We Welcome our Grandson Justin

Born on February 4, 2004

Matthew Pieri
"Heart to Heart"

Here is Justin with his older brother, Matt, who is now 13. [I've framed the boys with Celtic symbols and shooting stars to remind them of their past as they consider their futures.]

There are so many lessons I hope they do not have to learn for themselves. One of them is as old as humankind. Marcus Aurelius observed: "How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it."

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Heather Silvestri

"Auntie B Chills with Justin"

My daughter Heather has truly taken to the role of dedicated auntie--one that is patient, compassionate and diligent. When Justin was around, odds are that if "Auntie B" was not holding him, she was taking his picture. Most of the photos on this page were taken by our "Miss B." Auntie is also the godmother of her niece, Chloe. [The purple diamonds in her frame are filled with the Scottish Heather plant.]

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Barbara Beck-Ramsay
"My Nana Rocks!"

Heather captured a precious moment. We were sitting at my kitchen table when Heather took this shot of Justin with his arm raised in the air. I replaced the entire background with silver, snow, frost and Celtic touches. These elements represent the things I love. In the future, I hope Justin thinks of me when he sees these icons of my life.

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Mark Silvestri
"Embracing The Next Generation "

My husband, Mark Silvestri, is quite the grandfather. This should not surprise anyone in my family because Mark has always been quite the father. There is something so endearing about this "Big Show"--what he is often called by his children--as he cradles his tiny grandchildren, drums on their backs and flies them through the air. [See the "birdies" on the frame? Well, they are hawks and falcons. Papap goes hunting with them when we are in Scotland. Do not ask him what these birdies do to bunnies.]

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Erik Silvestri
"Uncle Rick Checks Out His Nephew"

As you might imagine, there is always a line of people around here who want to hold Justin. My son, Erik Silvestri, inspects his new nephew.[ I used the Ramsay Blazon of Arms in this frame because Erik has an abiding interest in heraldry--both the Ramsay and the Silvestri coat of arms--as well as weaponry.] Rick is now an uncle three times over and he is the godfather of his niece, Chloe, and of his friend's son, Aiden Christopher Gallagher.

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Jason Silvestri

"Twin Mirroring Twin"

Erik and Jason are fraternal twins who are also "mirror image" twins. For example, Erik is right-handed while Jay is left-handed, and so it goes in most cases including this one: Erik faces east while Jay faces west. [Because Jay loves bagpipes, I put a tiny piper on his frame that also sports the Ramsay tartan.]

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Jason, Chloe and Rene

"Another Silvestri Family Begins"

Moreover, Jason has a new appreciation of parents and you can see why. Our first granddaughter Chloe was born to Jay and Rene Stanley on December 4, 2003, exactly two months before Justin's birth.

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Chloe and Justin

Justin's cousin Chloe already has her own web page. To visit her site after you are finished here, just click on the locket.

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"Uncle Adam All Grown Up"

The "baby" of our family holds the newly-born Justin. Adam appears to look up, seeking reassurance that he is holding the infant correctly. But now 17 years old, Adam is in no way a baby anymore. [The blue pattern in his frame is the Dalhousie Ramsay tartan. I would like to think that the Celtic fantasy animal will guard Adam and Justin throughout their lives.]

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"Uncle Mark: The Christmas Baby"

I am holding my first son, Mark, who was born on Christmas. Aside from my wedding portrait, this is my favorite picture of myself--dear to me because it calls to mind all the expectations I had 30 years ago. Even though some things turned out in a way I could never have imagined, this picture reminds me of the most blissful time of my life when absolutely everything seemed possible.

Mark's baby picture also brings to my mind an excerpt from The Adventures of Peter Pan which was written by a Scotsman, J.M. Barrie: "All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!"

I hear you Mrs. Darling.

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I designed this web set for Justin and revised it on July 23, 2004.