Since the earthquake, my family’s house in Italy remains too damaged to stay in. Much of the village remains empty. And now, thieves have broken into the house. They mainly upturned drawers adding to the mess of earthquake damage, since belongings inside are mostly of sentimental value, but of course it is another blow.
For the past week, my cousin has been there cleaning up and an unexpected side to what’s happened is that she’s come across old documents, letters written by our great-grandparents and photographs, including this lovely find!
My mother (on the left) was just twenty-two at the time when she and my Dad were the first to travel back to the house after the family migrated to Australia decades earlier. Pierina (on the right) is the relative who lived in the house and kept it maintained all those years before the family could return. This was taken in Fossa just before Christmas in 1970.
Zoë Boccabella 
What a lovely find! It is terrible that there has been so little progress after the earthquake.
Thank you! Yes, I really feel for all the permanent village residents who’ve had their lives disrupted for so long already.
Sorry to hear about the break-in, but great that it has led to more snippets of the past.
Thank you, it’s awful such things occur but really lovely to discover this photograph!
How awful! The photo is wonderful! Hope something gets done soon for the people of Fossa!
Grazie mille, Cristina. I do hope more can be done soon too.
Two wonderful people in the photo with big smiles. On the left Zoe’s lovely mother.
On the right PIERINA. —A VERY SPECIAL PERSON.
Grazie mille. I would love to know how you knew Pierina and feel so towards her. xx
Hi! Zoe, it’s the Fossolano again.
There’s mail in transit for you with your Publisher, mailed approx. 1-1/2 weeks ago.
It’s hand-written note a bit scruffy. Please trace it back to you.
It’s imberative that you get it.
Augusto.
Thank you, Augusto. Will keep an eye out and let you know when I receive it. Zoe x
My mother knew Pierina and her family. I also met her and the last time I saw her was in 1974. Augusto
What a lovely photograph. I am annoyed that thieves thought that it was ok for them to break in to the house and make a mess. However, from something bad, something good has happened in the form of this lovely photograph. Simply precious!
It’s been a while now since this happened and fortunately no other occurrences. But yes, such a lovely photograph to have been found!