Power of 16

There's a thread running through recent genealogy blogs and discussions about the "great grands"-- your 16 great grandparents. Specifically, can we name our 16 great grandparents? Must be this is where people get stalled.

Now, in case this challenge is presented to you and for those of you who aren't sure allow me to assist: Fortunato and Carolina Parteli Dalpiaz; Francisco and Teresa Odorizzi; Luigi and Mary Cella Messa; Peter and Mary Chesternino Contenta; Giuseppe (and unknown) Coffarelli; Giovanni and Leonarda Dalami Pedano; Pietro and Margherita De Carlo Manzelli; Graziano and Antonia Isoldi. Well, there's 15 of them anyhow--not too bad!

One of the interesting things about this group I noticed when I put these names together is that only Giuseppe Coffarelli came to live in the United States (he was about 90 when he arrived to live with his son). All the others were in Italy. It was the next generation that were the primary immigrants and therefore how your family came to be Americans.

Unfortunately these are pretty much just names in a list. I don't (yet) have any stories or background information to fill out their stories in ways that make them real people. For most of them I don't even yet know hometowns or regions. Maybe I never will but it's the hunt that keeps me going.

Just for fun

Summer 1996 and 2009

We have just returned from our visit to Long Island. As usual, Hotel Hartman was wonderfully comfortable for all of us, even if the "no Vacancy" sign should have been posted out front. Poor Tracy and Prince did not know what to do with all those strange people in their house. Thanks to Linda and Scott for being such great hosts.

Seeing the kids enjoying their time together is a real treat. They truly seem to enjoy their cousin time and they are very lucky to have that special relationship. It's a tribute to the efforts of their parents and family members who make that kind of time a priority. Perhaps it doesn't seem like any big deal to you all but not everyone is this fortunate and it's definitely a blessing. It seemed to be important to your parents and now for you. Since the next generation is beginning to develop (congratulations Brian, Monet, Danielle and Ron!) I feel certain those cousins will be similarly blessed. I sincerely hope so.

We are thinking of Mallory today as her wisdom is removed (according to her Dad if I'm not mistaken). Ryan is out there melting on his first day of football practice. Now it really feels like his senior year has begun!

Pat hosted the Extreme Pool Olympics over the weekend reminiscent of past Dalpiaz Family Olympic events. Enjoy the memories.

1995

2001
2009

We are looking forward to our Long Island journey this upcoming weekend! It's not much of a vacation, but it's what we've got this year.

While we can't always get away physically, thanks to today's technology you can get away virtually. Here's one example you might enjoy: A Walk through Astoria and other places in Queens: photos from the early 1940s. I think it's neat because you see what your grandparents saw every day.

Thanks to Jean for the great Coffarelli reunion. I snagged pictures from Shutterfly--not sure whose they are for certain so I can't give you proper credit but I'm guessing Pat. We spoke to Aunt Rose this week and she's hoping we can all manage to get together sometime soon. Maybe we can talk over some options this weekend. See you soon!

I recently found this letter from Amy and thought you could empathize. I don't recall how old she was when this was written but I do remember offering to help her pack and asking if she needed a sandwich for the road. It was one of those classic family moments.

Although it very rarely happens anymore, I love getting letters in the mail. Emails, Facebook, texting or IM doesn't quite replace getting a letter from someone. A real letter is very rare these days and getting even more so. I treasure the letters I got from Marilyn and re-read them often. It is amazing that I learn something new from them each time I open them even though they are just about as old as Ryan is! Given how many times I have re-read them in the last 17 years, that's alot of new stuff to get out of old letters!

Even though tweeting doesn't quite fulfill that same satisfaction as a letter in the mailbox with your name on it, I recognize this is the way of the world today. I have saved emails from my mother detailing some of her everyday events and I treasure those as much as Marilyn's handwritten letters. But there is something about handwriting that connects you to the writer's personality -- even a signature can give provide that connection sometimes.

I can't quite accept that someday an electronic file will generate the same kind of wistful memories as a letter just like this one.

A little clarification for the records. When we were on Long Island for Jake's wedding, we were looking through Pat's albums and she has this picture also. It was interesting for me to note that her picture is just a little bit different from this one--just shifted a little bit to show the people a little differently. It taught me to look at things very carefully for just such differences which can lead to great discoveries.

OK this discovery isn't a "great" one and I guess it's not even technically a discovery nevertheless....in her album Pat has a copy of a letter from Anna describing the people in the picture which corrects, clarifies and verifies identities.

Uncle James would be Giacomo Manzelli a barber who lived on Hamilton St with his brother's family (Joseph and Jennie Manzelli). Grandma and Grandpa would be Giuseppe (Joe) and Giovanna (Jennie or Anna).

"Your Mom and Dad" are James and Marguerite Coffarelli.

I think she means Aunt Dolly Emily Manzelli.

Housekeeper from New Rochelle (not a second wife as I earlier suspected).

Uncle Joe must be Joseph Manzelli her brother who was about 5 years older than her.

She is in the picture as well.

So that helps clear some of that up!

Little surprises in unexpected places

About a month ago, I was picking up my newspapers at the store and decided to bring home 4 yummy ice cream pops. When I got home I could only find 3 of them and just assumed I'd left one behind on the counter. Well, today I found that lost ice cream pop in the side pocket of my book bag. A little surprise in an unexpected place. A big surprise would have been if the ice cream pop had leaked all around the inside of my bag.



It occurred to me that I've been enjoying lots of these little surprises lately. On our way home by way of the back roads the other night, we saw a bear in a driveway. I tried to get a picture but it was dusk and he wasn't in the mood to pose. I think the last time I saw a bear around here was when Robert and Bobbie were visiting. We were riding up the highway and there he was in the median. This one was definitely bigger but probably still a "little" surprise.



Another surprise James asked me to share with you but (somehow) it slipped my mind--after three years, the Mustang is up and running and road ready! Nick was a big help but it is definitely a surprise to actually see that thing on the road and out from under a tarp. Yahoo (I guess).



And here's another little surprise I found during one of my occasional random Dalpiaz Google exercises--I think this might have been taken in Utah. Look carefully.

Bates Motel anyone???