How to write what we are feeling… it is such a hard thing to do and no words will truly be adequate in expressing how we feel. The Aussie Meyers family grew to know Giacomo via annual collages of family highlights sent to us around Christmas from the Torcaso-Meyers’. That sweet baby in a box was the start of many photos of Giacomo we received as he grew to such an inquisitive, gentle and loving lad.
Great Uncle Mike was able to meet Giacomo in 2009 when Mike flew to USA to visit with his brothers, one being Giacomo’s grandfather, Tom. Mason, Bradley and I (Great Aunt Wendy) met Giacomo in January 2019 when we visited Seattle. The meal at Ray’s was the first time we actually met Giacomo who was a little shy but willingly chatted with us even with our strange accent. Another visit to the family home, and a dig through all the children’s books sent to him each Christmas, on display in the living room. I had shared my love of a favourite Australian author, Mem Fox, with Giacomo over many years and Mary told me the family favourite was Wombat Divine, which was one of my favourites too. What a welcome we had received from everyone on that visit.
Mason had promised that next time he visited with Giacomo that they would play some video games as time did not allow during that visit. When Bradley received the opportunity for a job at the University of British Columbia, we were all excited as this meant he would be close to his Seattle family. He and I flew to Canada in September 2019. Jeff, Mary, Giacomo and August spent a weekend in Vancouver and we got to spend time with the family visiting Science World, eating out and chatting, even sometimes about Grid Iron football, especially the Seahawks. Bradley and I knew a little about football because (Great Uncle) Mike still watched it whenever it was available on TV in Western Australia. I love the photo of us outside The Flying Pig, in Gastown.
Bradley was fortunate to spend his first cold Christmas with the Torcaso-Meyers family, enjoying his holiday in Seattle, getting to know his extended family, whose company he enjoyed. I know Bradley treasures the time spent with Giacomo. Each day, on WhatsApp, he would send me photos and tell me about what he was doing and every day activities with Giacomo were mentioned. The whole family spoilt Bradley and it will always be a special memory for him. I know Bradley enjoyed playing music, board games, bowling, watching football (and learning about the rules) and especially his first foray into building a gingerbread house with Giacomo. The boys (Bradley and Giacomo) even used a Caramello Koala and a Freddo Frog as guards at the doorway. A very Aussie flavour.
Giacomo touched our lives in such a short time of actually meeting with him, making a significant impact on his Aussie family. Giacomo was, in a way, so like Wombat Divine in that he had “…a heart full of hope and a head full of dreams…” which is so evident from the snippet written on the Treehouse fundraising site. We send our love and thoughts to the family and friends, who so eloquently describe this lovely young lad, and through them his memory will live on.
– Mason, Bradley and Wendy Meyers