Aftermath

The trip is over with. Now comes hours of reviewing and posting pictures. Not unpleasant as it refreshes memories and feelings but time consuming. Everyone wants stories and what is your favorite.....

I was working on a favorites page in my little travel book. Best Shower (other than J&G house was The Carlton in London...odd but really good. GiraSole was the best bed (other than J&G house). GiraSole and The City Guest House in Rome were my favorite away from home stays. GiraSole for the vineyards, the beautiful rooms and setting. City for the view of the aquaduct and the rooftop breakfast. My favorite churches were Siena and Santa Croce. There was no way to choose best pizza, pasta, meal, seafood...each was different and wonderful. Best bread was La Lanterna but I would not want it every day...I could take the bread from Ribot everyday.

And so I sit, here in La Mesa, eating truffle pecorino and honey while my flat bread pizza bakes. My mother tells me that the dog often had an empty dish while I was gone and wants to know if I am buying some more CostCo chicken and tuna. I ask her what the real question is and she of course does that Huh! thing, knowing full well what her intention is. We manage to get to the point using behavioral interventions learned at work. I don't care what happened here and I would leave again tomorrow if I had all the money in the world. Mabel would be placed in a nice retirement home in Vermont and I would be free.

But for now I cook semi-Italian meals and have my Limoncello and chocolate and re-live my wonderful vacation.

Thank you to Jessica and Greg for the best 3 weeks of my life!