Weathering the Storm with the WP#117

I was thinking about what has happened in my life the past few years. Meeting Rosa, leaving Minnesota, weathering the storm of the pandemic and the business continuing the grow. It is amazing to me every day the experiences I have had these past three years and where my life has gone. I know each week I write about experiences I have the past week and about what has been. Sometimes I review a time that I wanted to re-share with those who read about my travels and travails. Doing this weekly post has become a part of life just like everything else and while sometimes it is hard to come up with ideas, writers block, I suppose, sometimes, ideas hit me as I sit down at my computer. ​

While the past few weeks, since my return from Europe have been “normal”, the personal side continues to gear up and yet, the two are intertwined. They are not mutually exclusive, but truly intertwined. Clients who left last night for Rome will be meeting with Rosa for a couple private tours in the next couple of days and she may even have a meet and greet with them today at their hotel I have arranged. Life is a combination of things made up of events that are mixed and matched. This past week was no different and as always, the driving force for me is being back across the pond with Rosa. So, I muddled through this past week, as weeks before, welcoming home clients and getting others prepared for their travels abroad and me, off on another tangent where yesterday, I flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico. ​

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I had been years and years ago, maybe 15, maybe 20, I don’t remember exactly, and it was a fam trip of sorts with a group of my colleagues from who knows where. And we went to EL Morro, Old San Juan and Ponce among other things. For me, that was the recollection of my experiences. I remember, however, some of the bad sides of those in my industry, simply wanting to come here to drink, party and shop, none of which when standing alone, are bad. However, I do remember one of the people always being late to events and one, I believe, almost missed the flight back to Miami, I believe is where this educational experience originated. In any case, I don’t have fond memories of the group. However, I do of the experiences as I enjoy history and culture, but I at that time was a “fat” man and the heat and the humidity were killer for me. Now, I come with a fresh perspective and while I have put on some pasta (or Rosa says) porketta kilos (pounds), I am still much lighter than I was years ago. ​

When I arrived yesterday from cold and rainy New England, it felt wonderful with the warmth of the island and more importantly, the warmth of the people and getting off the plane, having my bags and my driver meeting me within about 15 minutes and even with construction on the road, the room, not being ready, in the end, I was settled in by 1:00 pm give or take and even ran into a colleague or two upon arrival. I am here for business at the ASTA Global Convention and the last time I attended this event was in Dubrovnik two years ago, June. Last year’s event was in San Francisco during the summertime, but I was somewhere else, as you all know, so while I would like to have attended, I was where I wanted to be, in Rome with Rosa. The year before, we were still in the throws of the pandemic and Croatia was one of the few countries open, for the most part, so even with the restrictions and requirements, I went and so glad I did. ​

In the end and the story of my relationship with Rosa continued as it had been 16 months staying together during the pandemic during the via WhatsApp video chats and Italy had not opened yet. I had a return ticket from Zagreb, and I decided to change my ticket to return from Rome and buy a ticket to Rome. I took a huge chance at that time, but I had been determined to see her in person. I still remember that day, she was meeting me at the airport. Just like the parting of the sea and miracles like that, Italy, with restrictions, opened their borders 16 months to the day I met her, and I was able to come to Rome, the 19th of June 2021. What has happened since is for me life changing and as you know, we are engaged and while we have not set a date yet, it will happen, and I have a feeling when and a feeling where. But for now, I continue the process and the balance of my life, both personal and business to the best of my ability in these crazy times in which we live. I suppose all generations have said the same thing and my generation is no different. 
I look forward to sharing this week’s experiences here in Puerto Rico with reflections along the way from a different perspective than I had the last time I was here, years ago with some new experiences, new people and some places once seen. When my driver asked me if I had been in Puerto Rico before, and I told her it had been years, she said, quite simply, much has changed, so I am looking forward to seeing things and experiencing things anew. Something I have found myself doing as I have returned to many places, I had ventured to in years past, over the past year or two, both in America and in Europe. Maybe this is my farewell tour in North America as I make my way closer to Rosa for the long term. Only time will tell, but that is truly all we have in life is time and I plan on continuing to use it to the fullest. 
As always, stay safe, stay healthy and always look for the best in a situation and be patient as the best things in life are worth waiting for. Thank you as always for your support of my crazy little world and my small business. As always, I look forward to your comments, questions, concerns and continuing the discourse through whichever means you read my posts!!!