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Marin's avatar

Matt I campaigned for u so great to hear your Italian story - did the same type of trip for my Italian extended family back to their hometown” off the Amalfi coast - your story brought tears to my eyes remembering the enveloping love, incredible food and fabulous history we experienced last yr!

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Kimberly Cassidy's avatar

Sounds like a treasure of an adventure. We never regret the time we spend with family. BTW, the Amalfi Coast is my favorite place on earth. So enchanting!

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Mary Pliska's avatar

Matt, just wondering what your plans are now for the future, politically. We know you are not running for the 21 district again, but we are hoping you will be engaged in working to keep our democracy. This article about your parents and trip to Italy is heartening and shows, in a very concrete way, how much immigrants have contributed and continue to contribute to the strength and development of our country. I hope you are still on board. I canvassed for you in 2020 and know it is in your heart to protect the principles that make our democracy strong.

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Samantha Jacqueline's avatar

Matt, beauty’s natural movement throughout existence’s artistic lens easels as if masterpiece’s narrative painted choreography mimics aesthetic crafted journey’s boundless framing.

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Jessi's avatar

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

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Carolyn McAleese's avatar

Matt - how wonderful. My Grandparents were also from Sicily and I went to their hometown of Termini Imerese in 2022. Thank you for sharing.

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Mel Hitt's avatar

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of family and visiting your roots!

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Carole Gehrig's avatar

Wonderful knowing and watching your parents enjoy reconnecting is a wonderful feeling! Beautiful country. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year!

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Max Kintner's avatar

Beautifully told beautiful story. I have many memories of spending time with family in Italy. As a final departing gift to my mother, sister, and me, my Italian grandmother asked my mother to take my sister and me, as children, to Italy to meet her family. She was from a family of seven siblings, 6 girls and one boy. We went and met them all in villages and cities, in Italy and France. All my family, cousins, etc., in the USA have been back many times and met family down the generations, now several removed from my grandmother's time of over more than a Century and a half. The grace and love is always there, spanning time and expanding with each new birth. Thank-you for sharing your story.

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Bridget Ball Shaw's avatar

Oh, Matt. Thank you for this gift! Beautiful!

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Joy's avatar

Thank you for sharing your parents with us. I unfortunately do not have my parents nor grandparents any longer but reading your adventures brought me back to times where the love was abundant. Thank you!

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Pauline Shea's avatar

Thank you for sharing. Italy is a special place for all of us who have roots there and for those who wish they had. I’ve never felt more at home than while visiting. All the best.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

This is heartwarming and filled with love and connection. What a gift for your parents, your self and your readers.

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Martha Jones Eberle's avatar

This was beautiful, Matt. The word "beautiful" doesn't do it justice, as I entered into your family experience. Thank you for including us all. I, too, was fortunate to have all my grandparents and parents, for a good stretch of my life, and have benefited from their wisdom and humor.

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Vanessa Hamedl's avatar

Matt (Castelli - otherwise known as the "handsome family"), thanks so much for sharing. Your parents are one-of-a-kind! What a wonderful blessing for them and you that you coordinated this trip.

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Susan Wennrich's avatar

Having just returned from a 3 week Rome trip, I completely echo your comments.

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