Wow! You can even see the veins in tterrace's hands -- on the "not full size" picture! Slide film was always so much better than print film, but I stuck with prints because I didn't want to be bothered with projectors or viewers.

There's something amazing about seeing old photos in colour instead of black and white. It really makes you feel like it could've been yesterday.

Ah--as a pianist/keyboardist & teacher of the same, I see that even though your grandmother's were older and more used, you two actually have the same type of hands. Expressive ones too; notice how different her right and left are--one at rest and the other caressing you.

Did Grandma ever tell you how very proud she was of you, tterrace? Because it's written all over her lovely face.

BEAUTIFUL in every way.

Wonderful picture. My grandmother was also born in Italy (1904) came to US in 1908. Settled in Jersey City (I think the Jersey water is why her hair never turned gray). Thanks for sharing.

Brother Will.

Sigo desde Huelva (España) tu página hace meses. Me gusta ver la gente que fue, creo que así las hacemos vivir un poco de nuevo. Hoy me enterneció tu abuela. Le dedico a ella un momento de mi tiempo, seguro que te quiso mucho.

I think, tterrace, that this is my favorite photo thus far of your collection. And thanks to your sis for the background story, as an immigrant myself, it warms my heart.

I came across your site on Firefox Stumble and I see Calpella! Small world... great picture! I am a Ukiah girl. You know the Ukiah Daily Journal posts old pix of Mendo County on their website?

It's a lovely photo and a lovely story and I hate to be trivial but ... the grapeleaf-pattern fabric on that chair is spectacular!

On 1 January 1906, the French ship La Touraine sailed past the Statue of Liberty into New York Harbor from Le Havre France. Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the US. On board were Giovanna and her sons Guido and Albino. Giovanna was 23, Guido would be 4 on January 19, and Albino was 2. They were from Murialdo, Savona, Italy. On 2 January 1906, the family first set foot on U.S. soil. The date January 2nd was always mentioned by our father as the most important day of his life next to his birthday. So much so that I often got confused and thought January 2nd was his birthday.

tterrace's sister

We're about the same age, so I remember those flannel shirts quite well. And, like the one you're wearing, mine seemed to always have sleeves too short. But I couldn't stand having the top button buttoned. Hated ties, too.

One thing I never understood is why they put the soft side on the outside of a flannel shirt and the stiff, scratchy side inside. I mean a flannel-lined jacket has the soft side on your skin. Seinfeld would have said ... what's up with THAT? How about a flannel-lined flannel shirt?

Do you have any idea what a lucky boy you were to have had an obviously adoring grandmother? But then, that made her lucky too.

And I bet you still enjoy the warmth and comfort of those flannel shirts, especially on a cool Northern California evening. What was your grandmother's name and what was her story? It would be interesting to know how she got to Calpella from Murialdo.

Obviously you were a boy trapped in the body of Dave Garroway, and Nonna was the only one who understood. Am I right?