I was born in the alps in a small village, between Austria and Italy and the Adriatic Sea, even though it was only a 3-hour drive, seemed to be a million miles away from our farm. I had seen pictures and I couldn’t wait to see it real. Finally, we drove down toward Venice and I stood on the beach and looked at the ocean. As much as I loved the mountains, I felt drawn to the sea as well; I loved the water.
Whenever I have to say Goodbye to a friend or four-legged family member I go out and buy a plant in their memory, either for the inside or the outside. I have special orchids, rose bushes and blooming trees in memory of loved ones.
I think we all get an invisible backpack when we are born. At first we just carry it around empty, but then -just after a short while- we start to fill it up.
We fill it up with memories, experiences and feelings – all of it- the good and the bad. Over time the backpack gets heavier and weighs us downs. Then it’s time for a break, it’s time to sit down and look at our inventory.
A small bottle of Champagne is sitting in our fridge since a very long time. I can’t remember if we bought it, or if it was given to us; I just know it is stored there in the side door waiting for a special occasion.
We have some odd New Year’s traditions in our house.
I wear red underwear, because that’s what Italians do to welcome the New Year. They say it brings luck in the coming year, while my husband swears we have to eat black eye peas on New Year’s Day for luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead.
Finally, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our house as well. We spend all weekend long decorating the house inside and out and we put up our Christmas tree.
I just spend a few hours in my kitchen preparing food for our annual Thanksgiving feast tomorrow. Our fridge is full; there is not an inch of space left on the shelves. The vegetable drawers and the door spaces are filled up and overflowing with food and beverages.
Aren’t all men romantic? Aren’t they supposed to sweep us of our feet and lay us down on a bed of rose paddles, in a room with flickering candles while soft, romantic music is playing in the background?
My husband comes home in the evening and he turns on the TV. It’s his favorite past time entertainment. News, sports, shows and documentaries, there is always something on, that is worth watching. Some shows I like and we watch them together, but often I lose interest and my mind wanders of.
My first crush, oh my Gosh I remember it so well. I came home and I was mad. An older boy had pushed me and when I got up complaining about it, he had pushed me again. We were working in the fields and I didn’t stop talking about it.