​Weathering the Storm with the WP#213

What do you write about when you have nothing to write about, when the week gone by had nothing urgent, spectacular, or even, to a point amusing or poignant. That is what this past week has been, nothing of real note. Compared to what I hear goes on across the pond, my life is a bore, not to the point of boring as there is always something to do, just nothing pops in my mind that was as Rosa would say, super wow. And I guess that is a good thing. I know I have shared pigeons and parrots and cormorants in the everyday moments here in Rome and probably described the morning commute on the metro or the busses. I have tried to backtrack in my mind for even a nugget of excitement, and, unfortunately, nothing. ​

Of course, if there was a mentionable, I would mention it. Off even maybe, if it was an unmentionable, I may mention it. When I am home, I hear the birds, the traffic and the horns blaring constantly, as if honking one’s horn will move things along. I sometimes, from my kitchen window, as I am enjoying my first tea of the day, watch out the traffic “patterns”. The conclusion, this is none. It is constant chaos, and the stop signs mean nothing and neither do yield signs. Remember, right now, I still don’t drive here, not that Rosa did not say, I couldn’t drive her car, but there is no need. I take the sardine cans to the schools, the corporate office and to my private lessons. When my car finally does arrive, in a few weeks’ time, there will be more bureaucratic red tape. ​

Had I mentioned in previous posts that I may have to swap out all of my glass to conform to the European standards. If I had known this almost a year ago, I would have sold my car, let my license expire and, as Rosa has eloquently stated, be my taxi driver on those rare occasions, but I did not, so on the 17th of April, it lands in Naples, and sometime after that, it will be brought to Fiumicino, where the next process will happen. Wouldn’t you think there would be an international standard for glass quality on motor vehicles, but the vehicle has to pass muster and while I am waiting, unless the glass has an “E” on it for the EU standard, this will be another cost on top of all the others to date. ​

Did I tell you that this summer, I hope to be driving again, perhaps on weekends and laugh at all this craziness, but always more to come. In the end, what has to be done, has to be done and no sense arguing about something about which I have no control. Besides, by the time, I get to drive my car again, it will have been a year since it was last driven. I wonder, given the drops of gas in it, it will even start, and I am sure I will have to have a mechanic here in Italy look at it to make sure it is even drivable. I have only driven once since I was here and that was last July when Rosa and I went to Catania, but that is ancient news. ​

I will have to say that the crowds here in Rome are getting larger and larger. I will also have to say that it is nice to see the Romans working to make their city look nicer. Of course, it took them 25 years to do something since the last Vatican Jubilee was in 2000. Have to been to the Vatican to experience the doors opened. No, and don’t plan to, but then, I am not a pilgrim, but I am sure there are 1000’s who have and will be doing between now and the end of the year and even now, as I mentioned in the middle of April, the crowds, lines, and prices are getting greater, but there experiences to b had here in the Eternal City, so come join the party. Clients of mine from back in the states are going to be arriving in May and beyond, so it will, fortunately, be a very busy, busy travel season. Of course, I have clients traveling to other countries, as well, but Italy, as you can imagine.

Oh, did I mention unmentionables. Guys, or girls, have you worn your spouse’s or significant other clothes. My wife likes to wear my shirts, jackets, socks and occasionally, my shorts and pants, sweats and sweatpants, I mean. I am bigger than her as you well know, but for some reason she likes to wear these baggy things on her. Is this normal? I guess I just do not remember this in my past and I would not normally in proper conversations or in a blog post bring it up, but when I said to her, I am having writer’s block, not I did not say that. I said that this week I had nothing to say, she mentioned this. She also mentioned that finally, the leaves are returning to the trees here in Rome, so it is getting greener. It is spring and there were March showers. I know that does not jive with the April showers, May flowers thing, but again, this blog is all over the place, filling in with bits and pieces. 
Well, maybe I should quit, since I have reached the second page of basically nothing said and perhaps some repeats. I really should not complain that is was a “normal” week, trip planning, document preparation, teaching at the middle school and at an elementary school for the first time as a sub last Friday and cooking, cleaning, listening to music, to my wife, a little reading and truly glad that I am here in Italy and not back stateside. I suspect, if and when I return there sometime in the future, this year or next, I won’t recognize what I see and truthfully, except the occasional sweep of not being to hang out with friends there. 
I don’t miss it at all, really. I can pick up the phone and speak with people any time I want, time changes notwithstanding. I have gotten to know some people here, albeit not friends, but acquaintances and I have conversations at the school with other expats. Come to visit us here in Rome. Italians still love the American people even if the piles of poop in America continue to pile up. I know in I posts I have seen, and read, some of said, if you don’t like what is happening here, if you don’t like it, leave. Well, I have, but I did this well before any of the real shit hit the fan and for a totally different reason and for the right one. I did not have a crystal ball, and most have said, don’t come back. It is terrible. I don’t know, but before I hated the Italian bureaucracy. Now, I would take it over the insanity of what is happening across the pond. How it will impact me in the short term, I don’t know, nor for the long term, for that matter. 
I just want to be happy, and I guess I have become more Italian, so Sti Cazzi. As each bureaucratic mess presents itself, Rosa and I will deal with it, one thing at a time. Funny thing, my wife, seems to be becoming more American in some ways, so our lives are becoming more intertwined each and every day and bills to pay. Thank you as always for your support of our always crazy life here in Roma. Take things one day at a time and make sure to stay healthy, safe, and most important, happy. I guess I had more to say than I thought I did before today’s start. I guess I was inspired after my lunch or pizza and suppli and my time at the middle school with the kids.

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