Visiting Staten Island from Milwaukee: Maureen, Mary, Bridget

Photobombing Chris

In early May I started making inquiries about visiting Milwaukee to get acquainted with a branch of my father’s family that all my siblings know but I had never visited. I was looking for an opportunity to hang out and get to know them, but simply visiting was not going to get me what I wanted. Also, in an effort to understand red state voters and see more of the midwest, I hoped to see Detroit and Chicago.

The massive stroke and sudden death of my first cousin Mary Catherine in Staten Island on May 22 would bring the Milwaukee relatives to the funeral of a family member from New York City with whom I actually did have a life-long relationship. I packed up and flew into Newark and spent three nights in an airport motel, visiting Staten Island every day and spending hours hanging out with my cousins. After the funeral, the family hosted a lovely lunch at Cielo Italian restaurant in Staten Island. Here is a screenshot of me photobombing my bad-brother Christy. Cousin Danny Tank and Sara Cicollela are in the photo.

Nick Corrado and his wife Alison, Johhny, Sharon and daughter Erin, Danny Tank, Sara Cicolella, Chris, Anet, Janie, Maureen and her daughter Mary, Annie’s daughter Brigit

From Portland OR: Erin and her mother Sharon

Sunrise Behind Manhattan Skyline Behind Elizabeth NJ Shipyard

I booked myself onto their return flight to Milwaukee and made arrangements for a hotel because they were all mentally exhausted and not prepared to host me on short notice. I got to meet my cousin Tom (in hat, below) for the first time. We had been chatting on Facebook for about a year, and he was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer and is in treatment for it, so he did not travel to the funeral. We met at his favorite Mexican restaurant in Milwaukee. The two other cousins I got to hang out with for many hours over several days in both New York and Milwaukee, making those heartfelt connections that were truly the high point of my trip.

Danny, Tom, Anet, Janie