When I was growing up my Mom always took us on vacation, usually to Norfolk, Virginia to visit my Nannie and my Mom's brothers and sisters.  Or we went to Corbin, Kentucky to visit with my Grandpa and Nannie on my Dad's side of the family.

 

When I was sixteen my Mom and Dad took my sister and me to Daytona Beach and we had a wonderful time.

 

Over the years I've been a few places in the United States but my Mom's brother, Louis and his wife, Marie, took me to Italy in September 2002.  The trip gave me a chance to get away after Mom's death.  It also gave me the chance to meet my Aunt Marie's family and several family members on the Marangoni side of the family.  They were Aunts, Uncles or Cousins that my Uncle Louis had found after searching for many years.  My Mom's father was from a small town in Italy named Montefiasconi.  My Mom went with them to Italy in 1997 and met my Aunt Marie's relatives and they were in Montefiasconi but hadn't found her relatives at that time.  She later got to meet a few of them when they came to the States.  This will always be the most memorable trip of my life.  I will always be grateful to Aunt Marie and Uncle Louis for taking me.  I think they knew how much I needed to get away. 

 

It's a beautiful country with the most dear people in the world.  I was welcomed so warmly.  It's like I'd known them all my life.  It didn't matter that I couldn't understand the language.  They were wonderful to me and I hope to see all of them again one day. 

 

Here are some pictures I took on the trip.