Weathering the Storm with the WP#96

​I am sitting here in the ITA lounge awaiting my flight back to the states and write this post with a very heavy heart. I have just spent the past 5 weeks on the road here in Europe and the last 10 days with Rosa, here in Roma, and last week in Venice, Gorizia and Trieste, as you know. The 6 nights here in Roma were much too short and now, it may be until April when I see her again.

She just dropped me off less than an hour ago, yet, it seems like an eternity. I don’t want to keep doing this, but simply stay here and my goal, stronger than ever, is to move here and be with her. She knows it and I have reiterated this many times as everyone knows. Each time we part, a bigger piece of my heart stays here in Rome. I know it will happen; yet, it can’t happen soon enough. She and I will be very busy in the next few months sorting this out, but my goal is single minded, to be here.

The few days we had together here in Rome were truly wonderful. We spent the first two days exploring the bowels, sorry, the underground of the Colosseum, which I had never done before, not only with Rosa, but momma. It was wonderful. She is a retired teacher and it was fun to experience, not just the underground, but their interactions. We enjoyed the morning, into the early afternoon, parted ways, momma heading home, Rosa to the library where she works, when she is not guiding. We had taken an apartment near her momma this time, so we could walk there, which we did.

The next day, we met up and experienced the Roman Forum, again, Rosa, momma and I and the interactions were wonderful. It was so much fun and I truly saw things from a totally different perspective. It also strengthened our relationship. The weather those two days was also fantastic and that was good as the next two days, it poured and poured and poured. Turned out to be this past Saturday and Sunday, so she and I stayed in and simply enjoyed time together. The exception, both nights, we attended two birthday parties of her friends, one at a friend’s house and last night, an all you can eat Japanese restaurant. Both were fun, and fortunately, English was spoken in part as the Italian hasn’t come as quickly as I would like. In any case, I learned more and more each day.

In the end of these 5 weeks, I reflect on the many people I met, reconnected with, business and personal and I feel this was a very successful trip. Learned some things, closed some old wounds, cleared the slate in others, experienced new destinations and will use these experiences to my advantage moving forward personally and professionally.  Certainly ate well during my time on the road and now able to get into somewhat of a routine again, until I hit the road again, which, as you all know, will happen sooner than later.
Thank you as always for your support of this wandering puffin and keep up the optimism in this crazy world in which we live. Stay safe and stay healthy as we approach the holiday season!!!