Sunday, June 20, 2010

PEEKS OF MALETTO'S STRAWBERRY FEST




Top to bottom:
Overlooking the town of Maletto
Strawberry cannoli (Maletto is famous throughout Italy for its strawberries)
Looking up and down the main street (flag bearers going to the parade site)
Fresh strawberry cake (about 2-feet[0.6 meters]) across
Strawberry vendor
Freshly made gelato (even has strawberry seeds in it)
A pretty balcony I passed heading for the main festival area ...

Yup... summer is here! 

Friday, June 18, 2010

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

I have been clearing out old Emails recently and found this item which my son had sent me ... I am truly blessed by this wonderful man who is my son.   

 
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.  Standing by the security gate, as they hugged, the mother said "I love you and I wish you enough."   



The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed.
I wish you enough, too, Mom."

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated.

Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"


"Yes, I have, " I replied "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?".


"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral" she said.


"When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone". She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.”


She then began to cry and walked away.


It has been said it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.




Please share this thought with those who have a place in your heart or your life....
If you don't send it to anyone it may mean that you are in such a hurry that you have forgotten your friends.




TAKE TIME TO LIVE  .... 
To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!!!










Tuesday, June 15, 2010

GO AHEAD, DRINK AND DRIVE ....

Seems to me, that residents of many countries other than the U.S. are quite comfortable leaving a drink that may have been barely touched on the table .... the drink is a relatively minor part of the main activity which is spending time with friends and acquaintances. 

Many Americans, on the other hand, will finish the drink off when they leave, even if they are going to another place and can get another drink there ... the mentality being "don't want to let it go to waste" or "I spent good money on that".

This pattern of thinking is part of the reason behind signs like this ....



http://www.burbia.com/node/4354

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

OUR NEW TABLE ....

The visit with my DMIL and DFIL went well ... we explored lots of Sicily.  DH took DFIL-DMIL up to Venice for a couple days and we finished their visit with a week up in London. 
DH and I had ordered this table to be delivered before Easter ... unfortuantely it didn't get here until last week.
Beautiful lava table with a fruits and vines design in enamel on the top. 
I'd plan to order a few more chairs - only ordered four originally.