10,355 Miles

That's how far it is from my family in the USA to those "down under. " The last four days has been a humbling experience to see how deeply rooted we all are.  When I arrived in Melbourne this past Sunday, family I've barely talked to on Facebook were at the airport waiting for me with open arms. 

I spent the last four days getting to know my family that I've been missing out on for 28 years, and trust me when I say that four days is no where near enough to make up for the years gone by. It was a incredible experience hearing all the stories from each aunt, uncle and cousin of how the family came about in Australia and the memories they have of my grandmother and grandfather back in Sicily. This trip is only a few days old and it already has become a memorable one. 

As I write this 39,000 feet in the air on our approach to New Zealand, I can't help  it to think of how incredible it would be to untie my grandmother with her sister and my father with his cousins. Hopefully some day soon, we'll all get to experience that event. 

To anyone in Melbourne reading this who I had the honor of meeting and spending time with - thank you. This trip was a bit last minute and unexpected, but you managed to work out time with me and I am truly grateful. As we all kept saying, "I wish we had more time," but this isn't "goodbye," this is "see you soon!"

Now Playing - Grouplove - Itchin' on a Photograph