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Paolo M. Mottola Jr.

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WORD IS BORN

I started this blog WAY back in 2007 as "Word Is Born." The spirit remains the same: my thoughts and photos, random as they are. Enjoy.


Latest Grams:

WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perch&egra
WE THREE ARE ITALIAN CITIZENS! 🇮🇹 🎉 (Note: Super weird to celebrate anything considering COVID-19 and Black injustice crises.) Twelve years ago -- way before I had kids, right before I met Amanda -- I started exploring dual citizenship. Perchè no? I didn't know what the future would hold, but I knew opening more doors for education and work in my father's country and greater EU would be good for me and future generations. Oh, and the history, culture, landscapes, pride of lineage, etc. I wanted to power up from half Italian to full citizen. I set a first citizenship appointment in San Francisco in 2010, the same year Amanda and I married, but didn't get enough paperwork together time. I had some other stops and starts but thanks to some major legwork led by cousin @mikebaiocchi I finally set an appointment two years ago for a January 2020 appointment at the consulate in San Francisco. We made it a fun little family vacation. The appointment itself went well (after some fair shaming about my language progress). We came home and waited for confirmation but of course COVID-19 devastated Italy, and I didn't expect to hear anything soon. Well, the surprise came in the mail today 🙌🏻. Eliza and Matteo automatically gained citizenship. Amanda has a few more steps (notably a high level of language achievement) to gain citizenship through marriage, but I am super pumped to reach this longtime goal! Forza Italia! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹
Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿
Took the family for a (peaceful protest) walk around the neighborhood. 👊🏻👊🏽👊🏿
Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley.

I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on t
Last day in Kent HQ (but not my last at REI!). I've spent some of my best years here in the Kent valley. I remember after leaving Eddie Bauer, my next stop had to be REI. They had a co-op model, big stores, real community events! I knocked on these doors and many kind people responded. @nattyluna and @jordowilliams kindly met me for informational interviews. @lux2, after intense interrogation, finally conceded and offered me a job on the social media team to join @kelly_ann_walsh. Shout out to some of my other bosses over the years: @rowleycraig, @sarahjeanneisme @mrajet and @ph9er. Too many colleagues and teammates over the years to tag but so appreciative of the shared time. The work we did in this place will define my career and the brand for years to come. OptOutside, Force of Nature, etc. I’ve been able to pay it forward and meet people for informational interviews and hire some of them myself. I’ve met a lot of great people and forged a kit of friendship with people who were also willing to come to Kent. Because the location doesn’t matter so much as the mission. Shout out to those who literally drove with me and endured the I-5 commute that future generations won't comprehend: @jruckle @angelafgow @halleyrebecca @shelb_hall. Next stop, REI Tacoma (work at home) and a smattering of new Bellevue HQ. Onward.
I published monthly letters for these Puget Sound saltwater 🐟. Link in profile. #deareliza #dearmatteo
I published monthly letters for these Puget Sound saltwater 🐟. Link in profile. #deareliza #dearmatteo
20190927-IMG_5303.CR2.jpg

Dear Matteo, 27 Months Old

October 03, 2019

“I’m Batman!” you say before springing from couch to couch.

I am surprised the husky delivery in your voice, as if you’ve seen the Christian Bale performances. You tumble out of your jump into a flip and land on your back. You don’t have a cape but wear an equally large grin.

These days have been all about stories and actions imitating superheroes and animals. Last night we pretended to be wolves on the bed. You dug into the pillows looking for food, and I occasionally mixed it up by fighting a bear and offering you dead bunnies to eat. You soon wanted to pretend to be a giraffe and eat tall leaves. Eliza wasn’t having it and wanted to be a moose instead, and you obliged. The entire animal kingdom is fair game.

You are equally imaginative and mischievous. We have to watch you a lot more than we did your sister at your age. Just earlier today you locked yourself in the bathroom, and when I unlocked it and came in you were sitting in the sink running hot water over your feet. That was a minor infraction. On other occasions these past weeks we’ve caught you eating lip balm and trying on lipstick and mascara, achieving the look of the Joker. You ate a whole tube of toothpaste one time. Both you and Eliza are obsessed with Altoids, so I’m not surprised you took to the minty flavor.

Speaking of personal care, you pretended to shave my face the other day with a wine opener. You had remarkably good coverage and had some good instinct to turn my head many direction to get a smooth shave.

In between these moments of imagination and sneaky behavior, you’re getting into more of a fall routine. You’re up early in the morning, usually before we’d like. As soon as you’re awake you’re talking, often trying to strike a deal to watch the morning news (compromise) or a kid show (preferred). You try to get naked as soon as possible and wrap up in a cozy blanket. You have strong preferences for that next-to-skin feeling. You started your “Twos” class with Teacher Judy at Curious by Nature, where Eliza also attended. You’re there twice a week for a few hours and making some new friends. Eliza started her half-day pre-kindergarten at St. Pats, so you get Mom all to yourself three days a week in the mornings! You’ve been waiting for this your whole life!

Whether at home or school, you’re getting to be fairly balanced in how you want to spend time. When you don’t get to watch a show, you can bounce between art, sports and reading. I like the balance. That’s how to go about life the right way.

Oh, and you’ve picked up a new sport: wrestling. As in, you wrestle with your sister constantly. Sometimes you’re pretending to be an animal, but you’re always acting like one. Who needs to visit a zoo when we’ve got you?

Love, Dad

← Dear Eliza, 48 Months OldDear Eliza, 47 Months Old →
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