We're home from Italy

Nan and I just returned from a tour of Italy and I have to say we didn't want to come back. We had to, for lots of reasons, but living in Italy is awfully appealing. Italy is beautiful, the people are nice, and they live differently...better in many ways...than here. I think it's the structure of their society that's so appealing. Every city seems to have a square (piazza) surrounded by small shops and fruit and veggie stands and places to sit and talk while enjoying a coffee and some cookies or fruit and cheese...and to watch people. It's not so frantic..and the focus seems to be on friends and family, not "things." Yes, Rome is frantic and crowded and the traffic is crazy...but there are peaceful spots everywhere. And in the smaller cities...well, it's just nice. And, of course, the more money one has the more there is to enjoy...but it's different. And, we've traveled to a lot of places.

The food was good...but, for example, when you stopped to get a gelato (ice cream) the cones were about 1/4th the size of one here and you could enjoy it without pigging out. The meal courses were many but small...and I have to say the only fatties I saw were clearly tourists. Everyone walks a lot...and enjoys it....and it wasn't unusual to see very fashionably dressed ladies riding a bike or vespa.

We went to Rome, Milan, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Lago Maggiore (one of several gorgeous alpine lakes) , Verona, Venice, Bologna and Ferrara...not necessarily in that order...but all those places. When we got back I had 300+ emails waiting...most of which were from various political groups asking for a donation because Senator so-and-so apparently thought about maybe possibly talking about or farting in the general direction of something that, if anything was actually ever done about it, ...whatever it was... would be good for the poor and middle class. I dumped 'em all and am unsubscribing from most of these things because I'm burned out. I didn't realize how burned out and hopeless I am about the future of our country...until I got away from it and was able to put things back into perspective.

We met a lot of ex-pats and people from other countries who are wondering how long we're going to let ourselves be screwed into oblivion. I couldn't answer. I'm reminded that this life isn't a dress rehearsal...it's the only one we get...and we're going to do a much better job of living it. Screw the politicians and their promises. I'll wait for the revolution. Maybe we'll be here for it or maybe not. We may be in a cafe in Sorrento overlooking the Ligurian sea. I hope so. Ciao for now.