famiglia

My Italian is admittedly a little rusty, but doesn’t this document mean that my Grandma wasn’t born on “Christmas in July” as we have always thought, but July 28? At least we had the year right...  

That brief period in time my parents owned and ran a 7-11. That’s my grandmother in the top photo. I didn't remember that she even went there. On our recent trip to N.J. I drove past the location and it was gone. Not even a building left. How does a 7-11 completely disappear from the face of the earth? Mom with employees, Elizabeth at the register with Grandma Periale Elizabeth at the register Dad at the slicer  

Today I remember and honor my dad and his service in the Coast Guard during WWII.  Today is the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, which was formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.  I also remember that today was my parents' wedding anniversary.  Here are some screen captures of them from an old 8mm film that was taken during their honeymoon in Nassau.  ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ xoxoxo e

  The "never throw anything away" gene is strong with this family. Mom saved my button collection.

  My dad was born on 14th Street in New York City, and at least, c. 2000, the building was still standing. Here's a photo from a trip we made to the city from our home in N.J. (probably to see a Yankee game) in the 1970s. The building is the first brownstone, with Allen's Bar at the ground level. Here's a close-up shot, with my mom and me standing in front of Allen's Bar. The family had more than one apartment in the building. The family patriarch, my great grandfather Don Peppino, a retired chef, had an office in the front of the building, where he would see patients. After he retired from the restaurant he spent his time as a healer. The family lived in rooms at the back of the building. In summertime Don Peppino would sit out on the roof and dry tomatoes, which he would later use to make sauce. Apparently the building also once featured a stoop, and a shop that sold prosthetics and wheelchairs was the storefront in the 1930s. Here's a color polaroid from 1999 or ...

  Some more vintage family photos from the Jersey Shore. Getting myself in the mood for our upcoming vacation. My great grandmother Paola, second from the left, c. 1920a My dad striking a pose, second from right, with his brother Jim and cousins, c. 1935 My cousin Ann and brother John pose before a sand sculpture masterpiece, c. late '80s  The kid contributes to a sand castle's fortifications

  I grew up at the Jersey Shore, so every childhood summer was usually spent there, with family and friends coming to visit us. Later years in NY and DC had me a bit land-locked, so I was happy to be able to drive to Jersey for the occasional vacation. I have taken the kid a few times over the past few years, but last year was the one she really remembered, and now she wants us to start our own tradition. So in honor of my booking an August vacation at the Shore, here are some pics from past beachy times. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for mom (left) and her girlfriends thinking that the Shore was a great  place for a summer vacation from the city Hanging out poolside at the Avon Inn, where my grandmother always stayed when she would visit us One of my mom's effortless pastels, of me trying to fly a kite on the boardwalk The kid checking out a jetty Having fun on the rides at Jenkinson's pavilion