During Rome Week I mentioned that my husband and I had the opportunity to attend Mass in Saint Peter’s Square. Although the day was gray and windy, we were thrilled to encounter none other than Vatican City’s own Pope Benedict XVI, who was both leading the Mass and Canonizing five new saints. I’ve always been...Read More
Over the last few months I’ve shared some interesting things Italians do that seem, well … funny to me. From offering us fruit from our own tree to cutting tree limbs from beneath their children, the Italians I live among seem to keep me on my toes. And it is a good thing. I like...Read More
I make no effort to hide the fact that my favorite child in this world is my 8-year old nephew, Cole. – Friends who have never met him ask about him. – An Italian neighbor of mine called her granddaughter “Baby Cole” because she assumed it was the English word for “baby” because “I couldn’t...Read More
Of all of the American holidays, none is more important – or more heartbreaking to miss – than Thanksgiving. My hugely over-populated Catholic family all gathers around the table at my grandparent’s house in Honey Island, Texas – a suburb of the large metropolis of Kountze – and overeats, watches football, catches up on everyone’s...Read More
Sila, or La Sila in Italiano, is the name of the mountain range located in Calabria that encompasses three of Calabria’s provinces – Catanzaro, Cosenza and Crotone. Sila Piccola, or Little Sila is the name of the mountain range near Catanzaro – talk about charming … I went last week to celebrate my 1st anniversary...Read More
See that tree? It has been standing just outside my house since long before this house was my house. And see that fruit? Here’s a closeup. Do you know what those are? They are persimmons or as we say in Italian – cachi. The precarious fruit arrives in late September and for many a kaki...Read More
Everyone stop what you are doing – drop that coffee! I need your help. I just lost years of my life and I don’t know where they went. Although it doesn’t seem possible, my favorite nephew turns eight tomorrow and WOW! Where did those years go? Although I know it is wrong to covet thy...Read More
And no. Not “that” kind of girlfriend … more like this kind. I’m asked at least once by each new group of friendly B&Bers how I made the transition from southeast Texas to southern Italy. My response? “… tougher than I ever imagined.” There are endless considerations involved with a decision to relocate to a...Read More
With airline companies folding, nickel-and-diming loyal customers and checking their customer service manners at the gate it is good to know we still have Southwest Airlines. In the US, at least. If you’ve ever flown Southwest, you know their flight attendants have fun keeping bored airline passengers on the edge of their seats. Instead of...Read More
It’s no secret Italy abounds with natural beauty, stunning people and ageless architecture. And the food ain’t bad, either. But what goes on behind the scenes? Where do the stereotypes end and the real Italy begin? Frequent visitors to the bel paese have witnessed death-defying collisions on Italian roadways, know you can’t find a decent,...Read More
