A Swiss, an Italian and the Americans on the Lake

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

A gray day that began with a silky smooth swim in the Lake with Stephanie. Lots of talking before she left for Switzerland and home. Good friends , particularly those over time... help us remember the tapestry of our lives. They weave together memories which may have been dormant, somewhere in the recesses of our minds. Good friends are part of our fabric.

I am sitting in the kitchen watching the boat ferry come into Menaggio from Varenna, followed by a boat passenger ferry. Now, I see an aliscafaro- hydrofoil speed past my view. All in the space of a minute!

I am enjoying the quiet energy of Carlyle and Casey... each relaxed in the living room playing gameboy. No expectations for today, making it perfection. Last evening, we gave a birthday party for an Italian friend. He cooked! It was great. I got to learn how to make  spaghetti Carbonara. Carlyle fixed an 'affettato', a typical Italian appetizer dish, which is considered a FIRST course for meals. Mixed meats, olives, raw prosciutto and pancetta... along with a caprese salad. We sang "Tanti Auguri- Happy Birthday", and presented a birthday card with the TORTE of ricotto and mirtillo (blueberry), complete with candles. Our friend said that he might 'cry'. That was sweet. It was a pure delight to share in a Swiss, American and Italian celebration and repast, as we listened to "Lucio Battista" on the CD, Conti and Louis Prima, an American Italian from the USA, back in the Dean Martin days. A cross cultural evening shared with my friends and family: it doesn't get much better than that!

Enjoy your Wednesday.
Smiles
Judy