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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
PXL_20210507_225055390.PORTRAIT.jpg

Dear Eliza, 67 Months Old

May 10, 2021

We finally made it home!

Just a couple days ago, we moved into our new house in Gig Harbor. This has been a long time coming and required many crash pads in between. I’m not sure that you or Matteo believe we’re staying put because we’ve “moved” so many times between our Tacoma house, the Tacoma condo rental, Grandma’s house, Chaffee’s house and Gigi’s condo.

Of course, who can complain about these last couple of weeks in Palm Springs? I’ve said it before: you swim like a fish (you prefer mermaid). You are already and somehow a faster swimmer than me and swam circles around me in the pool. We need to get you signed up for a swim team soon. It might be your sport. We also played a little tennis. I’m unsure if you’re motivated by the sport or outfits (not unlike Gigi), but we’ll probably get you swinging a racket more, too. Good thing tennis clubs usually have pools.

Now that we’re home, I can assure you that we’re done with the couch surfing because I don’t want to move us or any more couches for another 15 to 20 years. You and Matteo were incredibly resilient, often more than me or Mom, in just hanging with all of the change. You stayed motivated by planning on how to decorate your new room. You’ve drawn the room many times over and inspired by the “Fancy Nancy” books we read some nights.

The night before we got here was something like Christmas Eve. You were so excited to get here. We all were. When we made it to the house, we were able to sit back (on the floor) and relax. Because of aforementioned unwilingness to move couches again, I hired a moving company who got everything into our house in mere hours, so now we’re unpacking for what appears to be weeks to put the our lives back together.

We’re going to have a lot of fun here, and we’ll get to documenting it as soon as I can find my camera in one of these dozens of bags and boxes.

Love, Dad

← Dear Matteo, 47 Months OldDear Matteo, 46 Months Old →
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