I’m back in Italy less than a year after my last trip! It is amazing to be back and I’m pleased that I could make this adventure happen. I hope to discern if I would truly like to live in Italy one day. I know that vacation here is always fun for me but the question is: Is LIFE in Italy on a daily basis fulfilling and enjoyable?

I am so grateful to those who encouraged me to take this leap and follow my dream! I was met with so much unexpected praise for being courageous and adventurous. I don’t really think of myself in those terms typically. Hearing my friends share that my upcoming journey was inspiring to them was validating. Thank you, friends.

One person I wasn’t able to share my adventure with yet is my mom. As some of you know, she has been in the hospital for months with a variety of issues. Mom of 30 years ago might have told me this trip wasn’t very practical. But I believe mom of last year would have told me to go “do my thing” while I can. Don’t wait until someday because someday may never arrive.

It’s not every day that one can mostly step away from their life and pursue a dream. It took the collaboration of many people to make this possible. I wish I could bring home a piece of Italy to every one of you who facilitated this trip! I want to name you and your contribution here but I am afraid I will inadvertently leave someone out. Many friends were called by me to assist me and they all stepped up! Then there were the ones who weren’t even asked but lent a hand without a prompt. Amazing! I can only hope I am as good of a friend to you as each of you are to me. You know who you are! Grazie mille!!

My son deserves the most praise. We are tight and spend a lot of time together walking, talking about current events and history, watching history shows, going on adventures, and socializing with our friends. (The history background comes in handy when traveling in Italy where there is tons of history!) Change is not easy for him but he found a way to be ok with me being away for 7 weeks! Modern technology sure does make it easier to keep in touch and feel close to someone, though. Several friends offered to get together with him while I’m away to break up “cabin fever”, as he calls it. (It warms a momma’s heart to know that you are thinking of him.) He is so used to moving between two houses every week that staying in place at Dad’s will be something new. Maybe the carrot at the end of the 7-week stick sealed the deal. He will be joining me in Montepulciano and then on to Cinque Terre and Rome.

Let’s get started on my Italian adventure! Che emozianante!