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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
MVIMG_20200920_105643.jpg

Dear Matteo, 39 Months Old

October 03, 2020

M is for Matteo.

Pandemic-era virtual school has begun. We joined a “school pod” with another family in the area, so you go to their house and they come to ours once a week. Everyone is about the same age and pre-Kindergarten, so the rigor stops and starts with crayons.

Because your sister writes and draws nearly all of the time, you’ve taken to trying your hand at it. You are writing your Ms really well and can accurately trace the rest of the letters in your bold name. You’re also getting good at making shapes, like circles and triangles. What cracks me up is that both you and Eliza hold a writing utensil properly between your fingers. I always thought it took awhile for kids to figure that out. Parenting is full of funny little surprises like that.

Of course, your attention only sticks to schoolwork and art for so long before you find a ball to play with or object to fashion into a “shooter” (gun). I’ve realized I turned you on to Star Wars far too early because of your tendencies to want to have a shootout or lightsaber battle at any hour. Right now you’re playing with what you call a “doo doo,” which is both a potty joke of yours and set of bath tubes that you’ve connected and claim to be either a space ship or a shooter depending on the moment in your imagination.

You can settle down, occasionally. I enjoyed a classic father-son sports marathon with you this past Sunday. We cruised through some early morning EPL soccer into a Seahawks win (4-0 start) followed by watching some ski films. You’re really into the action sports right now and gave a “whoo” everytime a skier went airborne and twisted or flipped. I can’t say I’ll be a great model for hucking off a kicker, but I’ll cheer you on when you want to try.

We have also been watching the NBA playoffs and dominant LA Lakers. By the time you’ll read this you’ll probably put the 2020 NBA Finals into the last act of Lebron James’s career. Despite the drama of the game, you fell asleep the other night in my arms and I got to enjoy what felt like the last moments of a toddler quickly growing into big boy. I’m not sure how many of those I have left, so we sat on the couch like that for a long evening. And the Lakers won.

Love, Dad

← Dear Eliza, 60 Months OldDear Eliza, 59 Months Old →
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