There is something new to be discovered every day - food, places, words, things about people, feelings, likes, dislikes, things about yourself. This week I had conversations with people from Taiwan, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, Turkey, and (of course) Italy. I am awed by the spirit each individual conveys, no matter how brief or how lengthy the chats. Each interaction increases this profound awareness of how 'in the box' I really have been all my life. It's like someone opened the doors to an entire chocolate shop (not just a 'box of chocolates,' Mr. Gump) and said, "Try it. Try it all. And don't just eat it. Smell it. Notice the texture on your tongue. Really feel it and savor every moment of it."
This isn't just about my outing myself (and apparently some friends) from the Nutella closet. Albeit I didn't know there was a Nutella closet until recently.
It's about discovering opportunities that present themselves to us in life, and in talking with people who find ways to experience as much of the world as they can. I so admire their open minds, their desire to navigate the gamut of experiences, and in one case, a lady taking the chocolate class to learn about chocolate, although she doesn't even like chocolate. She wants to know what the allure is. She wants to understand why a good Cabernet is porn in a glass for me - and what it is she doesn't understand about it. I applaud that spirit.
And here I thought I was just being adventurous going to the other side of the river today to shop in a different market, have coffee in a different Pasticceria, buy toilet paper in a different grocery store. I walked home with my lettuce about falling out of my canvas bag back across the river thinking of all the new-found joys of just the last two weeks, and how lucky I am to recognize when I'm being called to turn myself loose in a candy store of experiences.
Now, back to my homework. Which really doesn't feel like work at all. Reading about what I love, or as someone told me yesterday outside the Medieval walls of Montalcino, "It's like wine for you is a romance." I think it's more of a love affair with my new life and all it represents.
I also think the older woman across the street who can see directly into my apartment when the windows are open thinks I have a problem with alcohol. Every time she opens her shutters, she sees me with a glass, a bottle, and typing on a computer. I just smile and wave, and she closes her shutters again. This is my sweet, sweet life, grandma - I hope everyone gets to taste this someday.
This isn't just about my outing myself (and apparently some friends) from the Nutella closet. Albeit I didn't know there was a Nutella closet until recently.
It's about discovering opportunities that present themselves to us in life, and in talking with people who find ways to experience as much of the world as they can. I so admire their open minds, their desire to navigate the gamut of experiences, and in one case, a lady taking the chocolate class to learn about chocolate, although she doesn't even like chocolate. She wants to know what the allure is. She wants to understand why a good Cabernet is porn in a glass for me - and what it is she doesn't understand about it. I applaud that spirit.
And here I thought I was just being adventurous going to the other side of the river today to shop in a different market, have coffee in a different Pasticceria, buy toilet paper in a different grocery store. I walked home with my lettuce about falling out of my canvas bag back across the river thinking of all the new-found joys of just the last two weeks, and how lucky I am to recognize when I'm being called to turn myself loose in a candy store of experiences.
Now, back to my homework. Which really doesn't feel like work at all. Reading about what I love, or as someone told me yesterday outside the Medieval walls of Montalcino, "It's like wine for you is a romance." I think it's more of a love affair with my new life and all it represents.
I also think the older woman across the street who can see directly into my apartment when the windows are open thinks I have a problem with alcohol. Every time she opens her shutters, she sees me with a glass, a bottle, and typing on a computer. I just smile and wave, and she closes her shutters again. This is my sweet, sweet life, grandma - I hope everyone gets to taste this someday.
Comments
Post a Comment
All entries are strictly observations from my point of view. This blog is not intended as professional commentary on travel, wine, food, or any other subjects I discuss - it is for entertainment, an online journal, for my friends, family, and anyone interested in my stories or journey in general.
Therefore, I reserve the right to delete comments for any reason, including those that are malevolent or inflammatory toward myself or other commenters.
That said, thank you for reading, and sharing what motivates you.