Trotting globally
Or, as it seems,
galloping.
Indeed, I was in Italy last
week. !!
As I said in the office Tuesday
morning... "36 hours ago I was floating in the Adriatic Sea. Now I am in Midtown
in an office."
Anyway.
My slight snippet of a point tonight.. I
am the worst kind of closet romantic you will ever meet. Also, slightly
relatedly, I frequently tell myself I was born in the wrong era.
I wanted to go to Venice, but part of my
not going was motivated by the fact that there are so many flipping tourists,
and not elegant tourists but ugly loud ill dressed obnoxious ones teeming
through the canals (or so my imagination believes...) that I almost don't want
to go, as it would spoil in my mind the last and greatest place of romance alive
in the world. OK, admittedly I've watched too many period pieces, like Wings of
the Dove, but. I believe in that elegance.
I have this sensibility of Europe; when
I lived in Paris, I only spoke in French, even with my roommate, so that no one
could peg us as American. As Henry James wrote, "I am too American myself, and
lack juices." So when I'm in Europe, everyone thinks I'm German and that is
alright. I dress not in US attire; I observe. I speak in hushed tones if I'm
speaking at all in English, and it's lovely. (Except if the people I'm with
don't speak great ____. ) I made this resolution many years ago to never travel
to a European or South American country without having at least a passable
knowledge of the language. (Not to discriminate, but it's a lot easier to learn
Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese vs. Mandarin. Although Arabic is fairly
easy..) Anyway.
I'm still digesting my
trip; I haven't had time to really reflect, though, as I've had to hit the
ground running. I'm really happy, however, and enjoying the pace of things, and
what is happening in my life. I feel like a lot of burdens have been eased, and
I'm finally growing into myself...
Also,
Happy 60th birthday to my wonderful of all wonders, my father. His selflessness
and generosity of spirit ground me every day, and make me proud to know him.
But, bedtime for me, more to come (will
be in Nashville next week before going to California, so will have time to write
and reflect..)
Arrivederci, ciao --
Alla prossima, ragazzi.
Posted: Friday - June 23, 2006 at 02:01 AM
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