The topic of marriage came up at a neighborhood dinner this past Christmas, after they learned that my husband and I have been happily married for 43 years. “What’s your secret?” they asked with both incredulity and admiration. But one middle-aged couple said, “We don’t see the point of getting married. Besides,” he added, “I […]
No taller than a 10-year-old, with a sly and suspicious gleam in her eye, she played the role of the proverbial evil landlady with me, but was as sweet as honey to my Hubby. The other residents, also hostile, seemed amiable by comparison. And the dark, damp apartment revealed a miserly streak as well. It rained […]
Do you know the story of The Little Engine That Could? The little train in this children’s story discovered he could do anything by first convincing himself that he could. So he went around continually repeating, “I think I can, I think I can…” It’s a great story for teaching children to tune out discouraging voices and […]
As many of you know, I’m a minimalist, or at least a “minimalist wanna-be.” I strive for minimalism, although I find the Battle of Stuff to be a nonending war! I personally don’t feel the need to keep a lot of stuff around me. Mementos are fine, and they can be wonderful treasures. But even […]
Our favorite pizzeria/restaurant of choice is The Red Wolf or Lupo Rosso. And some of our friends here wonder why because it’s a simple place. Nothing fancy or elegant, but the food is excellent. And we tell them, “It’s all about community.” And to us that’s much more important than elegance! It’s a come-as-you-are kind […]
Italy’s streets and piazzas are usually full of people, even in the evening. But with the lockdown all that has changed. An eerie silence has settled over the strangely unpeopled streets and towns. Except for the car that goes through town every day with a loudspeaker broadcasting the order to stay indoors. That’s the final […]