Tracing Family Roots

Happy Friday! Whoooo. These past few weeks have been pretty busy. Man, I thought I left that in Washington, but I guess not. At work I am trying to finish up a major project before taking a break to travel and then moving on to a new assignment with a different office. This has meant slightly longer hours and my mind thinking mostly about work issues, with little time to make travel plans and such and fewer time spent at the gym. However, I realize this is kind of unhealthy so I'm making an effort to take care of other important things. For one, I'm researching a possible trip to Slovakia, the far eastern reaches to be exact, to connect with the old homeland of my great-grandparents and to possibly meet a few distant relatives. I'm not sure if it's going to happen. With the help of a kind Slovak friend I wrote several letters and put them in the mail about a week ago. No response yet. We shall see. I've been told our distant relatives live in the middle of no where... in remote villages near the famous Slovak High Tatry mountains, the Slovak version of the Alps. Originally I was hoping to make this trip with my dad, but unfortunately he is unable to visit for the time being. If you're a praying person, please try to remember to keep him in your prayers as he undergoes radiation this month and into the next. By the way, this picture here shows my dad (in the middle) surrounded by his older brother Tom and older sister Mary Anne. Isn't it precious? I dare say you can even see a bit of me in my dad's eyes and nose. Part of my quest to Slovakia is to see if I can find others bearing the Fetzko cheeks.

I'll keep you posted on this trip or what other possibilities might arise. My friend Becky who I met at church in Hoboken is a flight attendant and we've made a practice the last few years of meeting up in random places. Last summer it was the Tirana Rinas Airport at midnight (in Albania). I kid you not!

If you have time to gallavant over here in Central Europe with me let me know. Unfortunately my good friend Leah has already tried out the cheesy Sound of Music tour in Salzburg without me earlier this year. :( I still want to see Austria though and its many Christmas markets. Let me know!