familia

Sometimes you must travel all around the world to realize you are home...

I write these words from Sydney, where I am with my family as my Father-in-Love launches his new photography book (based on a true story) about his time in Rio de Janeiro over the past few years. My mate Bryan was the architect, designer, puzzle-creater behind this innovative new design. I am so happy for them both...so proud. So honored to be a part of this with them.

Family isn't something I've had much of and this new level of realization that I'm an important part of this collaboration in life has brought on huge waves of fear for me. Fear of my worthiness and deep, deep fear of losing this connection somehow...so much so that on a night of celebration I spent much of it in the bathroom in tears. Fully embedded in my own head, spinning out. 

It was time spent in Italy, being taken in by the entire town and specifically this gorgeous family below that I came to more fully realize how this whole family-thing works.

The Montecchia's...kind-hearted, hugely generous, loving, strong, salt-of-the-earth people...my kind of people...every single one. On this day Nonna Sophia (in the apron) prepared a special dinner of Le Sette Virtu...or the Seven Virtues. Traditionally made on 1 May, they had it for us on the Sunday previous. A vegetable and pasta based soup/stew that is unique to every region, village and family much like our Thanksgiving. Essentially everyone does it the same, but different. There was a crazy Hungarian toast from the uncle who learned it in the war, Moto on the television...pane vino sweet wine with Tiramisu for dessert. Much conversation and curiousity both ways...

le sette virtu dinner...

mina & marco

and love...and it didn't stop...every day they had something wonderful for us. Martina would show up and take us to a new village, for gelato, to see her family's olive oil trees. On my birthday the whole family and friends piled into a van and we went on this incredible adventure into Gran Sasso national park. Along the way we stopped at the cutest villages full of artisan ceramics...

martina, marco, elizabeth & matteo

and then deeper into Gran Sasso to this incredible place:

where we dined on arosticini - skewered lamb that you grill yourself over a long narrow grill and enjoy with a bit of Peroni. one word: unfreakingbelievablygood.

There's so much more to share with you...more photos, more memories...more soon!

xo