my last monterosso post :(

I want to remember the friendliness of this place; the feeling of the cool, crisp, salty Ligurian Sea on a hot day, much colder than the water at home; the green, pink, black, and terra cotta colors of the polished stones that lay at our feet when we walked along the beach, and how much fun it was to gather some every day; the sound of the lapping sea rocking us to sleep at night, with our room shutters open, no screens on the windows; the sweet Italian family that hosted our stay in a hotel, who said farewell with a bottle of wine and a handmade ceramic dish, and treated us more like family than patrons, when Andrea, the hotel owner, gave me the regional recipe pesto; tasting this pesto that night; what it was like to take a 90% break from my computer for six days; hand washing socks and hanging them to dry on the deck; homemade watermelon sorbet; the farmers market with an array of produce, beautiful scarves, linen and cotton clothes, jewelry; getting a hiatus from cars and buses; and the smell of the air where the land meets the sea.

We will be back someday, God willing.  Meanwhile my prayers go to the people of this remote village as they rebuild parts of their town.

 our hotel, La Spiaggia Hotel
our rooms, first floor, including balcony on the right

cinque terre~more monterosso

More memories from our trip to Monterosso al Mare.  These shots were taken on our fourth day.  We stayed in Monterosso the entire day, exploring, hiking to the top of a mountain, swimming, eating, taking photos, and shopping.  By then, we were on first name basis with the hotel owner and staff, and an afternoon swim was part of the routine.  A bunch of Italian girls were playing water volleyball and Shawn joined right in.

brave

Today is Veteran's Day, 11-11-11.  A day to honor courage and honor the honorable.

It's important to be brave.  I tell this to my children.  I tell this to myself.  Am I brave?  I don't know.  In the times of my life I have had to face adversity, I hope I have done it with courage.

A couple of days ago I confronted someone who was mistreating my family.  That took courage.

Then today in the dentist's office I read an article about Jackie Kennedy.  Puts life into perspective.  Talk about brave.
 
Tonight I am thinking about my friend who has a daughter with special needs who has been struggling.  I went to visit them this summer.  I was having a hard day and she invited me into her home and fed me cheese and crackers and gave me some tea.  She was so loving.  She has this beautiful, cheerful old home with a mudroom that you enter through.  She told me of her dream to have the mudroom one day converted into a studio for her, as she is a writer.  But right now the money is going to other things, like braces, and doctor bills, and that studio feels like an unachievable dream.  Right now she is taking care of her family and making soup and driving the kids places and holding her daughter while she has seizures and worried and trying to be spiritual and trust in the universe and be BRAVE.

Tonight my thoughts also go a good friend I know who suffers quite silently.  
    
Maybe being brave means having hope and faith, even when things feel hopeless.  Never giving up.  Maybe that's what it means to be brave.   

To all of the people who face adversity with courage, hope, optimism, and strength.  Especially you, E.  And all the people who fought in battles to defend their fellow citizens from harm.  My dad, who as a young man joined the U.S. Marines.  I bow down to your bravery.

cinque terre~monterosso and vernazza

We traveled to a nearby town called Vernazza and discovered a smoothie bar/gelato place that was some of the best we have ever had.  And a pizza place.  Another beautiful sleepy town where boats in every color were docked and gently rocking in a bay like dozing old men, with half smiles on their faces.

There are no more beautiful combinations of colors than the palate of the Cinque Terre.  Look, my children are singing God's praises.  No I think that actually was in anticipation of another meal!! 

corner view~home sweet home

Homemade apple pies, a welcome cloudy afternoon, a freshly painted new screen door, Annabel making red sauce, local rainbow in town, table set for guests, freshly squeezed limeaid with agave nectar, and Dario's painting reflected in Gary's piano, the sounds of the instrument echoing throughout our home.

These days, these are the signs of home.

happy halloween!

This year Halloween involved spending time with friends -- a middle school dance, a party, trick-or-treating (complete with a neighborhood cookout open to everyone who came through!), a school festival, a little artwork (Shawn's class won third place in the overall schoolwide contest), and a pumpkin carving contest.  In the contest, I voted for the lotus flower.