Right place, right time!

Sometimes it's about being in the right place at the right time. Today was one of those days. Today, July 9th is the Feast of San Pancrazio, the Patron Saint of Taormina. 

We were on our way home when we wandered down to the church of the city namesake, San Pancrazio. A full mass was just about to start so we stayed. It was a neat experience to be outside attending mass before a big procession. Everyone was there including the mayor! 

After mass, a bunch of men from the parish took the statue around the town as part of the procession. The local band came to the church and helped to lead the procession. 

This experience was very neat for me especially because we don't really have anything like this in the U.S. We certainly try very hard to keep church and state separate. 

It definitely was a great cultural experience! 

"It does not exist that..."

"It does not exist that you come to Italy and don't come to Sicily". These were the words, directly translated, when I told my Sicilian friend that I was coming to Italy this summer and I didn't know if I was going to see her. For the last few months, I would recall her email and think "who in their right mind would deny a Sicilian woman after that kind of "request""?! 

Well, I've made it to Sicily and all I can say is "I'm glad I gave into her demand". As the bus slowly approached the familiar area of Taormina, I could feel my level of anticipation rising rapidly. When I finally got off the bus and saw her standing there, all we could do is hug, kiss and cry! 

We came back to her house and it was like I've never left.  We had a great time catching up. Now, don't think that catching up means going back a year. No, I'm only talking about a month which is the longest we've gone without talking and the only reason it's been a month is because the last two weeks I didn't have Internet access. 

The crowning touch of our first few hours together- she pulled out a Diet Coke and gave it to me after dinner! She remembered that last year I had to have my addiction every night so she made sure to have one chilled and ready to go for me tonight. And that beautiful little gesture,  my friends, is a sign of Sicilian love. 

The 4th of July Tigulian style

Last night, I had the opportunity to watch a fireworks display on July 3rd from a boat on the Tigulian coast. It was interesting to me that the display was on the 3rd. I asked around trying to find out what the show was in honor of, if anything. No one seemed to know with certainty. 

I couldn't help but wonder if the awesome display of fireworks wasn't in some way a tribute to the U.S. It's true that most Italians have an affinity for the U.S. The Italians that I talked to who were born around World War II make no bones about how the "U.S. saved Italy". It gives me great pride to hear such kind words from people who live in another part of the world. So many times we say "Why do we need to be the police officer for the world?". Well I would say as good of reason as any is because the world counts on the U.S. to be the last hope. When real people from other parts of the world say to you "if it weren't for your country, I don't know where we would be." It really does put things in perspective. 

God Bless America- the land that I love for so many reasons! We are definitely not perfect but there many around the world that love us and what we stand for- imperfections and all!

Passeggiata

What is it with Italy and the passeggiata? I find myself longing for my evening stroll when I'm here. It's very strange. I'll run in the morning like I usually do and then, in the evening I feel the need to go for a stroll. I take a passeggiata before dinner and after. Sure, I enjoy the exercise but it's more than that. I like to see other people walking about on their evening stroll. Occaisionally, I'll even do a little eavesdropping to see what the latest topic of conversation is. I love it when I run into a couple with their children in tow. It takes me back in time to before we had high-tech games and the Internet and families actually spent quality time together in the evening rather than gulping down their meal and heading for the favorite electronic toy. 

The Italian mother

Much has been said about the Italian mom-this week I got to experience it for better or worse ;-)

Last night at dinner, I couldn't think about taking another bite of my food. My host mom wouldn't take no for an answer. The result- let's just say it wasn't pretty. I don't know that I'll ever be able to have panna cotta again! 

This morning I woke up to her demanding my laundry! Why don't you give me your laundry, Lisa? " oh Maria, I couldn't!". Long story short, for the first time in almost 40 years someone besides me is doing my laundry! I'm not sure how I feel about that. When I told her that most kids in the U.S. start doing laundry as soon as they're able to reach the knob to turn on the washer. She asked " the boys too?!". Yes, the boys too. We are all equal :-)