Blog

27
Apr

Meet my Grandfather George as a Newsboy in the 1920s

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It’s a stereotype that Italian mothers are very protective of their sons, and for my grandfather, it was true. My grandfather George is the third from the right, posing with his newsboy buddies in 1924. George was the youngest of my great grandmother’s four boys and was her favorite. She always dreamed of a beautiful […]

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25
Apr

The Most Remarkable People I Have Ever Met are My Parents

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This is Russ and Linda in 1966. They are my parents. My mom and dad were married in Los Angeles the DAY after they graduated CSUN. They met, got engaged, married, and graduated college in under 6 months! And they are still married, surviving my dad going to Vietnam, 4 kids, many pets, earthquakes, and […]

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22
Apr

Does Your Family Have Hidden Stories?

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My Dad (left) and his brothers in Kentucky, circa 1954. Here my father was visiting his family in rural Kentucky. At this time, he already had two children of his own. Eventually, he would have five sons. I was second oldest. I like this picture because of the casualness and authenticity of the young men. […]

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09
Apr

10 Simple Questions You Should Ask Your Grandparents Before It’s Too Late

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My grandfather’s smile was the kind that always spread from ear to ear. He was a storyteller, my favorite storyteller. But I didn’t ask enough questions. You can never ask too many. If you need help with questions, here are 10 you should ask: 1. What is your full name and when and where were […]

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04
Apr

An Ambitious Woman Who Paved the Way for My Family

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My great-aunt Anna, pictured here with her brother Karl (my great-grandpa), was probably one of the most ambitious members of my family. She was born in 1884 in Estonia as the eldest of 3 siblings. She went on to become a pioneer in healthcare. She trained to become a nurse and then worked as a […]

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03
Apr

Why Everyone Should Have a Kindred Spirit in their Family

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This is my grandmother, Anna, in France. A year ago, I lost her, and I was standing in my kitchen when my heart broke so wildly and completely that I thought I was dying too. Grief…what a spectacular haunting. And while my heart is still bruised, I am telling myself over and over, that she […]

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