Clarification on Manzelli photo identification

A little clarification for the records. Recently, we were, we were looking through your sister 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 Manzelli Pitelli 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.

Anna is in the picture as well.

So that helps clear some of that up!

Summertime Back in the Day

Maybe if I talk about the beach it will feel more like summer to me. I don't know about you but as far as summer weather goes, it's not been one of the best on record so far. But I hope you all are enjoying yours regardless.

This is dad at the beach with his mother, Catherine Pierce Ryan, long before Peter arrived on the scene. Apparently this is Long Beach which I don't have any real memories of but I do have some vague recollections of time on Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester. I remember digging around in the sand near the bridge where there were small pools of water left behind by the tide. I remember how flat and wet the beach area was and how cold the water was.

I've never been a real big fan of the beach (sand, slimy seaweed and mysterious creatures underfoot) but I do love the sound of the ocean and the feel of the sun. This seems to be a very sunny day although Dad seems a little mystified. I wonder who's behind the camera.

This is a picture of Mom on the beach probably when she was about 5. I am not sure what beach this might be. Ever thought about how our ancestors on both sides spent a great deal of time in and near water? No wonder we seem drawn to Gloucester. Although learning to swim in Lake Erie probably should have killed that instinct in me, it didn't. Fort Myers Beach is probably the closest I ever came to actually almost enjoying the beach.

My son's first beach experience was in Florida at a beach just down the road from his aunt and uncle's house. If you can imagine, I forgot to tell him to expect saltwater and he took in a big mouthful. I think he was about 4. That was the end of swimming for quite a while for him. After he forgave me for that, he was cautious for years to ask first if it was saltwater before he dipped a toe in.

Water was part of our everyday lives when we lived in Silver Creek. Moving "inland" to Walton was the first time I realized that not everyone grows up near water and that some people don't learn how to swim as part of a rite of childhood. My children don't have that same experience, but I hope they will always feel the pull of the ocean. Well, not literally.

Back to the Future from July 1995

Maybe it was my wandering through the 1995 picture album.  Maybe it was finding the obituary of a distant Coffarelli relative.  Whatever the reason, I thought it was time to travel back 20 (!!!) years to Gardiner NY and the Coffarelli family reunion.  That day was such fun and I thank Angela and Bill for hosting.

I was going to forward this to Gabrielle through Facebook, but why not put it out there in the blogosphere instead?  Andrew, Amy and Gabrielle.  Classic.  Pretty close to Hear No Evil; Speak No Evil and See No Evil they way they are sitting there the same but differently for each.

And this is one of those absolute treasures you find when you go back through your albums.  I believe this is Angelina Sapienza, Angela's grandmother.  Good thing she's holding on to Ryan's chair for him.  Ryan just cracks me up in this one.  Doesn't look too happy but he's going to sit like a good kid.

Uncle Johnny chose his Gardiner Fire Rescue shirt for the event.  I have a feeling it wasn't the only one he had.  We miss seeing him in those shirts.  Stephanie and Amanda bonding.  A rare picture actually. 

YaYa Cousins

And the classic of all classics.  The Dalpiaz men circa 1995

Hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.

Siblings on the Irish side of the family

Brothers and sisters.  I've been thinking about them (you) and thought you might enjoy seeing some variations on that theme:

 Thanksgiving 2010

 The Flynn boys (Francis, John and Charles "Dinty")with Mom and Aunt (Anna)

 Chris and I in Gloucester.  I think that's Nanny and Grampie's house behind us a little to the left.

 I see Breyen in there!

 I've always loved this one

 Epic night in Florida one year for Judy's birthday.  Judy's still in her chair for this shot (picture kind of shot)

 Three sisters

 Three brothers

 Unity on Dennison Road

 Three sisters a few years later

 Three other sisters.  This one is kind of scary.

 LOVE LOVE LOVE this one.  Absolute classic.

 Dad and Peter 1940. Snazzy cap there, Dad!

 Flynn sisters--Uncle 4-5's daughters

 The Lippman sisters:  Grammy Flynn and Anna Denning --the other Germans in the family

Nevins kids.  Looks just like our pictures.

It's a special bond and deserves some recognition.  Cheers to mine!