​Weathering the Storm with the WP#171

“Leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again….”. Thank you, Peter, Paul and Mary, at least the version I knew, but written by John Denver. I was inundated with folk music. This is before I embraced Rock & Roll even to this day, on AM and FM radio, as a teenager, some 50 years ago now. Yes, it is a goodbye song. For me, yes, saying goodbye to America as home, but I am still connected, and most importantly, Io sono molto felice!!! It is true and it is so near to the departure date, and more importantly, the arrival date, I can taste it. Leaving on a jet plane and for a different reason, one with joy and happiness. As I write this, my impending departure from New Hampshire this morning, the next step of my journey, with a couple of detours enroute, New Jersey first, and then the UK, it is here. The last steppingstones to being in Italy with my wife and becoming an Italian permanent resident and who knows what else in years to come, but one step at a time.  What was a thought of becoming an ex-pat, years and years ago, even before meeting Rosa, is coming to fruition. It was something on my mind to go back to the old country, years and years ago, but to one of the countries of my ancestry, be it Poland or perhaps Hungary, but Italy was never on the radar. When these thoughts were on my mind, I was in a totally different place, and one that was not so good, perhaps looking for a place to escape. ​

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The difference now, and well documented over the past 4 + years, is falling in love with my now wife, on that fateful February day, in 2020, the growing relationship through the pandemic, the opportunity to finally come back to Europe 16 months later to continue the relationship, living in Rome the past few summers, the engagement and finally, the wedding just 4 short months ago, today. And now, the reality is settling in that, si, si, si, I will be in Italy in a little over 2 weeks’ time and my life will continue there where I truly feel at home. I am moving forward and not running away as perhaps, before meeting Rosa, I was doing. My travels were on many occasions, running away from my then reality. Now, I have everything to look forward to in my life, one where I am emotionally, mentally, and physically ready for the challenge and being optimistic about the possibilities. I am definitely at the right stage in my life to handle this major change. Home is where the heart is, and you all know where that is for me!!!

If I had to look back on this last week, really, it was no different that the past few weeks. A bit more downsizing, packed the last few boxes, returned them to the storage unit which I will be unloading this morning into the U-Haul trailer. I had done this, as I knew the items I still had in my possession, and removed yesterday, could not totally be packed into the SUV. So, what is actually left, now safely packed in the SUV are the actual bags, I am traveling with to Europe in a couple days, and about 5 boxes of last-minute things, including kitchen items and office supplies, that will be shipped overseas by year’s end which is fine. Items in the storage unit are being delivered to the New Jersey shipping location today, mostly sentimental. The items that could be used now, still really not needed, as Rosa and I have basics to use. We will be living in an apartment downstairs from momma until the condo is ready to move in, so not having the items to be shipped, including my vehicle, being received until later this year is just fine.

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It gives us time to move into our new digs without the added stress, we both know will arise, and try to focus on what is necessary for our life together to move forward. Something which I am extraordinarily excited about if you could not tell 😊!!! Two plus months away from Rosa has been tough and even more so, the past few weeks, where I have been fully under control with the business, have not been the distraction I have needed to not think about not being able to be with her. Now that I am about to hit the road and take the next step, I have other distractions, including getting to the storage unit safely, unloading, returning the U-Haul locally, getting to the airport tomorrow, and then flying across the pond on Friday. My time in the UK will be a distraction, both business and personal, and looking forward to sharing new possible experiences to share, and better yet, being only an hour time difference away from her.  It is very real, and I am on my way to where I want to be with the countdown continuing and more to share. ​

As always, I hope you have enjoyed my offerings each week and appreciate that you have read my blog posts and look forward to continuing with sharing. As always, thank you so much for your support of Rosa’s and my little world now that they have been merged into one and in a few weeks, from the old world. We truly appreciate your support and congratulations. Stay safe, healthy, and most importantly happy, and as always, your shared comments and thoughts are most welcome!!!