Thank God for Sundays

Where else to start except I love full days of rest, the Sabbath has a new value in my book. Mostly because after lots of sweat and dirt necklaces all week, being up at dawn and in bed around 10, just relaxing feels so good.

I am not feeling as lonely as Anna is off scuolo (school) and helping me immensely. I am actually starting to really enjoy myself as far as doing what I want, when I want, as long as the goals of the day get done. It is nice to have some time in the morning for prayer and naps under the sun in the evening and a good read at night.

I don't have my notes with me, so I am going to go off memory for dinner for the last two nights. Friday night I went to dinner with Patricia, Anna and Angelo to a Pizzeria. I must say, that while I had authentic Italian food in Rome, this was the real local deal...like a Nick's in Apple Valley, or a Woodys in Fort Collins...but of course way different Pizza. I felt soo...American! First, the building is small, off the highway behind a gas station...definitely not touristy. Second, I could barely understand the heavy accented Italian, even with what I do know...I was slightly embarrassed. So we order antipasto (a buffet style) and pizza. I was extremely skeptical of the antipasto...weird colors, strange sights, and it was on a folding table. But I gathered some potato cake things, toast with spinach and other unidentifiable items, cold pasta, a tuna slab...literally, some shrimp with a pink cream sauce and I didn't want to try the sea creature legs...ew. It was all soooooooooo good! I was pleasantly surprised. Then the pizza. I got a white pizza (no sauce) with prosciutto. Anna got a margherita and I don't know what the others got. I tried hers, yum! It looked like cheese from America, but tasted so so much better. I couldn't finish mine. I asked for a box. They looked at me so weird and laughed. I forgot...Italians only eat fresh. By only, I mean only. I guess I am not Italian yet...I like cold pizza, and I hate wasting food. In the end, they provided. Lunch today - which was still delicious, even cold (no microwave). We then got desert. I had white chocolate ice cream. They garnished it with whipped cream, drizzled chocolate, cinnamon and nuts. I could have done without the nuts, but I wasn't going to say anything, especially in a foreign language!! I took a first bite, yum. The second bite had a cookie dough flavor...are you serious?! This is heaven in my mouth. And then another...wait a sec. Another...oh my gosh, this is coffee flavored center! And another...it is kind of good. And before I knew it, it was gone. The drive home I wanted a blended drink with coffee. For me, that is unheard of, I hate coffee. Could gelato be the thing to convert me? I will let you know as time goes on.

And last night. It was a moment that I felt guilty experiencing alone, a picture that I can only hope to do justice in words, an atmosphere that I thought of each family member individually and each friend. I could imagine all of you there, laughing, talking, drinking wine, sharing stories, being goofy and talking more. How I wished to share that moment. Let me explain. I was invited to dinner at Ferraia with Vittorio, Patricia, Anna, Angelo, and 2 guests. Anna and I walked from the Office to the garden where lay a huge covered grill, and across the way a huge gazebo of sorts with 2 long wooden tables. Between the tables lay a bar with regrigerator, wine cellar, sink and other patio ammenities. On one of the tables sat three lit candles covered with glass, seating for seven with yellow placemats, and an invitation that said I am so happy you came! One view, that side I sat on, showed me a garden with homegrown lettuce, tomatoes and other veggies. Beyond that lay the green mountains lush with vegetation. Beyond that a setting sun, perfect weather and crickets chirping away.

Vittorio was cooking pork ribs, sausage, steak, and I believe one other kind of meat that I didn't get the chance to try. When everyone gathered, food was served family style, grab what you want, don't ask anyone to pass anything. We had romaine lettuce with olive oil, green beans (fresh and delicious, which is saying something as I generally am NOT a green bean fan), bread, and of course lots of good, juicy, flavorful meat(also homegrown...raised and killed). For dessert we had cantaloupe. Throughout the meal there was hearty Italian chatter. Though it was hard for me to follow I do understand smiles, and I do understand cheerful handmovements. At one point Vittorio was talking about Annas poor posture...it reminded me of my dad harping on me when I was 12. The adults giving her a hard time out of love...also been there, :). As the sun set, lightning bugs came out and the bushes to the side of the garden looked as if they were draped with white dancing Christmas lights...just beautiful...I kind of thought of Pirates of the Carribean. :) As I closed my eyes I could envision all those I love there with me, enjoying the moment, and I decided I would just have to live it for you and tell you that I thought of you most definitely. It made me wonder, why don't we do fruit as a dessert? Healthier that is for sure!

And of course, through it all, I was a silly American. I didn't know how much I was allowed, so I took a little, making sure they all had enough. It was noticed...They asked, you eat a little, you are not used to big plates are you? I guess not...but I could have eaten so much more, it tasted sooo good! And well, in front of strangers, I tried to cut my cantaloup as professionally as I could, looking chic and calm...well, my hand was sweating and shaking, me knife fruit. Think about it...cutting with knife toward thumb to get it off the rind like I've watched Mom do countless times so smoothly. Mine was less than smooth...but no sanguay! (blood) Needless to say it was a pretty magnificent night only to get better. OH! And the wine...Vittorio kept giving me more, even when I said no...I am a lightweight, not used to wine frequently...it may be why I slept so good last night...hmm. On the way home I stopped and stared at the stars. I assure you I was not seeing double...their numbers...countless...it was bedazzling! With no city lights near, no orange glow, the constallations were VIBRANT! I stared until my neck hurt and I thought I was going to pass out. Good night!

Today I discovered an English book collection...among them...Under the Tuscan Sun. If you have read it, where I live is nothing, nothing like she describes...I so want to go see what she describes, and I am in Tuscany. I am slightly inspired to record my experiences in more detail...maybe I can write a #1 best seller. Except my brain goes faster than my hands and I lack eloquence...so I think it would have to be more on the silly experiential, ridiculous side, more humorous than romantic. That is my Tuscany so far...laughter at self, mountains, horses, flies and dirt.

Did I mention that this morning I found a millipede, daddy long leg spider, pincer bug AND a giant rhino looking beetle in/near my front door? If I had any fear of cathing, moving or killing bugs, it is gone now. Cobwebs are still kind of gross on my arms and face on trails, but I am getting over it.

Today I fed and showered...I have been clean with no dirt on me all day and it has been glorious! I went to Mass, Thomas picked me up and we went to Iesa (Yezza) to a Church called St. Micheals. Fortunately again they had the Italian read along. As I listened to Fathers homily, which I vaguely understood as being about the Last Supper (from hand movements and few key words like pane, sanguay, vino and reading the readings in my English Bible), I marveled at the beauty of Catholicism and I understood what Cousin Eric told me so many years ago that I could barely grasp...Mass is constantly happening all over the world. When I was at Mass, yall were in bed, as I write this, or as I've slept yall are at Mass. All day, everyday...due to time changes. And not only that, we all get the same message! I don't know why that was fascinating to me just today but it was. We really are all connected through la Chiesa, una santa cattolica e apostolica. (One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church).

Oh, and the small village Tocchi? Learned to day that its population is approximately 20. SMALL! I can now efficiently cut apples smoothly with a butter knife, yay! And in Italian I've interpreted my own name to mean "three Cs" Tre = 3 Cie = C , 3 Cs. They can mean what you like. I'm thinking/hoping to live up to Christ, Courage and Caritas (love)...or Charity.

With that, I leave you with my life lessons:
- learn to cut fruit early in life to save yourself public embarrassment
- there is no way to refuse wine in Italy
- the best way to classify yourself as American besides blonde hair and not speaking the language is to ask for a to go box