the journal and lessons learned...

There is a tradition here at Hotel Davanzati in Florence.. each of the 20 rooms has a leather bound journal on a desk.. and you are invited to write your thoughts about your stay in Florence and this wonderful hotel..

it makes for good reading.. glancing through the pages and the thoughts of people that have been in room 205 over the years.. "we could not have asked for more" one couple commented....there are well wishes for future guests of this room..in many languages..making the room itself feel alive..

so today I wrote in the journal of the room 205 at Hotal Davanzati.. my thanks for such a wonderful visit.  As I wrote my thoughts.. my mind wandered through the moments of the week... and it's lessons which I will share..

the most important things in Italy are a good umbrella and good shoes
you cannot taste all the wonderful flavors of gelato in one week ~ or maybe ever
you can become family in a moment
that it doesn't matter how many years you are married.. when your souls have been together forever
pizza for one is really pizza for two
that each and every day you learn more about life ~ don't waste it ~ taste everything

Ciao ~

va bene ...ok

it is raining today in Florence.. it is a day for churches...so the woman making morning cappuccinos here at the hotel this morning told us.  Sweet Tim and I have returned from Viterbo where we have spent 2 days with distant relatives..driving through Italian wine country.. visiting the home of my Grandfather Davide in the tiny hill town of Ischia di Castro...where a woman looking much like my sister Janet.. came up to us in the church and said.."Belfiore?? I am also a Belfiore!"..  During our visit we were told my cousin Mara's husband Gianfranco was diagnosed in January with lung cancer.. I cannot escape.. it is everywhere.. Gianfranco made a Popeye arm pose.. saying he is strong.. but later Mara told me her hair is gray because it is bad.. he has had radiation and now will have chemotherapy in April.. he is thin and coughing.. but full of humor.. like all Italians..

They accept fate.. believe in destinies and love life...early this week in the market a man tried to sell sweet Tim a leather shoulder bag.. Tim said no.. I have one.. (he currently carrys a beat up canvas bag).. the man thought for a moment and then said.. "va bene..ok.. plastic is good when it rains"..

Italians are made of the stone they build their houses with..strong .. lasting forever.. crumbling only after years of being in the weather.. we survive..we survive..

va bene.. ok

having a good time lately....

I actually had a regular doctor's appointment today.. a well visit instead of a poke.. peek ..heart in my throat visit... It is with a new doctor.. holistic ... to help me get back to normal.  I took in my list.. 2 cancers in 4 years, 2 major surgeries.. one followed by chemo and radiation.. new boobs.... wait.. turn the page over.. more lists..  higher weight.. double chins.. start crying for no reason..feet are swelling.. . oh and I am getting a moustache because I am not allowed to have estrogen.. and wait.. I gave up diet coke to be more healthy.. my favorite thing.. can't sleep, my heart starts pounding for no reason... wait. where is the second page?? oh ....here it is!!  joints hurt.. I think my nose is getting bigger.. when I get out of bed all.. and I mean ALL of my joints crack and creak.. did I mention my joints hurt.. 

The nurse entering my information - from my list that I now carry - turned and said.. "Gosh.. I think I am going to cry.. you have not had a good time lately"..  "I have tissue" I replied..  "go ahead.. you will feel better".. 

After 20 minutes of chatting with my new doctor.. I had new items to add to my list. adrenal glands burned out.. probably need a different blood pressure medicine.. green tea.. lots of water.. yoga.. walking.. can I change jobs? huhhh....no.. next item.. blood work.. more blood work..  at the bottom.. in capital letters I write ..I am not giving up.. I may be a bit side tracked.. I have not been having a good time lately.. but I think that is because sometimes I read from the wrong list..


It took me a minute to find the right one..but after a few deep breaths.. I remembered it..  wonderful family.. smart, loving, sharing kids..they always want to come home.. even if just to eat..  watching my granddaughters turn into beautiful young women.. sweet Tim..Arizona's big blue sky..my Italian is actually getting better.. good friends... good cookbooks...insurance.. a love of high heel shoes (even though I seldom wear them)..wearing bunny rabbit ears for the duration of a 5K... Dunkin and Louie my favorite dogs..  alive. alive.. alive.. I need to count that a few times.. 

Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming.

It's about the choices you've just made, and the ones you're about to make, it's about the things you choose to say - today.

It's about what you're gonna do after you finish reading this ~ Mike Dooley 

Sounds like a good time to me... 

welcome the benefits that stay...

gentle yoga Fridays... the end of the week surrounded by long flowing white drapes and candle lights.... the end of the week.. stretching.. breathing in and out through my nose.. because that releases tension... listening to sweet Shannon's lilting voice as she talks us through poses to release stress.. strengthen our core..

Shannon's voice lifts at the end of her sentences... she speaks slowly, steadily and at the end there is a bit of a raise in the melody... it leaves you waiting for the next sentence to flow out and guide you through the next pose.. gentle yoga Fridays.. stretching.. breathing in and out ... 

She tells a story in a singing sort of way......like the melodies I remember from Mark .. my youngest  lotus blossom's instructor.... soft.. persistent.. how this opens the flow of the energy in your body.. how your body will find its place.. your breath along with it.. relax into it.. give in.. let go..

"it is not really about flexibility".. she says.. "it is all about adaptability"... let yourself adapt.. your heart .. your mind and your soul.. give in... let your body find its place.. and in the end of each experience.. "say goodbye to the experience and welcome the benefits that stay" ~ Namaste