 |
| Lower Right, posing with his Coast Guard shipmates during WWII |
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Sunday, November 11, 2018
happy veterans day
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
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
throwback thursday: old new york family photos
Listening to the Bowery Boys podcasts of Old New York has made me wonder what life in the city must have been like for some of my ancestors, who came here from Italy near the end of the 19th century.
 |
| My grandmother, Gaetana Marta D'Ippolito, whose name was changed to Gertrude when she entered the U.S. as a small child |
 |
| Wedding photo of Mary D'Ippolito and Joe Battaglia (Mary was Grandma's older sister) |
 |
| Paola Cerchio Periale, my great-grandmother, c. 1910 |
Thursday, January 08, 2015
throwback thursday - grand-mère
Monday, January 5, was my grandmother's birthday. I owe her a lot. I live in her home now, and it is filled with many beautiful things she collected over the years, as well as some personally valuable family mementoes. Always a stylish, classy lady, I try to aspire to her sense of style, never quite getting there. But I can appreciate her.
 |
| On vacation in Italy, c. 1925, with her uncle |
 |
| Bathing beauty |
 |
| Très chic, en Paris, c. 1930 |
 |
| In Hawaii, one of her favorite places |
 |
| With mom, here, c. 1989, on the way to an event |
Monday, January 05, 2015
all good things must come to an end ...
... and unfortunately our winter break is one of them. Today is our last full day off and tomorrow it's back to school and "real life." Although this time together has felt more real than the other stuff. But we have had a great time while it lasted ...
 |
| We saw a bunch of shows at the Kravis Center - Cinderella, So You Think You Can Dance, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Guys and Dolls |
 |
| Great (early) Xmas with Grandma |
 |
| Beautiful light displays |
 |
| We even got to paint a little |
 |
| Lion Country Safari is always fun |
 |
| Angel was even to into the spirit of things |
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
it's been quite a year ...
As with any year there have been difficult times and fun ones. It's amazing that my mom is doing (relatively) well and still hanging in there, after her fall of over a year ago, but it is also very hard at times to see how narrow her life has become.
My daughter continues to grow and flourish and is amazing.
My journey to get strong and healthy continues. I have changed a lot this year — what and how I eat, and continue to try and do things that will keep us thriving. Apart from my yearly mammogram I haven't had any other scans of that sort this year, which is a major accomplishment, considering what I went through the previous year.
I am trying to appreciate our lovely surroundings - our home, our environment. That may seem a no-brainer for some, but coming to Florida, although something I did voluntarily, also had a lot of guilt attached to it, especially after my mom fell. here we still are in her lovely home and she is in a nursing home just a few minutes away. I know, I know ... but I am just finally starting to feel like I belong here and I am sure that will get better as time goes on.
We never stop learning or growing. Here's wishing you all a wondrous 2015.
|
| Xmas with Grandma |
My daughter continues to grow and flourish and is amazing.
 |
| Sand sculpture |
 |
| The kid |
My journey to get strong and healthy continues. I have changed a lot this year — what and how I eat, and continue to try and do things that will keep us thriving. Apart from my yearly mammogram I haven't had any other scans of that sort this year, which is a major accomplishment, considering what I went through the previous year.
 |
| What a view |
I am trying to appreciate our lovely surroundings - our home, our environment. That may seem a no-brainer for some, but coming to Florida, although something I did voluntarily, also had a lot of guilt attached to it, especially after my mom fell. here we still are in her lovely home and she is in a nursing home just a few minutes away. I know, I know ... but I am just finally starting to feel like I belong here and I am sure that will get better as time goes on.
We never stop learning or growing. Here's wishing you all a wondrous 2015.
 |
| Happy New Year! |
Thursday, December 25, 2014
merry christmas!
Last night, Christmas Eve, not a creature was stirring ...
Happy Holidays to all!
This morning, the aftermath ...
The best and most creative gift I received ... a little Lego gift box full of treasures ...
Happy Holidays to all!
Monday, December 15, 2014
visiting hours
I've been thinking lately that I need to stop worrying about my mother. Every time I go to see her she seems happy. Happy to see me. Content with her surroundings.
Maybe she isn't really suffering. I am.
I am he one holding onto the pain, the grief, mourning the woman that I've lost, while she is still here.
I have lost a lot. I can no longer have long talks with my mom. or arguments. We can't go out to eat, or to the movies, or museums. But we can still smile at each other and spend some time together. We can even watch TV together. We can laugh and make faces at each other.
That's actually quite a lot.
Maybe she isn't really suffering. I am.
I am he one holding onto the pain, the grief, mourning the woman that I've lost, while she is still here.
I have lost a lot. I can no longer have long talks with my mom. or arguments. We can't go out to eat, or to the movies, or museums. But we can still smile at each other and spend some time together. We can even watch TV together. We can laugh and make faces at each other.
That's actually quite a lot.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Thursday, November 27, 2014
happy throwback thursday thanksgiving
In 2008 my mom, the kid, and I were in New York for Thanksgiving. We had a blast checking out the parade — the first time I ever saw it live, even after years of living in the city. We dined out on turkey day in a restaurant in Rockefeller Center, and generally just had a good ol' time.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
throwback thursday: moon shots
This photo was taken by my dad, with his 35mm camera attached to his telescope in the late '60s, early '70s. He actually made his telescope himself, even grinding the mirrors.
These photos were taken by me four years ago, by holding my iPhone up to my telescope's (25mm) lens.
Monday, August 04, 2014
mom's birthday ...
... was Saturday. But as the days of the week (or the year) don't mean as much to her these days, we will celebrate it when we return. I know I will get another big smile from her when I see her.
Happy 81st birthday, Mom!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
throwback thursday: 14th street
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 2000, from when I last lived in NY. The storefront was still a bar, but with a different name, and the bike store was gone. A satellite dish was now on the roof, but for the most part times didn't seem to have changed all that much. I'm not sure what I'd find there today.
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 2000, from when I last lived in NY. The storefront was still a bar, but with a different name, and the bike store was gone. A satellite dish was now on the roof, but for the most part times didn't seem to have changed all that much. I'm not sure what I'd find there today.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
throwback thursday: life's a beach
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 |
 |
| One of my mom's pastels of my brother, dad, and me at the beach |
 |
| My cousin Ann and brother John pose before a sand sculpture masterpiece, c. late '80s |
 |
| The kid contributes to a sand castle's fortifications |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)