Weathering the Storm with the WP#219

What do you write about when there really nothing is to write about. I am not about complaining about life, because life is too short to waste such energies, but sometimes I still do. It is human to find issue with things and that is normal. I want to be happy and live my life and the scales balance that way. There are days though that you simply want to throw on the woodpile and forget about, but sometimes they linger. In any case, this past week was, well routine, for the most part, work, school, library, guiding and the usual daily experiences that Rosa and I have in our crazy little world. ​

We did enjoy having a former classmate of mine from high school, arrive in Rome and we met up with him for an evening at the Yellow Bar, near Termini and close to his lodging, as well. It was nice to catch up a bit and gave him advice, well Rosa suggested the best way to conquer Rome in a day and off he went on his travels. We also bid farewell to clients of mine who had spent time here in Rome and are now in Tuscany, having left for a quick jaunt in the Cinque Terre and next week, we welcome more clients here to the Eternal City, so life continues on as usual with our routines this time of year, busy for both of us. ​

We have not received any recent emails or updates on the whereabouts of my worldly possessions, so not wanting to assume, they will arrive on land by the end of the week, but perhaps, I just jinxed it, and more delays will be on the way. Who knows. Again, I can’t get wound up on things of which I have no control. It is a funny thing though. I have not seen the stuff in nearly a year, and the same feelings of what I had felt when my stuff back in Minnesota had sat in storage for years, and realizing what there was and how reasonably easy it was to dispose of for the most part, either thrown, sold, or given away. Just things in the end. ​

Yes, do I regret some of the things I let go of when I purged myself of about 90% of my things, yes, and that is normal, but in the end, I am fine with the decision and not dwelling on it. It is just funny that this thought crossed my mind as I await the arrival of that 10% of my worldly possessions I kept and yet, if they were delayed again, or never arrived, I realize what is most important in my life and even the sentimental items, are simply that items or thing that have no real value, except to me, but have not missed them. Will they when they finally arrive, collect dust, and be kept for a reason. Most are not things used, but as you know, artwork, and the like. The decision was made, and they will arrive when they arrive and at that point, the issue will be resolved. ​

Of course, the biggest item, and this has been mentioned on several occasions is the car and all that it entails. I won’t get into the boring details again, but it will be dealt with as well. The funny thing about it is I have not driven it, in a year and it may be months before I do so again. I even, on Monday, when Rosa and I were driving around, running errands, both bureaucratic and otherwise, speaking about this. I have not missed driving and here is Rome, it is unnecessary. I know I wanted to have a vehicle for getting out, perhaps, on weekends, but even that idea has hit a wall in a way. I have to say that in the end, I jokingly said that I would sell her the vehicle for a Euro, and she laughed. She even said she liked the idea, but then she must learn to drive an automatic. I know she will in the end. ​

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I simply reiterate this story, as during our day of running errands I saw the following: a broadsided car, a driver that blew a redlight, a driver that not only did not stop at a redlight, but also turned right on a red light. While this is legal in the US and Canada for the most part, it is illegal here. I also watched a person of an advanced age literally drive the wrong way on a street, so he could get into the grocery parking lot. We also sat behind a double-parked car whose driver must have been a very advanced age, and yet, while honking to get his attention, simply sat there and did not move, which was causing a backup. Of course, there are the motorcycles, vespas and scooters constantly weaving in and out traffic every which way, regardless of the possibility of an accident they may cause and not stopping at stop signs, not signaling turns and other infractions. The police here do not stop people for these rules being broken, not to mention speeding. I even was crossing a crosswalk last night when a taxi blew threw it and did not stop, nearly hitting me, and I also noticed the driver not paying attention, and also of an advanced age. I respect my elders, but not if they are no longer capable of driving safely. ​

The pièce de résistance though, was when Rosa dropped me off at the watering hole after our outing of errands and for the better part of less than a minute getting out the bottles to be filled up with cold aqua frizzante, the people behind us, perhaps two or three cars, started honking their horns. This was not a major intersection, but a small street in our neighborhood, and they could not wait. Zero patience. It took maybe less than a minute to gather what I needed, and, in the end, these “lovely” people just thought their day was going to be ruined because 30 seconds of their lives were too important to wait with some patience. I, being, originally from New York and having had that mentality in full force once upon a time, may have understood, but not now. I have more or less adopted the Roman mentality of sticazzi, I don’t care, or perhaps, a more colorful translation. It certainly did not ruin my day. 

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When they opened up their mouths, I also responded with some choice words in English, perhaps not understood, although they must have since they responded. I also could have also used the classic hand gestures, but did not and for the record, so did my wife, yelling towards them in Italian, of course. I love my wife. Some people at the watering hole, who understood the English, and witnessed this 30 second to one minute performance had a laugh, and when I walked over there, we ended up in a nice conversation, both in English and Italian, for about 15 minutes. To the people behind our car, well, you know, nicely said, too bad, so sad. Again, other words could have been used and glad to have delayed your day for that few short minutes. You lovely people are not that important. With all this, why do I have to have an Italian Driver’s License when Italians don’t follow the rules, but I have to go to driving school, take lessons and pass a test to drive after I have been driving for over 45 years? Maybe it is time to simply give up the license. My wife says she is my taxi driver, as well. I don’t think of her as that whatsoever, her words, not mine. ​

As always, thank you, we so appreciate your support of our crazy little world, welcome you to this side of the pond for a visit, if and when you wish to be here, and, of course, remain healthy, safe, and happy, most importantly in this craziness in which we find ourselves. There will always be bumps in the road and it is how you handle them. Focus on the things you can control and let go of the things that you can’t. Life is too short to stress and while we all can’t be happy, all the time, find something that truly does make you happy and make that a focus. Your outlook will change as you stay on that path.