recently, a sudden random sound of construction brought me directly back to one afternoon when I was very young. I was in my room for my afternoon nap and the same construction noises kept me awake. I have never forgotten that afternoon--I believe it to be my first memory. Construction noise regularly makes me recall that day.

Sounds can be very powerful triggers. Garbage truck sounds bring me back to Duffin Avenue. You all know exactly the sound I mean. I was talking to Amy about this as we were driving back from Wallops Island this weekend and she volunteered that the Barry Manilow song This One's for You always makes her think of her Grandpa Dalpiaz. She shared that she didn't get to know him as well as she would have liked and that she wished he knew of her accomplishments and daily activites. That's why that song makes her think of him. I find it very comforting that a song you might hear any time would bring your dad back to mind. It helps keep him alive even for his grandchildren.

So this brings me around to say Happy Birthday and ask what kinds of sounds bring memories back for you?

Pietraroja Italy

I was going through some of my papers and came across a couple of interesting pieces of information about Pietraroja Italy, where the Manzellis came from. Actually, there are apparently 2 Manzelli families currently listed in the phone directory for Pietraroja. That's a lead I may want to follow.

According to Steve Barbieri, one of your Manzelli cousins, the village of Peitraroja (spelled with a j) was founded a very long time ago and gets its name from a Spanish dialect and it means "red rock". Guess we might have been able to figure that out with Spanish 101. The village got its latest name in the 17th century when the townspeople mined red rocks for making cosmetics. The letter "j" was replaced by "i" when another dialect became the national language. This dialect did not contain letter "j". After WWII the letter "j" was put back into the name as proudly displayed by the town monument.

Apparently there had been a tradition in Pietraroja to conduct a town fair the first weekend in Sept. At this fair, the single women auctioned off baked goods to all the single men (do I hear an "Oklahoma" refrain in the background?). The winner "kept" the woman. Again according to Steve Barbieri, at least one ancestor may have obtained her spouse in this manner--but not your direct ancestor (whew).

This picture Steve sent me back in 2001 seemed to say it all for Pietraroja. He describes it as a mountain top view of the village. I think it's beautiful.

Spring update from Harpursville! This is one crazy place. Did you hear about the stabbing we had on campus last week? Here's the lowdown and maybe it's not that big of a deal for some of you, but it was pretty disturbing for us. Ryan was one of the witnesses they questioned. It's not that much like Law and Order! Makes the bomb threat evacuation pale in comparison. Never a dull moment.

Amy finished her sophomore year and is now on Wallops Island for her summer course. I took her down last weekend and we got to spend Mother's Day morning at the Wildlife Refuge on Chincoteague--just the 2 of us.

Ryan's season is going fairly well. He expects the team to go to sectionals. He plays second base for the team this year and is very happy to be on the infield. He's done a very little bit of pitching. James' team should also go to sectionals. He is doing a great job with them. He's doing really well as a varsity coach.

We are sorry we will miss the baby shower. Best wishes to Lindsay and Jake!

Happy Birthday Mr. Brandon! 7 years old..where does the time go? We hope you had a great day. Let's see, what else does May bring? Mother's Day!! Happy Mother's Day to Bobbie, Jean, Pat, Linda, Michelle (special blessings on Michelle this month).

And May brings college students home, so I will be spending Mother's Day with Amy traveling from Kutztown to Wallops Island VA for her summer course. She calls it "Harpursville-by-the-Sea" honoring its desolate location and lack of amenities. She has begun to send her stuff home, including a new aquarium and residents. So far, no casualties under our inexperienced care.

James' softball season and Ryan's baseball season are going along relatively well. They each have 3-4 games a week so this keeps us all out of trouble.

Unfortunately Amy and I will have to miss the baby shower (we love reading the Baby Blog, though!). One of my favorite shower gifts to give are books so I'm happy to have an excuse to dwell on those titles that bring back smiles.

What are your favorite childhood books? Amy always loved the Mother Goose stories that went with the talking Mother Goose your Mom gave her. Both of them liked Farmer Patrick Pig. Ryan and I love Is Your Mama a Llama? and the Stinkyface books. Love those Stinkyface books!