So, for those of you who don’t know (by now), the “family” that we visit in Buffalo, New York is the LaGreca-side of the family. (ie. Joe’s Dad’s family). I describe them as the “Italian-side” of the family — that seems easy enough.
(Above: The LaGreca Family)
(Above: Joe’s cousin and our hostess, Angie Pizzolanti)
(Above: Joe’s other cousin, Mary and her husband, Grant)
(Above: Megan and Sherry – Joe’s Sister and Mom)
It’s pretty rare for ALL the LaGreca’s to be together, in one city, at the same time. The last time we were together was almost 4 years ago in Buffalo when we gathered together to celebrate Uncle Sam’s life. It was a beautiful, January snowy-winter week and although it was incredibly tearful to say good-bye to Uncle Sam — it was so awesome that all of us (Joe’s parents, Meg and the two of us) could make the trip out on such short notice — I can’t imagine missing that time with everyone.
One more thought about Jan. 2006 and one of my most treasured memories: While the family was gathered together at the funeral home, on the very last night of the wake – Joe and I were sitting on a bench that was in front of Uncle Sam’s casket, saying our last good-byes. It was in that moment that we named our first born son. Uncle Sam’s (Salvatore) Confirmation Name (which ended up as his middle name) was ‘Nicholas.‘ I told Joe that I really liked that name and I thought that we should add it to our “baby boy name list.” (It ended up being the ONLY name on our baby name list).
Of course, Charles is Joe’s middle name, and Joe’s Dad’s first name, (and Grandpa LaGreca’s name was ‘Cologero’ – which is ‘Charles’ in Italian).
Joe and I had been trying to have a baby for while and we didn’t end up getting pregnant with NCL until the first part of 2007 (a year after Uncle Sam passed away). Of course, we did not find out his gender while I was pregnant, but from the very beginning of the pregnancy, I had a very strong feeling that we were going to have a boy. It was certainly comforting to know that if it was a boy – we already had the perfect name picked out.
This Christmas, we are all together again in Buffalo — minus Uncle Sam, who will always be with us in spirit. He is missed SO much – by EVERYONE in the family. Even after 4 years, it just doesn’t seem right to gather without him. It’s a “not complete” feeling.
BUT – it really is amazing how things work out. We lost a family member in 2006 — and then, God sent a much awaited baby to our family in 2007. It felt so right to have a little boy and it was so special when the doctor asked what his name was (since we hadn’t told anyone what we had decided for a name). Joe looked at me and said “his name is Nicholas Charles.” What a joy it was to introduce Nicholas to the LaGreca family — I remember looking at Joe’s Dad in the hospital, after he had seen the baby for the first time and heard his name — and there were tears in his eyes. Life is such a gift.
It is this time, every year, that we celebrate the birth of the most awaited baby on the Earth. The Baby that was/is our Gift of Life.
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S to all our friends and family!
May your home be filled with love and laughter. And may your hearts be filled with joy.
Time to make some more memories 
(And shovel more snow!)
NOTE: All pictures in this post were taken by Meg LaGreca)
