L'aventure américaine

I am home and in my bed on a Saturday- the first time in over and month. I have been maximizing my time at my parents’ while Charles and family were there. It was the best and a direct contradiction to the adage, “you can’t go home again.”  You can. And your dad brings you coffee in bed.  Anyway, it was the best ever and now Charles is safely at home with his family and my kids are glad that things are normal again, but I miss them all and I’ve been awake for 30 minutes and I think I’m going to have to make my own coffee.  Poop. 

We have been playing hard here and most of the adults take at least one nap per day. We have been socializing and opening gifts and eating good food and laughing. One puzzle completed so far, which is an indication of how busy we have been. Zero movies completed. Multiple family gatherings. 

 It's late and I'm tired. We also went to Murano today to see glass-blowing. Tomorrow these eyes will be full of tears. So, glassy-eyed indeed. This will be short as I need to head to bed. Quick update... Randal and I spent our last anniversary morning in Venice: I shopped and he went to another exhibition. We took the train and happily met the rest of the crew in the great hotel that Mom booked (with the utterly forgettable name: NH Padova). Mom had made reservations at Scrovegni Chapel: one of Giotto's masterpieces and some significant firsts: first "love" kiss among others. Our stay was fabulous and too short. We had a delicious dinner and were exhausted, so headed back home. Train back to the kiddos. Pumped for Scrovegni Chapel Marian lost a little enthusiasm for the chapel on the way. Incredible chapel. See Kenda for details. (She bought the book.) Darth Vader looms large even in Italy Kitty family, house, cars, and the cutest 7-year-old ever. Happy and full....

I initially thought that today's subject line might be, "We'll always have Venice." But with the frequent illusions to climate change and the maps in the boat stations about where to find high ground during acqua alta (high water), I'm not so sure we will always have Venice. Perhaps this knowledge makes me appreciate Venice even more as the days here have been beautiful, full, and glowing. But first, our final day in Vigolo was a wonderful one. We tested grappa in the morning (11am is a bit early for me for grappa, but I persevered) and enjoyed a walk to nearby Bosentino in the afternoon (where Charles and Elisabetta were married). I love the outdoor ping-pong tables and the views of the Dolomites. (I could continually look at La Vigolana and think, 'I just climbed that!') We met Elisabetta's mother, Maria Assunta for aperitivi (why did I not get a picture all together?) and had another delicious dinner. It was a lovely day. Mom tries to feed the donke...