47th & Judah

Ponte Vecchio, Florence Italy

For as long as I can remember we spent every weekend in San Francisco visiting family. I have just as many memories in San Francisco as I do in Sacramento, after all I was born in San Francisco. I know every bend and turn it takes to get from my childhood home in Sacramento to the front door of 47th & Judah. 

As we drove up to park, there she was, standing out front waiting to welcome us in, ushering us in to camp out on the floor of her beach side studio. Hot coco and lots of stories and treasures to share. I can still see the afterglow of the sunset coming off of the Great Highway as we pull up and the misty fog settling in as San Francisco is so famously known for.  It was, as we know her best as, Gma’s house. I partially grew up here, I remember the yellow non slip stickies on the shower floor and the smell of her pink Dove soap. I can see all her hiking books collected together with all her memories on the bookshelf, he coral and shells collected over the years from many walks on Ocean Beach. Her famously nude photo of her sprawled out on a rock on one of her many hikes- we always laughed about this one!  Falling asleep to the N Judah passing by- this is Judah street, this is Grandma's house and this place has a very important place in my heart. This is where I learned about family, history of family, adventures close to home and far, to appreciate the world around us. I learned to like granola bars and thought sleeping bags were fun. I felt special when we got the donuts in the morning and loved when we got to go adventure the city together. This place to me, was San Francisco.

Baccelli! Not sure it gets more Italian than that! That is the Maiden name of my Great Grandmother Nancy. Her Mother, my Great Grandmother, Annunziata Marie Baccelli. (Annunziata is Italian for Nancy) was born to a Italian man named Raffaello who came to America from Tempagnano de Lunata, Lucca, Toscana Italy.  She was one of three daughters and one brother. She married a Irish Gentleman by the name of William Edward Gallagher.

I decided to give my Grandmother Diane a quick interview to gain and provide more perspective of our family history. Here are some of her answers: 

Name of your Mother and Father: 

William Edward Gallagher and Annunziata (Nancy) Marie Baccelli

Where are your Mother and Father from/occupation? 

Both parents were born and raised in SF.  Father's Occupation was:  SF Patrol Special Police Officer, a sole proprietorship, governed by the SF Police department.  

What is your Mothers Maiden Name? 

Annunziata (Nancy) Marie Baccelli 

Where were your Grandparents From/occupation? 

Both of my mothers parents arrived in the US from the region of Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.  My grandfather Raffaello had many occupations some more involved than others: He started as a truck driver, owned and operated a Hog Ranch in Daly City, CA along what is now Skyline drive;  he purchased and sold houses. He also worked with his brothers to establish the Sunset Scavenger Co. he worked selling produce from the field in South San Francisco and more! My grandmother, Maria, was a stay at home mom and raised 3 daughters and one son. As far as I know they did not know each other before arriving in the Bay Area to live.  But here is a family connection or referral so to speak, which was typical when people came from the ' Old ' country.  Still working on that connection!

Both of my dad's parents arrived in the US from Ireland. My granddad, Patrick Joseph, was from County Mayo and my grandmother, Norah, was from County Sligo.  I think they may have known each other or may have been married in Ireland.  Still working on this. However, they were married in SF.  My grandfather, Patrick, was the owner of the SF Patrol Special Police Officer business.  He came from Ireland to SF via Bisbee, AZ where he worked in the copper mines to help rebuild SF just after the SF 1906 earthquake. He was a member of the HOD Carrier Union and was very important, my cousin Richie tells me, because he was given his own car to drive. He later went into the Police office business. My grandmother, Norah, was a stay at home mom and raised 3 sons and 2 daughters. 

What is your (Mother's mother)  Grandmothers Maiden Name?  

Maria Giuntoli  

Father's Mother:  Noraheen Feeley

When did you first travel to Europe? 

1984

What were lessons you learned during your visit? What did you leave with emotionally?

I came home a completely different person from the woman who left to travel. 

Can you tell me about your connection with Italy in particular.  

Too much to tell in one go! Family!

I find it no coincidence at all that both my Grandmother and I returned from Europe to different women. When visiting my Grandmother I loved to look at all her family photo albums and travel photos. I remember one in particular, she was standing on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence Italy. She looked so carefree. So while Jon and I were in Florence, I took the same picture in the same spot some many many years later. I think it was very powerful to be standing on the same weathered bridge that she had stood. I felt very much connected to her and the memories she had possibly built during her time in Italy. I felt this same way as I visited family in Lucca knowing she had spent weeks with them on that same trip in 1984. In some very abstract way, I feel that as we learn more about our past, I feel very connected to the present. 

Sometimes I ask myself why we are not seeking to live in Italy. To tell you the truth, we love Italy! We got married in Italy! In Cortona actually- not too far from Florence. Perhaps I will share more about our wedding in Italy in another entry. For me, I feel that we are not done exploring Italy. While we were visiting France Jon and I felt very connected to one location in particular to live. That’s not to say that Italy is out of the question because I can certainly live out my days under the Tuscan Sun! For now we will stay steadfast in our plans to move to France. I promise a entry soon all about where we want to live, why we choose this location and the steps we are taking to get there (alongside duel citizenship).

I am so excited for our journey and even more excited that my Grandmother Diane is along for the ride.

Ciao for now!