About

I live and work in Washington, D.C. In 1967  my mother and father reconnected with my mother’s Italian family who live in two distinct places- Rome and the mountain town of Mascioni in the Abruzzo region. 

My mother is now in her late 70s and the relationships between i cugini have evolved. The holiday calls made to Rome and the cards sent with a few dollars in it to Mascioni have been replaced by more frequent visits and facebook likes and comments.   

My Roman cousin Daniela made the comment that I have been to Mascioni more often than she has. The village had always been poor and continues to lack charm. But for the American cousins, it is replete with family history or what little of it was made before Francesco Antonelli, our grandfather, departed at the age of 14.

I visit Rome  fairly often now and when living there I do what I do in Washington- cook, read, shop for books, see an exhibit, visit friends and family, attend mass, have my hair done, dine out, occasionally volunteer on a scavi, and talk to people. My souvenirs are stories. My rione, Monti. Monti reminds me of my historic Capitol Hill neighborhood in Washington.

My heart lies in Abruzzo though. The first time I saw Abruzzo in a newspaper was in 2004 in The Washington Post. The article, Medieval Towns Pray for a Renaissnace by Daniel Williams  described a town not too far from Mascioni – Santo Stefano di Sessanio- who had a patron, a visonary who saw its beauty and was respectfully restoring it. My visit to the burgh of Santo Stefano in 2006 inspired me to study Mascioni’s past and to envision a future for this village.  

Mascioni needs a patron. I can only resuscitate the village in letters typed onto these blog pages and support the region by encouraging visitors and its repatriated families to come home for a visit. I co-founded the writing workshop Italy In Other Words to bring thoughtful travelers to the region. I hope to make more opportunities to hang on to the vine.