Enrico Bottieri

12/25/2001 - Update from Enrico: Joe, We call Bob, Robert Bottieri, he lives in New York City with a beautiful family.

Robert is the son of Anthony Bottieri, (My cousin) Anthony Married Clara Baldini, I think that is the correct spelling. Clara Baldini's mother was my mother's sister. Anthony and Clara had a boy named, Robert Bottieri.

Robert is the typical New Yorker and well liked by all who meet him. I need to get his e mail address from somebody.

Here is a writing from Enrico Bottieri. Enrico lives in California and you can contact him at: TheBeechBoys@aol.com

Christmas's Past I thought you might enjoy traveling with me back through time to another Christmas.............. It started in a very sad way as we rummaged through all the remnants' of what was our old Bottieri family homestead, located in New York state. Our beautiful mother had passed away, and after many moves it was time for one final sifting through of what was once the very foundation of our family. Those little special things that on their own were not important, but taken in proper context they represented milestones as we traveled through life.

Could that be it ?, as I stared at a large pile of things to be thrown out, just a worn leg here and then another, and finally the unmistakable coffee can like base. Yes, here it was, our Christmas tree stand, the one we used year after year, still in good condition. At that moment, the memories rushed back of Christmas's past.... The years' merged together but somewhere in the early 30's will do.

Winters then were cold and dreadful, we longed for the Christmas Holidays. The first order of business was always the Christmas tree. Real live trees, we sometimes went into the woods and cut down our own. It was selected with care, some were carefully purchased and taken home. Pine and fir, I remember Double Balsam as being best. The looks and smell alone was enough to spark the Christmas spirit. The tree was gently placed into that Old Christmas Tree stand. Water was added to the can to keep the tree fresh. Then the tree was lovingly decorated. First strands of lights and then Silvery Tinsel. Yes we had recycling then as even the tinsel was carefully removed and saved for next year. Sometimes strings of popcorn and delicate balls of all colors, Other times strands of colored paper rings glued together and strung around the tree, and always the Angel on Top. Spread below was white cotton or white tissue paper. Those years were among the happiest of my life. I don't know how but somehow Santa Claus and then others provided all of us with gifts. We each had our own stocking and this was always full of surprises and good things to eat. So, you can see why I reached down and carefully removed the Christmas Tree stand from the pile of rubble. Did I take it with me, the answer is yes, it is here in California and still remains an Icon of the past. When held in the hands and lovingly rubbed, it is capable of conjuring up all kinds of beautiful memories of Christmas's past.

Enrico Bottieri

Enrico & JP

Enrico Bottieri & Family

Click photo to enlarge