Growing up as an Italian immigrant meant living in two worlds: the pristine "museum" upstairs where the appliances rested in silence, and the chaotic, bubbling, steam-filled basement where the real life happened. I’m sharing thoughts on why we need to move past the "Live, Laugh, Love" version of heritage and get back to where the stories (and the sauce) actually simmer.

What does it mean to be the "keeper" of a family tree when your branch ends with you? I’m sharing a story about a mysterious message from a stranger, a "Swedish glitch," and the enduring power of family connection in a digital world. Whether we are the beginning or the end, we are all just looking for proof that we belong. 🌳

I’m a Clevelander who loves football and clothes dryers, but my soul is still rooted in the rural community my parents and I left behind. My latest essay explores the pride and the pain of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano–Cortina.