Why the Name, “Finding Gina Marie”?
We often get asked, "Why 'Finding Gina Marie'?" This question is covered in one of our early Finding Family episodes on YouTube, but here’s the gist: "Gina Marie" is the name my birth mother gave me before I was adopted.
My name is Judy, and my husband Kevin and I embarked on a life-changing journey when I decided to find my birth mother at age 55. This decision came 25 years after my adoptive mother passed away at just 56, reminding us that life is precious and unpredictable. Raised in a loving, middle-class family with two brothers, I always harbored a desire to thank my birth mother for her courageous decision and assure her that my life turned out well.
With the help of a 23andMe DNA test, I found her. Just two and a half months later, I met her and many welcoming family members who, surprisingly, lived near us in San Francisco, though we originally were all born and raised in Buffalo, New York.
Exploring Florence as potential expats, March 2022
This emotional reunion happened just before California's lockdown in March 2020. Eager to share our story, we launched our YouTube channel, "Finding Gina Marie."
An unexpected revelation followed: my newly discovered heritage made me eligible for dual Italian citizenship. Kevin and I, longtime international travel lovers, suddenly saw the potential to live in Italy full time. The pandemic shifted our priorities dramatically. Overly demanding careers transitioned to meaningful connections with my newfound family, as I spent time learning to make homemade ricotta gnocchi over a Zoom call with my aunts and building relationships through calls, texts, and letters.
Realizing we were merely existing in a work-centric life, Kevin and I envisioned a different reality. We contemplated working remotely from Italy or becoming expats while pursuing my dual citizenship. Ultimately, we chose to leave our jobs, embrace full-time travel, and focus on truly living.
"Finding Gina Marie" is about more than discovering my birth name; it's the journey to embracing a life of freedom and adventure and making connections along the way.
Judy (age 3) waving on the porch of her family home outside Buffalo, New York
