Thunder storms

Well I've been living in Italy now for a few months... and I am slowly finding words and ways of understanding being here. The first months were not easy. I was alone. I didn't speak the language. But mostly, I hadn't figured out a story to tell myself about why I was here.

I had a story in Oregon -- family, friends, mountains, and the Oregon Coast. Born and raised. Understood. It was where everyone knew my name.

I had a story in New Zealand -- creating a home in our new home, building community, planning to adopt a puppy, and finding a way to make my way as an AAC clinician... oh, and the rowing of course!

But here -- the words I found did not sound like me; Words like "trailing spouse" and "engineering student."

But then slowly slowly, I started finding ways to be me... I read what I wanted at school, I showed our first Kiwi visitors the sights, I added tomato to my pesto pasta (to the shock of the locals), I moved the bed so I could see the hills out the window, I laughed at the grammar attacks my roommate and I thrust upon each others' native language, I navigated 2 trips to the ER, and I started to feel the beauty in me again.
And as I did.. I started to be able to see the beauty of Genova, bit by bit, and this strange, old, sometimes grumpy city let herself gradually be revealed.
I still can't see it like some can, but I think I just might with time.

so many goodbyes

my battle with lastitist

i know it is not helpful, but everything i touch and do has become a question of 'is this the last time i do this before i go?"

i present exhibit a - the last week of wind to study for windows of rowable water:
if i can't look at the weather without crying, how am i going get thru this week!

Preparing to go

We've entered the last phase of our current time in New Zealand. Although we plan to return, we will be based in Italy for the next few years. It is hard to imagine not waking to the view out our windows, to the neighbors driving by honking to see if we'll race out to join them for a coffee at the local cafe, to being able to wander up to the big house for medicine, food, and most importantly good conversation.
You never know what lovely evening awaits you at the big house. Last night it was Dai celebrating his new kilt with a dram of whiskey in the kitchen and then a living through of lovely people from Iran -- all with stories to tell. Some uplifting some very sad.

Then in the morning, you return to the every day life on the farm...
And little reminders of the life I am leaving behind....
... for now.

Sunday wander

A friend invited me to the city to watch the dragon boating... I completely missed it, but found myself wandering about the city on a lovely warm autumn day. I'd been meaning to do this for awhile, to just walk about exploring the city I know pretty well now, and was really glad I found the time to do it. I know I probably won't have time to go for a long wander like this again before my flight to Italy, but it was nice to do it when there still were enough days left on the calendar that I could trick myself into thinking that it might not be the last time...

Civic Sqaure decked out for the Arts Festival

Boat sheds which will have a neighboring building next to it by the time I return to Wellington

The harbour that I've rowed on, kayaked on, picnicked next to, photographed, and taken my favourite twins for ferry rides on.

Everyday the harbour is the first awesome thing I see as I headed to work.

School kids warf jumping after the dragon boating

The love of friends

I am going to very much miss having my friends over for dinner at the cottage. The flow of playing with toys, to eating, to a walk around the property, followed by goodbyes at the car are so familiar to my childhood. Last weekend dear friends came over and we went through the nature flow of a relaxed evening together.... but I think all of us had a sense that we might not get to do this again, in this place, for awhile.

We were served a lovely wooden veggie soup as an appetizer:



While connect four battle was being fought:

After dinner, I went for a walk with the girls to pet chickens and feed horses:

And then Traveler went for a second walk, while I chatted over coffee and cream inside:Perfect Saturday night in my book.