summer travels, 2104~back to paris

We've been to Paris a few times already and done all of the classic things with the kids - taking a boat on the Siene, going to the top of the Eifel Tower, touring Luxembourg garden and playing in the parks, taking the trains and subway, plus the not so classic things like getting the best ever falafels in a little divey place in the Jewish section of town.

This time we were just there a few days, and we mostly cruised around on foot near our hotel, which was near Napoleon's tomb, known as des Invalides.

We all agreed.  We rate Paris high on culture, creativity, charm, beauty, and art.  But (don't tell the French people), we like the food in Italy better.

Except the pastries.  No one can beat French pastries.

corner view~warmth

She was raised in a world of seasons that whirled and spun through time, always craving the warmth.

Her favorite season was summer, for with it brought her July birthday, and the sunshine. Summer was a time of freedom from routine, a time to be outside under the trees, behold the colorful flowers her mother had planted in gardens all over their property, practice her cartwheels and handsprings safely on the soft grass beneath her feet.  There were cherries and berries to pick, pies to make, and the children's hands were always stained and sticky, their faces smiling.

On those summer mornings all the dolls would come outside along with beds, clothes, buggies.  She and her sister would create an entire world under the canopy of trees. There they would play make believe and chatter amongst themselves, dressing their babies, feeding them, putting them to sleep. Their husbands, Johnny and Roy, were firefighters, always working; it was a logical profession and suited them just fine.

Their mother would pack the children a lunch, crush ice and put it in a red plaid thermos with sweet berry juice, let them eat outside on a blanket.  Somehow these picnics were so much more special than meals indoors.

It wasn't until dusk that all the dolls would be carted in, in a little red wagon, and stored in the basement in a large brown trunk until the next play day.

How magical that time was, when imagination would determine the movement of an entire day.
    
She was so happy, this little girl, with her built in best friend sister, and she would fall asleep at night listening to crickets outside her window, dreaming of a life she would one day create.

farewell monterosso

This was the second time we took the family to stay in Monterosso.  I'm noticing that sometimes we make friends easily.  Like with the owners of the small hotel we stayed at last time, the Poggi family. By the time we returned three years later, we were like old friends.  They were asking about the kids, and wanting to hear them play music, giving us gifts, and telling us about deans of U.S. colleges that they knew, in case we needed connections.  And the waiter at the restaurant we kept returning to began to feel like a friend after the third visit.  He was our server every time -- a smiling, gentle, polite young man who had a humble way about him.  I took a picture of him, because I wanted to remember him.

During this trip to Monterosso I found several pieces of beach glass on the shores of the Ligurian Sea. One piece had a tiny word written on it.  I chose to see into it, as I tend to see into many coincidences.  Vento.  It means wind.  I wondered about the meaning of this chance find.

Our time in Monterosso was perfect.  We slept well, breathing the cool salt air.  We ate well, consuming much fresh and homemade food.  We explored.  But mostly we rested, getting a break from internet and cell phones and our daily responsibilities. Such is the blessing of a holiday.

The kids got along nicely for the most part.  They each had a little more space this time. Annabel got her own room and she was happy to play lots of music.  She brought her bass and guitar to Italy.  It was pretty amusing, and at times challenging schlepping these instruments through so many train stations and on so many airplanes.  But she played them both every day.

After four full relaxing, peaceful days in Monterosso, we were ready for a new adventure.

Places are wonderful, but for me, it's just as much about the people.  Luckily, when it's time to leave a place, I get to take my favorite people with me.

for my children~letting go of stress

Take care of it and then let it go.

I was cleaning the refrigerator one night and after I was finished I noticed a spot that I had missed. As I wiped this final spot I felt immediate relief.  Ahh, that's better, it's all clean.   Take care of it and then let it go, I said to myself.

In that simple gesture something struck me.  

How often we have little messes in life that we are faced with. 

It could be not getting along with a person.  Or feeling like you have too much to do. Too much schoolwork.  Too much technical work with your music.  Not enough down time.  If we clean (or deal with) these things immediately, we can move on.  If we leave them messy, oftentimes what happens?   More messes follow.  Your relationships suffer.  You get behind on schoolwork, and your grades can suffer.

And often we make things so much harder than they have to be.  We spend all this time worrying about things or avoiding things we don't want to do.  It's such a relief to just do it, right this second, and then let it go.

Life is beautiful and a blessing.  As Shawn just said recently, "Everything is amazing!"  But life can sometimes also feel like a series of demands that we have to do.  Homework, cleaning rooms, and chores can feel like a burden in the busy lives of kids who have so much else they like to do with their time.

So try this out, next time you feel overwhelmed in your life.

Take care of it and then let it go.

And if you're not sure how to take care of it, or you need our help, Dad and I are here for you all.

vernazza

We took a train to Vernazza and then hiked, taking in the amazing views.  It was hot, there were some blisters, but still, great great fun.

gobs of teens

Annabel's 16th party was celebrated with her friend Kaili, whose birthday is the day before Annabel's.
His mom and I hosted the party at our house.  We went shopping together for the food with Annabel and Kaili.  It was really fun.
The kids made the invitations and gave them out to, gulp, forty-five teens.  I had no idea how many kids would show up, or how they would behave at my house.  I knew many of the kids invited, but not all of them.

We put out food, lots of food.  We served chips, hummus, fruit, juices, root beer, cookies, donuts, pizza, ravioli, rice and beans, minestrone soup.  They ate pretty much all of the food.

At the height of the party I counted about thirty teens in my house and in the back yard.  They were moving around so much I couldn't get an accurate head count.

They had a lot of fun.  What a great group of kids.
Some highlights for me involved interacting with several of the teens, many of whom came in random costumes that I really couldn't quite place.  Two girls in dark robes, a boy in a yellow full body suit, another boy in a sport coat and red fez, a boy in a Mario hat.  Since I never saw the invitation, I didn't realize it was a costume party, until Annabel told me.  I thought some of them were just uniquely expressing themselves, which suited this group of kids well.  

One boy, whose parents own a restaurant, brought beautiful hors d'oeuvres that he made himself. Another brought pastries from a local bakery.  Another brought cookies.  I wasn't expecting this but it was sweet and thoughtful.

I remember several kids saying, "Thank you for having me."  I remember a boy saying, "Thanks for being such a good host," as I cleared some bowls of chips that had been eaten.  My favorite was when a boy commented on our house.  "What a lovely home you have," he said.  "I can't get over how lovely your home is.  I really like all of the artwork."
It was so cute.

They were all so cute.

Teenagers.  They really are an amazing stage of life.

Not quite adults, and yet no longer kids.

And yet very much kids.

a day in monterosso

When in Monterosso you will take a leisurely stroll and catch glimpses of colorful flowers, bursting yellow lemons, cats resting, people playing tennis on grass courts, kids playing soccer inside a large field covered by a huge net that overlooks the bright blue sea. Everywhere, in Monterosso, is the dazzling sea.  In Monterosso your children will eat the most amazing homemade pesto pasta for lunch, served with tiny twisty noodles that you rarely see in the U.S.  And a salad, with goat cheese and olives.

On this day we climbed a small mountain.  Then we took the kids across the street to the beach.  They swam far out to a large rock and jumped off, daredevils.  At the time I was hesitant to let them do this, I thought they might get hurt.  Shawn scraped his leg.  Now, months later, it seems a rite of passage.  I would allow it no problem.

After an afternoon rest we walked around town, exploring the sights.  Nighttime in the summer in Monterosso is so peaceful.  The boats are docked, the beach umbrellas are turned down, people are out strolling.  Restaurants are lively with happy chatter in many languages.  Gelato stands are filled with eager customers.  It's all a little magical.