“Cousin to cousin, we’ll always be, special friends from the same family tree."
Cecile and I were so happy to have the opportunity to hook-up with my cousin Joey Micalizzi, his wonderful wife Natia, and their lovely twin daughters Victoria and Allyssa in San Francisco following their seven-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America. The love birds who reside in Staten Island, NY, renewed their wedding vows as they sailed by the stunning Na Pali coastline of the island of Kauai this past weekend. Joey’s late father Nino and my late mother Maria were brother and sister and both grew up in Roccalumera, Messina in Sicily before moving to Hoboken, NJ. Joey’s mother, my zia Maria, at 85 is my last remaining family member from the old country.
We all met at Bodega SF, a Multi-Generational Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine that Victoria found online. It had been almost three years since we saw them last. We could tell just being in their company how they were filled with the Aloha spirit. We talked about their exotic trip and trips to come, as well as their visiting the local sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods. After sipping Asian style cocktails, a tasty dinner and desert, my cousin Joey made it clear that he and Natia were treating us and they also surprised us with some colorful outfits for our granddaughters Emmy and Lyla. They fly back today to the East Coast. They will be missed.
