There are many ways to be fortunate in life, but few are taken for granted more than having a good family. Not only did I grow up in a large and fun family but also a very close one. Some children don’t even know their grandparents let alone travel with them as I have. Recently, I was lucky enough to go with my Nonna and Pop Pop to their hometown in Abruzzo Molise, Italy. After hearing what I thought was every story of their childhood in rural Pettoranello, it was so fulfilling to see where it all happened. While my Pop Pop pointed out the tree he set on fire when he was a boy, I walked through the tiny building that once housed livestock and marveled at what a life my grandparents left behind. They seemed just as pleased to be there as I was, surrounded by old memories made new in their retelling. On our two-week trip in Italy, we bounced around from tourist attractions in Rome to the beaches of Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. This left several days to spend in Abruzzo, where I came to the conclusion that vacations should mean something. Of course, there are beautiful vacation spots and tourist attractions all over the world worth traveling to, but if you are lucky enough as I have been to be rich in family and heritage, sometimes the best places are from our past. — Angelique Platas, assistant marketing and advertising coordinator