Whenever I face, or am about to face, the provincial politics of Motovun, I buttress myself by remembering the most glorious among my ancestors. Here in Istria, there are two of them in particular, and both of them are pretty close as families go. The first is Matko Laginja (1852-1930) from Klana, whom my father used to remember as his barba or “uncle” in the local Venetian dialect. They were related through my father’s mother, also from Klana. Laginja was one of the foremost leaders of the Croatian reawakening under Austria-Hungary and Italy. The second is Fran Flego (1852-1930) from Štrped, whom my mother used to remember as her barba. They were related through my mother’s father, also from Štrped. Flego was the first Croatian mayor of Buzet, as well as a great fighter for Croatian rights under Austria-Hungary and Italy. The next few days I am about to face the provincial politics of Motovun one more time, and the two barbas are ever closer to my heart once again. More, the three of us are fast becoming one.