After breakfasting at the hotel, we set out to visit our relatives in Brownsville. It was an absolutely beautiful day with blue skies and warm, comfortable temperatures. As I mentioned earlier, my mother took us by train to visit Brownsville in 1964. As we drove onto the street, it was just like we remembered! The main house that belonged to my mother’s uncle and aunt, and where we stayed in 1964, is in the middle of the block with two family homes above it and two family homes below it. Such a lovely area, very green and open. The chicken coops behind the main house are even still there, but no chickens today.
We met our cousin Jim Despot (who remembers our visit in 1964) and his son Dustin and his two children who all live on the block. Dustin was a fifth generation coal miner until recently. They were so welcoming and kind. We all sat around Jim’s dining room table talking family, both past and present. Jim prepared a delicious lunch for us of pasta and meatballs and homemade apple pie. Jim shared recipes with me, and I was very grateful for that.
On our way back, we followed Jim to another cemetery where his grandfather and grandmother are buried. His grandfather was our grandfather’s older brother. Jim and Dustin told us how he arrived in America by boat before World War II, where at some point he was drafted and sent to war back in Europe on the very same boat he came to America on!
Back in Pittsburgh at our hotel, Gary, Kyle, Kelsey and I went for a walk over the Sixth Street Bridge, also known as the Roberto Clemente Bridge, one of the nearly identical “Three Sister Bridges” that spans the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. This bridge was erected in 1927, and you have a beautiful view of the baseball stadium right on the river. The bridge is closed to cars on game days so that fans can cross it. On the walkways of the bridge, many locks (Love Locks) are placed on the railings, similar to what you might see in Europe.
Dinner that night was Clark’s choice, and we ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant called Las Velas. We all enjoyed the food very much.
When we got back to the hotel, it was time for Liverpool Rummy, the favorite card game in our family. My mom used to play this with her lady friends betting dimes. They were quite the group! Mom, my brothers, and I, along with Uncle Al when he was in from fishing, would play this game. Mom taught it to all her grandchildren. Luckily, Kelsey had purchased three decks of cards earlier that day. We took over a large table in the hotel lounge area and proceeded to have a wonderful time. It is always fun to play this with the family. Shout out to Clark who won the game!
kelsey v 