March 1 - April 7, 2015 Spring, my favorite time of the year !

March 1 - April 7, 2015   Spring, my favorite time of the year !

March 1, Sunday

Another lovely first day of the week and and first day of the month.  The usual routine at Caputo's.  Had a wonderful lunch again and spent the day with them.  Freda and Maria both there also. After evening gospel meeting, Giacinto gave me a ride home.  Poor fellow, I practice my Italian on the ride home... he speaks no English, so whatever I said he at least pretended to understand me :)

 Luigi and Ale

Arrived home tired as usual also, but a good tired and should sleep good tonight.  Did not have a very good rest the night before, so looking forward to a great rest.

March 2, Monday
And it was.  Now up hitting the studies, then a nice walk.

March 3, Tuesday
The routine,  but this afternoon, I walked to the train and met up with Freda to go to the study at Capurso.  Mario brought us home.  I had him let me out a few blocks from home as I wanted to stop at the coffee market.  Found some organic beans I've been wanting to try.  Home about 8pm, then a bite to eat.

 They have been working on this fountain since before I arrived in August last year.  And today when I was on my walk to the train, they had it finished and working!  On the opposite side is the school.  This is very close to my apartment.

 This is Pena's home where we go on Tuesday evenings.  Mario is Pena's nephew.

Maria had another therapy session with her arm today.  Luigi is so good to take her to the doctor, train, etc.  He is soooo busy in his work... crazy hours.  Works sometimes more than 12 hours per day, however, he stops quite often to give the sisters a ride to their doctor appointments or the train, or to pick them up from the train when they return.  He loves doing this.  He has such a big heart !  Lovely to see.  Maria goes to her doctor up near Pescara on Thursday, so will not be here on Thursday.   Freda and I will go to Manfredonia on Friday. Maria will meet us in Manfredonia on Sunday or Monday.

March 4, Wednesday
Lunch at Mafalda's canceled today, as she is still not feeling well.  She took sick Sunday evening.  Hope it is nothing serious!  Studies this morning and now off to catch the bus to go to Caputo's for the bible study.

March 5, Thursday
Walked to Freda's where Luigi picked us up at 5:15 and took us to our study at Catherine's.  Back home about 8pm.  Got a call in the evening that the man of the home where Freda and I were to go for the weekend is now in the hospital, so our weekend plans have been canceled for now.

Friday & Saturday, it rained most of these days, so I stayed in and studied, worked on taxes, and my computer.  Did laundry and cleaned.  Nothing exciting or unusual.

March 6 - 18.

Days and days of routine... study, walk, grocery shop, go places, catch buses, catch trains, nothing out of the ordinary.  Tuesdays to Capurso, Wednesdays to Mafalda's for lunch, then to Caputo's for bible study.  Thursdays to Modugno.  Sundays at Caputo's then Mafalda's in the evenings.  Saturdays are skype days with my family, so besides cleaning and laundry, and preparing for Sunday, that is about all I get accomplished on Saturdays.

March 8th was my baby brothers birthday, so Saturday, we skyped and his wife and I talked for almost an hour and half.  Love that girl!  Oh, yes, and my brother :)  He is 10 years younger than me minus less than one month.

Also, during this time, I continued working on my taxes.  Yippee!  What we all love to do !  The long arm of Uncle Sam still reaching out to me even continents away !

I am sure there were other things happening during this time, but 'old brains don't retain' !  Then...



March 10th, received news that my dear friend Sharon had passed away after battling lung cancer for over three years.  She had never smoked a day in her life and had never worked around second hand smoke.  Most of this I posted on facebook, but for those who do not have facebook, I will repost here.

Below are posts from her husband and daughter.Posted from her Husband: Following an incredible, joyful, but short journey of nearly 36 1/2 years, which began in a brief private service at the Chatham County Courthouse, Savannah, Ga in 1978, the love of my life passed away quietly and peaceably this afternoon in our home. My sincere thanks and appreciation to you, her "Fighting for Sharon Wierwille" FB followers and well-wishers, who have kept her strong and encouraged these past 3 years and 9 months. Thank you! - DonPosted from her Daughter: Mommy passed away at 1:07 pm this afternoon peacefully in her sleep. She's the most amazing mommy anyone could ask for, and more full of love than anyone I've ever met. While were very sad that she has left us, we're happy that she can now rest after an incredible fight. Thank you to every single one of you for your constant support and love throughout her journey. - Stephanie

In memory of Sharon Goodlaxson Wierwille


Just before I left the US, I made a point of going to see her.  I was fearful that would be the last time.

Sharon and I in Aug. 2013 at Mt Sterling

and at her home in Tennessee at end of April 2014

I would have loved to have been there to say goodbye to my long time friend.

Her husband posted this video of her singing with her father in 1988.  Just prior to the funeral services beginning, this video was shown.

Save this Video

Something her sister shared about Sharon, that happened just five days before she passed away:  Sharon slept a lot today, and was a bit tired after having some troubles last night. I wanted to share some very sweet things about her day though. She worked hard today on speaking, and said, "I am the happiest person in the whole world." She also said, "happy" several other times, and smiled so sweetly pretty often! Joy and peace shined through! 

So Many have been taken from this earth and out of our lives so 'early'.  Even though we miss them so much in this life, it is so wonderful to know there is a heaven and our spirits will be there together one day.  Gives me comfort.

Now, back to the living and what we do to stay alive and healthy until our time is up:

March 14, 2015

 Just shots of my walking around the city and some of the shops

 Street entertainment

 If you car is small enough, they park in the motorcycle spaces.

 Just love the architecture here

March 19th, Thursday.  I went to the chiropractor.  Left the apartment about 8:15 to catch the bus.  This bus stops near Misciocia's laboratory, so I stopped there for a few minutes before walking over to my appointment which is just a few blocks away.  First time I've been to the Chiro since first of December and also first time back to the laboratory since middle of December.  Luigi had just arrived for work at 9am and Teresa came at about 9:20, just as I was leaving for my appointment at 9:30.  Nice to see them this morning.  And is a beautiful sunny day here in Bari, in the 60's.  After my appointment, I took the bus back about half way, then walked the other 2 miles.  It felt sooooo good.  I love walking.  My right hip and knee had started seriously hurting a few days ago, and was making it difficult to do my long walks, so after my appointment today, it felt good to not have pain again!  I probably overdid it, however, it was such a lovely day and I enjoyed the walk so much.  Will walk another 1.5 mile again this afternoon when I go to the 'girls' bach.  Thursdays, we go to Mudogno.  Luigi will pick us up there.

And now, since I did not rest well the last few nights, I actually plan to take a much needed nap.  zzzzzzz

March 20, Friday

Oh my.  You know how when you wash your car it seems to always rain the next day.  Well, guess what.  I went to the Chiropractor yesterday.....

It goes like this.  First a little understanding of the layout.  I do a lot of walking and at a very fast pace, to get my 'burn' on.  Got up this morning, did my usual studying, etc., then time for my walk.  I like to walk when the sun is directly overhead, as I get the most benefit from it when I am surrounded by all these tall buildings.  This day I was walking toward the center of the city, then was going to circle around and come back along the sea.  The sidewalks here are very sloped for drainage, so I try to walk as close to the buildings as possible where there is less slope.  This is easier on my hip, knee and back.  Short distances are not a problem walking on a side slope, however, I walk 2 - 4 miles... really gets to hurting after a while.  Anyway, as I've mentioned before, the shops have roll down doors and recessed entries, and the doorways are just feet apart, with a dozen or two of doorways in each block.  It was about 1:30 pm, when the sidewalks are mostly vacant, as the shops are all closed at this time.  Makes for much easier walking.  As I motored along at a very rapid pace, a tall, young Asian man (18-22 I would guess) stepped out of one of these recessed doorways without even looking.  He came out very quickly and didn't even look.  His body hit me as I was in mid-stride and moving very fast.  It knocked me about 6 feet to the other side of the walk.  The sidewalk came up and hit me with great force! :)  My right elbow, knee, both hips and forehead all hit something.  I must have bounced around a bit to hit so many places!  All I know is, I was stunned or knocked out for a bit, because when I went down it was only he and I and when I came to, there were about 6 people standing over me all asking if I was okay.  Now that was something I couldn't answer just yet.

They helped me up and luckily for me a couple of them spoke English, as all my Italian hit the sidewalk with me, and all I could remember was English and some French... which I felt like using, but refrained, especially since the young man who had run into me was still there.  He apologized and said, "I didn't see you".  I said, "It would have helped if you would have looked!  That is what makes it possible for us to see things or people!"

I had just purchased and was carrying in a small bag, a small glass bottle and of course, that also hit the sidewalk with such force, that it was in hundreds of tiny, tiny pieces.  I had on a long sleeved sweat top, but my elbow took a skinning inside of the sleeve.  A bit of bruising, especially to the knee and right elbow and right eyebrow.   My shoulder blade got jammed up and my hip of course.  They offered to call the ambulance, however, I didn't feel that was necessary.  I did try to call Luigi to come pick me up, however, there was no answer.  Probably just as well, as I really needed to walk then to make sure nothing was seriously wrong.  I hobbled off toward home very slowly now.  Took a shower, put a bag of frozen peas on my knee and laid down for a couple of days.  I did go to church on Sunday, however, was plenty sore.  Come Monday, 23rd, I figured was time to go back to the Chiropractor.  I was still very tender and he couldn't use much pressure or force, but it did help.  Have been back a few times now and am back to my full walking regime.  His office is about 7km from my house, so I ride the bus over and walk back. The scab came off my elbow yesterday (April 2, three weeks).

The driving here is crazy, with all the cars driving where ever they please, parking every direction and double and triple parking, also in the cross walks, on the sidewalks, etc., which just makes the moving vehicles have to drive even crazier.  Then with all the scooters and motorcycles and even the bicycles (which have almost hit me twice), I always figured it was just a matter of time before I got hit, but I never in a my remotest thinking thought I would get run over by a person!!!

Here is an example of the parking.  These three cars in the foreground are actually parked.  The car that looks like it might be going down the street is actually double parked in the oncoming traffic. They are in the crosswalk, in a turn lane, also facing the wrong direction in the wrong lane and they are all actually parked. Now any one wanting to make a turn here is forced to go around all this.  The lady had just gotten in the one car and was getting ready to leave, but I didn't know exactly which way to cross the street... in front of her car or behind it... was taking a chance of getting hit either way and couldn't really see what was coming down the other street and perhaps turning.  There are also no stop signs at cross streets and there are hundreds here.  Everyone just toots their horns and bullies their way through, however, it doesn't always work out :)  This was at the corner where I live:

There is a real mindset here that each person is the most important to them self. This doesn't only apply to their driving, but also to how they occupy any space.  When I am walking, I try to avoid the busiest times because they will wander back and forth across the sidewalk and are oblivious to anything else.  If they are carrying large bags, it becomes difficult to get past them.  When you try one side, then they wander over and you try the other side and ask permission to pass, they look at you like 'what's your problem, you have the whole street'!  They also walk like they drive... the middle or either side of the street or sidewalk; doesn't matter which direction you are going.  I try to walk on the right side, but if I am meeting someone face on, and they are also walking in my path, it is always me who ends up moving to the other side.  They do not move.  I have found a little trick that works (sort of).  I don't look up now, because this indicates that you see them, therefore, they are not going to move. They will also stand in the middle of the sidewalk or in the crosswalks in the middle of the street and visit.  And they don't move.  You have to find your own way around them.  Some cars will honk at them, but mostly they just go around them. Of course in the midst of all this chaos, you have scooters and motorcycles and bicycles obeying no rules, not stopping at any lights or signs, weaving in and out.  Amazing there aren't more accidents.  I do hear a lot of ambulance sirens....

March 21, Saturday.  Stayed low this day, nursing my bruises.  Did do laundry and a few things in the apartment, but otherwise took it very easy.

March 22, Sunday

 Cristiano prepared lunch today!!  What a nice break for Mariella.  And he is a good cook!  He prepared it at home, then brought and finished cooking it here.  I was also very glad, as I usually try to help in the kitchen as much as possible and also do the dishes.  With my recent 'crash' I wasn't feeling too much like doing that.  Also I had a very poor sleep Sat. night, so right after lunch, I went and rested on the bed in the room where Anna is.  In the evening Maria and I walked to Mafalda's then after bible study, I arrived home around 8pm.  I was very ready to be home and rest.

 Marco and his children.

 Friends since childhood and have the same last name, however they are no relation.  Nicola Caputo and Massimo Caputo.

 Cristina 'on duty' with Nonna.

Exciting news for Marco and Cristina... new one in the oven! :)

March 23, Monday.  Off to the Chiropractor to see if he can fix me back up.  I did feel like walking again, so took the bus over and walked back.  Was a great walk, but was concerned I may have over done it, however, I did not walk my usual pace, took it nice and slow and easy.  Was a gorgeous sunny day and I just wanted to be out in it.  I can walk back along the sea for 7km and I never get tired of that!  Sometimes when I walk back, though, I cut through the city.  I like checking out all the hundreds of shops throughout the city.

March 24th, Tuesday.  hmmmm .  Don't know what happened this day.  Probably nothing.  About 3pm, headed to the train station to meet up with Freda and Maria and go to Capurso.  Mario brought us all home about 8pm as usual.

March 25th I had an appointment to go to the Questura to pick up my Permesso. Finally!!! I have been waiting for it since October.  Since I planned to walk and it was rainy and blustery out, I left plenty early to allow extra time in case the rain kicked up and I needed to wait it out in a shop doorway.  Also, my knee was feeling okay, but it had only been five days since my 'accident', so I wasn't sure how it would do.  Anyway, it is about a half hour walk if I am really hoofing it.  My appointment was at 11:00.  I arrived plenty early, since I made no stops, however, the wind did shred my umbrella (second one this week that had been destroyed).  I went into the coffee shop to wait and phoned Liliana to tell her I was there, since she was going to meet me at the Questura, since her friend works there and has been very helpful in this process.  (Also, helps that I get to avoid the long lines... I almost feel bad about saying that).  When she phoned me back a while later, she asked if I had brought a certain document.  No I had not!  Well, I looked at my watch, looked at the sky, moved my leg/knee around a bit and thought, you know, if I hurry, I can walk home and back in an hour and still get there before noon.  So I hustled!!  I arrived back by 11:45 and made it !  Guess what... I still had the wrong document!!  Oh, well, it was great exercise!  Since it was Wednesday and I needed to be at Mafalda's at lunch, and at Caputo's for the evening meeting, I just rescheduled for the next day.  Liliana could meet me there at four o'clock on Thursday.  Liliana was going out to her folks after 1pm which is very close to Mafalda's so I just waited for her.  Otherwise I would have done a fare bit more walking and caught the bus out.

March 26th, I arrived early again.  I went to the coffee shop again for about half an hour as Liliana was not available until four o'clock.  Then she phoned her friend at the Questura and he helped me through the process.  It was quick and painless and over before she even got there :) I called and let her know.  He is a very nice young man.  So now I have my permesso, that is only good until August 4th :) .  I got it just in time to renew it!  I will have to start the renewal process in June.

This picture is of the fort / castle directly across the street from the Questura, taken on Thursday.  A gorgeous sunny day unlike the day before.  I had a chiropractor appointment in the morning and on my walk back, I took this picture. This is all in the downtown part of Bari.  Seems strange to have all these huge old buildings everywhere.  I do a lot of walking around these parts and am fascinated with them.

March 27th, another brother's birthday.  Three of us children have birthday's very close together. I usually get to celebrate mine with Richard's, or at least with Glenda, however, he didn't make it over here ...  hee hee hee

Also, my knee and elbow are almost healed

March 28th, Saturday routine of laundry, clean, study, walk, skype, etc.  Freda is coming down with something, so she is staying inside.  Did not go over there on Thurs. since I had to go to the Questura and she phoned to say she would not be there on Sunday.  She did not sound good !  Settled in her chest and lots of coughing.  I will stay away, thank you!  

Sunday the 29th a day of remembrance...  Taken back nine years to the day Devin passed away.  Was a very difficult day for me this year... perhaps because I was so far away.  I hugged up on my adopted grandchildren, Aurora and Roberto, that day. It was a gorgeous sunny day, although, the wind was a bit cold coming off the sea.

Roberto had a birthday on March 28th, so he was loving riding his new bike from his Caputo grandparents.

  

 A little gift from his American g'ma Carmen :)

 Alexandra and Panos were here from Napoli.  Nice to see and be with them again!

 Darling Aurora

 March 30, Monday.  More routine.  I always like to sleep in on Monday's !  Sunday is a very long day for me, as I get up early to be able to catch the bus and arrive home late.  Would be easier if the bus schedules were reliable, but they are not, so therefore, I go early.  Also, our 'Spring Forward' DLST was Sunday 29th.  Did a little extra grocery shopping as I want to make a dessert to take and share with Daniele di Gioia on Wednesday.  A very special young man in our church group.  His birthday was today.

March 31st, Tuesday.  Tried to get an early start, as two things I really wanted to accomplish this day. I needed to make the dessert (a bigger challenge than you think, when I don't exactly have the tools and can't find the same products here, so I try to improvise.  Sometimes with success and sometimes Not!) The other is I am determined to get these taxes finished !  Tomorrow is always a busy day being Wednesday, and in addition I know from past experience, that I will most likely be kept busy with birthday calls etc., so wanted to be 'ready'.

Yeah!!! Taxes are done!!  1am, but they are done!  Now to email my friend Cindy and put away my electronics and off to bed for a great rest and sleep-in tomorrow.

Well, well, well.  That didn't work out so well.... bzz bzz bzz bzz.  I finally had to get up and make sure phone and computer were Off.  B'day greetings which I love and very much appreciate, had started coming in....  after all is was the middle of the day where they were :)

 April 1st.  My Birthday!!  No fooling!!!  I always tell people, "I was born a fool, what's your excuse"?  hee hee :) :)

I love celebrating my Birthday and this year was extra special as so many remembered me here in Italy.  Of course it helped that facebook kept announcing all day that it was my birthday :) hee hee.  Being that we are 9 hours ahead here in Italy it was almost two days worth :)

But in all seriousness, I really appreciated all the contacts, emails, SMS, Skype, facebook posts, chats and private messages.  Isn't this technical world wonderful!  Makes it so easy to stay in touch and I hardly feel like I am that far away from America.

Nothing big happened on my birthday, and since it was on a Wednesday, it was also church night, so I made a dessert to take.  Daniele Di Gioia, young man here age 25, had his birthday two days prior, so it was nice to take something for him too.  This way we could celebrate together!!  It made him very happy and that made me happy!  Since it wouldn't be so easy to transport the dessert on the bus, Nicola came and picked me up, also since he was coming into town, he picked up Maria... Freda is still sick.  Marco brought us home around 9pm.

 Damiano (apartment manager) had to come by to check on the furnace, so he too this picture of me in my apartment just as I was leaving for Caputo's.

 Daniele and I and the dessert.  One for him, one for me... but we shared :)

 Me, Mariella, Nicola, Aurora in front, Daniele, Marco, Cristina holding Roberto, Malfalda, Maria

Anna, Mariella, Marco and Aurora... 4 generations

Daniele and Cristina

April 2, Thursday.  Another Chiro appointment, so up and at it.  On my return walk, I took the sea walk part way then cut through the city.

I had seen this coffee place many times while riding the bus and have wanted to go there, so today was the day!  (all coffee shops are called Bar's here).  They don't have taverns (bars) here.

I stopped and had a coffee and croissant !  After all, I like to celebrate my birthday for a few days :) , even if it does mean I am getting older. :)

April 3, 2015, Friday

My oldest grandchild, Ethan, turned 13 today!!  A Teenager!  How is this possible!  Days, weeks and years march on.  Time does move swiftly!  He got up at 7:30 (his time in California) and skyped.  It was 4:30 in the afternoon here.  Was so wonderful to have that visit and see his smiling face on this special day for him.  Also nice to to talk to the others :) .  I walked out along the sea as we skyped so he could see it, however, it was too windy and lots of traffic noise, so I had to come back inside.

After we finished I headed out for a long walk.  This is Easter weekend and a big deal here in Italy.  A very very big deal!!!  Here is just one of the celebrations I witnessed today.

After this, I walked through Bari Vecchio to the best gelato shop in Bari and had yet another b'day treat :) I had to celebrate Ethan's birthday too!! Yummy!

April 4, 2015 Saturday

Okay, I stayed up too late last night.  I should have gone to bed sooner, as I knew I would need to get up fairly early, however, that didn't happen.  I wasn't sleepy, so wouldn't have done any good to go to bed... I just lay there awake, tossing anyway. 

Sure enough, at 8:30 this morning, Mariella phoned and asked what time she should come pick me up. Let me tell you, my Italian is not good under the best of circumstances, but being woken up with someone speaking Italian really had me tongue tied.  Lucky for me a couple of words registered, however, Mariella finally said she would call Maria (who speaks English) and have Maria call me :)  How it goes sometimes!.... well most of the time!  

Anyway, Cristina and Marco wanted to get away for a few days, and I had offered to help Mariella care for her bedfast mother who lives in the home with them.  Cristina and Marco help with her care, so I thought to give them a break and I would come and stay and help.  They went to Napoli to spend four days with her sister who is now living there.  Liliana and Cristiano also had gone to Sicily to see his folks.

So, it is set, I need to be showered, hair washed, dressed & ready and packed (hadn't done that either the night before) and at the curb by 10:15.  I went from a sound sleep to a tasmanian spin, let me tell you. Several had mentioned to me on my birthday, that I didn't seem like 62... well if they could have seen me now.  I could have given a 20 year old a run for their money!

Normally I would have just taken the bus out to Caputo's, however, I needed to bring a suitcase, my laptop, couple other bags, etc., so just made it easier to catch a ride.  Mariella also picked up Maria and we headed for the house.  Because this is Easter weekend, it took forever to get out of the city... traffic was really heavy.  We finally arrived around 11:35.  I took a few minutes to take my things upstairs to Marco and Cristina's.  When I came back downstairs, Maria and Mariella were with g'ma, so I was going to start my studies.  Well in my rush this morning, I had forgotten my computer cord.  Since my plan was to stay here three days, I was certainly going to need it.  So I asked Mariella if would be better to return and get it now or later.  She said now, so off I trotted to catch the next bus back into the city.  I arrived there, hoofed it as quickly as possible back to my apartment, grabbed the cord and a couple other things, then headed back to the bus... another long hike.  Caught the bus, arrived back at Mariella's about 2pm, just in time for lunch.  Now, I had been up since 8:30 and it is now after 2pm and I have accomplished exactly nothing! ... well a little something; I did get my walk in sort of.  This is how it is here.  Takes me all day to do a little bit of nothing!

After lunch it was time to help with g'ma, so after getting her all settled for a rest.  Now it is about 4:30 and Nicola and Mariella took Maria home and went grocery shopping.  'La nonna' was resting, so I now had a little time, so I started my studies.  Around 6:30 Carissa skyed, and while we were still on-line, N & M returned around 7pm, so they got to 'meet' some of my family.  

Put all the groceries away, did some more with the g'ma to get her settled for the night and now it is dinner time 8:45.  After eating, doing up the dishes, etc., around 10pm I went upstairs for the night.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

This is great!!  I don't have to catch the bus this morning, I am already here!  Just have to go downstairs!  There were several missing from church this morning.  Everyone seems to have a bad chest congestion and head cold.  So far, I have been lucky!!

After church, there were just five of us for lunch, since some were sick,  others were having Easter dinner with their families, and of course Marco & Cristina and kids were in Napoli at her sister's and Liliana and Cristiano were in Sicily visiting his family.  Today was the smallest group I've ever seen around their table... Nicola, Mariella, Freda, Maria and myself.  After lunch (3pm) we all took an afternoon nap, then went to Mafalda's at 6.  It had rained most of the day, but about 7:30 it had stopped, so I managed to get a little bit of a walk in.  I walked back to Caputo's from Mafalda's.
Nicola took Freda and Maria home.

Sunday evening meals are very light for me, usually popcorn and apple or something similar.  Also, Nicola and Mariella did not want a big dinner, so I offered to make French Toast and Mariella and Nicola were game to try it.  And they really liked it!!  They do not use syrup here, so they ate them plain.  I put a little honey on mine.  After dinner, and getting g'ma settled in for the night, we were all tired and it was about 10pm, so we all headed to bed.  

Monday, April 6, 2015
I did not have to get up too early, as Mariella said she wouldn't need my help downstairs until around 8am, so that was really a good thing, as I did not sleep so well.  I awoke at 3am and continued to only doze and toss the rest of the night.

Nothing unusual today.  Helped take care of g'ma, read, sang some hymns to her, then did a bit of studying.  Poor g'ma is ready to 'go home'.  She is in lots of pain and being bedfast is very difficult. Her mind is still pretty clear, so this makes it even more difficult.  She is 96? I think.  Caregiving is a 24/7 job and is hard for the whole family, especially Mariella (daughter).  G'ma is sleeping more now, so at least this gives Mariella a bit more rest.

Today, Mariella prepared a wonderful large lunch (well I prepared the potatoes.  One Sunday a couple months ago, when g'ma was in the hospital and it was just Cristina and I preparing the lunch, I made garlic, onion, olive oil potatoes and they liked them so well, that they have requested that I make them every Sunday since, except the 22nd.  Yesterday was the second Sunday that I have not prepared them, however, on Monday/today, Mariella asked for them, so I have only missed one week now. :)   They are easy to make and I enjoy doing it.  She had me make a big pan of them, so they could have them for dinner this evening when everyone arrived back.

 Cod just starting cooking, and the finished product.  It was yummy! 

When I got up, I had stripped the bed and washed the sheets.  There was a very nice breeze so hung them outside.  Shortly after lunch, it started to sprinkle, but they were dry, so brought them in and tossed in the dryer for a few minutes.  Got the bed remade and ready for them when they returned.  

Cristina had phoned around 5pm and said they had just left Napoli, and should be home by 9pm. Liliana and Cristiano arrived back about 8:30 and so I had Nicola bring me home.  Shortly after I arrived home, Cristina phoned to say they had also made it back.


When I returned home last evening and read my mail. What a shock. A childhood friend, same age as me, almost to the month, had suddenly passed away on Friday, April 3rd. This is the note from her daughter: "mom had a massive heart attack Friday night at home. No known heart issues for her EVER! We hung up our last phone call at about midnight the night before, b/c she said it was time for me to head to bed! lol.....I called her on Friday, she sent me a text saying she was sick, throwing up....and 6 hours later she was gone." Rita Marie Wilson May 21, 1953 - April 3, 2015
From the age of 5 I remember Rita and playing together as children. We lost touch after we became adults and I moved away from Illinois, but it was so nice to be in touch with Rita again these last few years. My heart and mind are having a hard time processing that she is gone so suddenly. Her memories will live on in the hearts of those whose lives she touched. Rita is also a cousin to my sister-in-law.

 Rita and I about age 8?? not sure, as no date on photo

Rita MarieThompson Wilson May 21, 1953 - April 3, 2015

Tuesday, March 7, 2015
Lazy, lazy today.  It is cold and windy and raining.... a great day for me to stay inside!!  Visited with Freda a bit, is how I knew it was cold... just took her word for it and didn't even bother to check for myself :)

Did some computer work, studied, made some popcorn and basically did nothing much!  Great day!! 

Our special meetings have started here in Italy again, so Maria left yesterday and Freda leaves Thursday.  They will all be back in Bari on April 19th.  Freda and I do not plan to go to Mafalda's for lunch tomorrow, so will give me a little more time in the morning to get myself 'sorted out' :)  Instead of leaving at 11am, I can leave to catch the bus at about 3:30.

Mafalda is planning a few to stay for dinner in the evening of the 19th, so on Saturday, I will go help her prepare for this.  Today I made grocery lists and meal planning lists today also in prep for company and things to take to Mafalda's.  More about all this when I post again at the end of April.

I hear big thunder now and it has continued to rain off and on all day.  Now I'm off to slumberland!

All for this post.  

Ciao, Ciao