In-Between

It is amazing how the years just appear to slip by and nothing seems to get done! You all know what I mean. It feels like yesterday that I took that whirlwind trip to Italy to look at possible houses. In a period of twenty-four hours I had landed, seen eight houses and departed again! How’s that for speed house hunting! HGTV eat your heart out, House Hunting International my foot! They only look at three properties! Anyhow it just amazes me that it took us forever to get the proper authorities to bring electricity to the foot of our drive, about a half a mile away and then between building a road equivalent to the Taj Mahal in precision and expense, and waiting for permission to start the work, ten years have passed since we purchased! Granted the house is on it’s feet with the roof on as well as the Cappanna, it is distressing to think about the time that has flowed under the bridge.

We are now at a point where we are essentially circling, waiting and watching as the Euro does it’s dance with the dollar. It drifts a bit lower but then like a fixed wing craft, it grabs the next warm eddy and circles higher!

We have the numbers and estimates for the next phase, and this is the phase that will go pretty quickly once started, we just can’t stomach the thought of paying even more than the already inflated prices due to the changeover from Lira to Euro. I suppose I should just shut up already and do it, but for now I am still willing to gripe about it!

It will be a stupendous place when completed. Its position of dominance over the valley allows for quiet reflective study and incredible views. To wake up in the morning, walk out on the front terrace and gaze over the mist-enshrouded valley with the castle Vicchiomaggio below and across the way, is just a stunning way to start anyone’s day. The wild life and edible vegetation that is on our mountain is quite prolific, from mushrooms and wild asparagus to cherries and chestnuts, who needs a market? The wild boar population is almost problematic in their numbers, great hunting for those who do! To be able to sit under the grape vine pergola eating wild boar sausage, cherries and stuffed mushrooms, knowing that you are king of all that you see- that is what life is about! Don’t forget the wine! And the vibrant green olive oil, which is poured with love over a salt and garlic infused slice of fresh baked bread! Oh my god, then there is the fresh homemade pasta served with a light fresh tomato and basil sauce with a hint of peperoncino and then the grilled meats! Wild boar sausage, steak, luscious pig from Perugia! Incredibly crisp fresh greens and sweet succulent fruits! Oh to be tucking in to all that wonderful goodness in the setting of the gods! Phew! I think I am sweating just thinking about it!

Needless to say it may take another ten years to complete our little project but when we do I for one plan to have that feast on the hill, and I will eat with the same passion as I have just thinking about it!

The morning shatters

Nighttimes glee

Brings us back to reality

To where we all just twist and shout

Not really knowing

What we’re talking about

Shucking and jiving

And counting our days

Forsaking our dreams

Through the daytime maze

Toward that bottom line

We do dive

Never really knowing

If we are truly alive.©

Happy Memorial Day

Just wanting to say a large Thank You to all the men and women in uniform, those who came before and those who will follow. We wish you well and much happiness, thank you for allowing us to lead the lives we do without fear of anything. It is because of men and women stronger and braver than I that I am able to sit here and write these lines. Without their dedication to keep the wolves at bay things might have worked out differently. I just hope that everyone can take a moment and reflect about their own lives and what it means to be free and how freedom is maintained. Freedom does come with a price as we are witnessing all over the world at this very moment, it is not something that once obtained it can be treated like a trophy and set upon the mantle. No, freedom is something that must be nurtured and protected, just like any precious child, kept out of harms way and maintained for further generations.

These photos are of the American Cemetery in Florence Italy. It is dedicated to the brave souls who stood in the way of Fascism and Tyranny and stared them down and to that I say, Bravo! For there is no greater gift to all then the destruction of out right evil and to all who made that ultimate sacrifice you are all heroes!

Happy Memorial Day

To dream of Tuscany!

To dream of Tuscany, the peace and tranquility, another life, fine wine and robust food. A hard working playful and friendly people, greener grass as it were. It is that longing, that feeling of something missing from your life amongst all the chaos. We all want to slow down, take a breath, feel life for a change instead of it always molesting us. We look through that fence at the leisurely lunches, the siestas, the incredible wines and incredible vistas and we say, that grass is definitely greener.

I would have to say, I am sure that the grass really is greener. The friendships, the air, the earth, it all seems filled with magic. Il mare! People just seem relaxed, sure there are small issues like a lack of full time jobs, everything costs a fortune and people drive like maniacs! But these are small issues when balanced with the quality of life, the enjoyment one can get from choosing the days vegetables at the local market or smelling the fresh baked bread from the bakery at the corner and knowing that there will always be a tomorrow.

It would be nice if we Americans could take a lesson from their playbook and try it out for a while. I know I know, they have lousy health care etc. honestly things don’t look much better in this country anymore do they? I heard the other day that people are all worked up about cameras being posted at traffic lights and as speed traps. This seems to be a huge problem over here. Seriously they have been using them for years in Italy, you know how they deal with it? They passed a bill forcing the state to have to advertise that you were entering a zone controlled by a camera! Sounds like that shouldn’t be too hard, the reason being is that when people saw a camera they would slam on the brakes and cause accidents. Sounds similar to the complaints over here! Another way they deal with the issue is regular people have posted the exact location of all cameras on line, so you can see the physical address of the cameras and can really plan your route!

I wonder if all this uptightness comes from our puritanical roots. When something we don’t like pops up we scream our heads off, but when it doesn’t go away we put our heads down, grimace and bear it. That seems to strike me as very British, just the thing we were trying to get away from all those years ago.

This country is growing but it isn’t growing up. I think it time that we look back across the pond and try to bring some joy and a sense of vitality to life. Slow down!