​Weathering the Storm with the WP#194

July 4th and Thanksgiving Day. Two of the most important holidays on the American calendar. As you know, I arrived in Italy on Independence Day and tomorrow, yes, tomorrow, as I write this post on the train back from Venice, where I spent the past few days at BITESP, a travel trade conference is Thanksgiving Day. In years past, neither holiday really struck me as terribly important and I was on the road a lot, sometimes, domestically, sometimes internationally, and found a restaurant that had a Thanksgiving buffet or dinner, what have you, as really my family, as you well know was distant both physically and otherwise. Not now, however, as my family is here in Italy and specifically Roma. I have become an expat, or perhaps an expat in process, as the bureaucratic situation progresses. In any case, my return to the states anytime soon, at this time, is not in the cards.

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What is really important, for me, is to have my Italian family over for an American Thanksgiving, which while decades ago, perhaps, was a traditional thing for me, really disappeared, but now, in a totally different setting, I want to revive. Of course, the condo is functional, if not complete and while work continues, this is something to help me connect even more to my home and family. I am in this for the long haul and sharing this one day, and cooking a complete turkey dinner with as many of the adapted trimmings as possible is what I will be doing when I get back home.

Rosa did some of the shopping today as I believe she has some items she wants to make, not traditional, of course, but I am cooking the bulk of the meal, including stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots (glazed), green beans with almonds etc. etc. etc. You get the idea and we will pick up the star of the show tomorrow morning, since I am quite sure, our frigo won’t hold a 7 to 8 kilos turkey, and the other items at the same time, which we ordered last week. No, they don’t stock hundreds of turkeys, since it is not an Italian holiday. And the list of ingredients is substantial, but it is nice to get fresh veggies at the local open air market.

Amazingly enough, we should have enough chairs, and combining our kitchen table and our other table, which was her nonno’s, and previously used in the kitchen, before we got our new one, a few weeks ago, and combining two different sets of plates, we should have enough for a service or 7 and maybe 8. Rosa was going to invite the family and several friends, but whittled the list down to momma, her two sisters, two brothers-in-law, she and I, making 7, but if Pamela brings, Artu, which is fine as he is family, it will be 8, but only 7 at the two combined tables. In any case, he is family also, and isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about, so we shall see.

As with my time at Pamela’s house for Pasqua these past two Easters, there will be lots of food, hopefully enough and no, no pasta, unless Rosa has something in mind. I hope my Italian family’s palates can handle and appreciate the offerings, some traditional, some offshoots, but made with love for this first Thanksgiving in Italy. I will be doing my best on this and it will be a balancing act. Actually, not even sure when everyone is coming over. Only momma and Rosa have eaten my cooking, and having, many, many years ago, worked professionally in restaurants, I am confident I can pull this off, with or without a sous chef. Fingers crossed as my wife would say.

The meetings the past few days we good as there were suppliers representing almost all the regions of Italy and I return back to Rome with lots of new and exciting ideas to potentially incorporate into customized programs for my clients, such a boating in the Po Delta, or a scenic train around Mt. Etna, or a sturgeon caviar farm near Lake Garda. Did you know that Italy produced caviar. Actually, they are the number one or number two producer in the world, not Russia or other very well known caviar producing countries in the world. So, for those ready to come to, or return to my adopted home, there are so many unique experiences beyond the usual and you can even plant and adopt olive trees in Calabria and when the olive oil is produced, it can be private labeled. I plan on doing this, and who knows, someday, or 4 to 5 years from now, you may see small batches of Wandering Puffin olive oil, and also supports the local community, as well, so overall, it has been a good week, even with the daily stresses of life, but I am truly thankful for what I have and this Thanksgiving, especially. Oh, and wish me luck with the festivities and response to tomorrow’s meal which culturally, is extremely different from anything, I believe my family has or will have experienced.
To everyone, thank you for your support of Rosa and crazy world which, each day, is a challenge, but one worth continuing. I am thankful for her presence in my life as I do not know where I would be without her. She truly is the best thing to ever happen to me, and one which I truly appreciate. Having a family to share what I hope is the first of many Thanksgivings together means the world to me and to everyone in the states and other expats who got their turkeys, or ham or whatever your choice, have a wonderful, happy and healthy Thanksgiving wherever you may be. It is truly the simple things in life that are most important.