New Moon Greetings – June 24, 2025
Flying across an ocean to explore my Italian ancestor roots was NOT a trip I ever thought I would take. I am not a fan of flying. But a few years ago, something shifted for me and I began discussing the idea with family. I simply wanted to see where my grandparents were from, walk in places they may have walked and experience the area.
My maternal grandfather was one of my inspirations for gardening (along with my parents.) And I wanted to see where he in particular was from. I have vivid memories of running through paths of towering corn and tomatoes and sitting with family to shell pole beans under the grape arbor. And I know I first discovered the fragrance of tomato leaves in his garden because whenever I brush against a tomato plant now, his garden from long ago unfolds in my mind.
Until he was eighteen, my grandfather lived in Pratola Peligna, part of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. This town of 7,000 is in a mountain valley that is strikingly beautiful. The Apennine mountains run up and down the center of Italy and so everything is hilly! We did not have exact addresses for any of my grandparents. But we found the town center and church of the Madonna della Libera. This was the main church and I’m sure my grandfather was there on many occasions. I had time to simply sit in the church for a while and just contemplate my grandfather in this place.
My maternal grandmother was from Macerta, a much bigger town close to the Adriatic Sea, and also very beautiful. We shopped at one of the markets and visited the Astrological Clock. The main church that she probably attended with her family was not open because of earthquake damage but we did get to visit it from the outside.
My paternal grandparents came from Forli del Sannio and Vandra, which are just a few miles apart in south-central Italy. These are very small mountain towns – less than 700 people. And even with a car, they felt remote but surrounded by beauty. The center of town felt older, and the paths were much steeper than the Pratola Peligna or Macerata.
My grandparents were married in Forli del Sannio and one of my uncles was born there. I pictured my grandmother with a toddler on one hip and a laundry basket on the other heading up and down these paths.
Just Processing
The trip was magical in many ways, and I am still processing the whole experience. One of the things that I keep reflecting on is how beautiful the towns and surrounding areas are. Green rolling hills, terraced gardens, and olive groves are everywhere. In town, the buildings were created with care and craftsmanship. The churches are works of art – the architecture, the stained-glass windows, the ceilings – everything. The main town square or piazza is often outside the church. Even now the squares are a place where the community gathers to hold celebrations and markets.
I’ve often wondered how hard it was for my grandparents to leave their beautiful homes and come to a city to live near the factories and smokestacks. It is not a new thought, but seeing the actual places they lived gave me more appreciation for what they left behind.
It is kind of funny that I had to summon up courage to get on a plane to go to Italy when I compare that to the courage it took for them to leave everything they knew – family, friends, community, culture, language and get on a ship to cross an ocean. Most people don’t take that kind of journey lightly but are usually forced into that choice by life circumstances and hopes for something better.
What I’m Holding On To
I’m holding on to lots of things from my trip to Italy, but one is just remembering the tenacity and courage of my ancestors. As we are currently navigating a fairly challenging timeline of our own, it is helpful to remember those traits. We don’t have to know all their stories (although that would be nice) but we can root ourselves in the understanding that life was challenging and people often had to make difficult choices and forge new paths for themselves.
The other thing I am holding onto is this – my grandparents may have missed their homeland, but my memory of their home as a child was a place with lots of people, laughter, joy, love, and of course good food. They came here and built new communities. Erie, PA, like most cities with Italian immigrants, had a vibrant Little Italy where it seemed everyone knew each other.
If you looked in one direction from my grandparents’ back yard, you’d see train tracks, factories, and smokestacks. But if you turned to face the yard, you saw a beautiful green sanctuary with the vegetable and rose gardens, grape arbor, and fig tree, mimicking some of what I saw in Italy. They took what they had and created beauty and community. Just another reminder that we can work with what we have to find joy and connection even in the midst of difficulties.
About this Blog Post & and Qigong Practice
This post is part of my lunar blog series. I post each new moon as it is a great time to begin projects and set intentions with the increasing light. Topics are related to related to plants and ideas featured in my book, Growing Mindful. . Other topics are related to mindfulness, gardens, qigong, and intentional living. For more details and a list of past lunar blog posts, click here.
About Qigong – I lead qigong at Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver on the last Sunday of each month. You can find the schedule in announcements on the home page. I have also partnered with other graduates of the IIQTC (Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi) to offer virtual HeART of Body Compassionate Self Care Practice Circles based on qigong and tai chi. Check out the information here: Global Healing Circles or contact me if you need more information.
