(Note: This post was written by Laurel Regan and originally published in a separate blog called “Insalata di Alfabeto”, which was later merged with Alphabet Salad.)
The seeds for this blog were sown during a casual conversation with my mom on Christmas Day back in 2010, when I asked if she’d ever consider going back to her village in Italy for another visit. My younger sister, who had been to Italy once before with Mom several years prior, chimed in on our discussion and, much to my surprise and delight, things quickly escalated into serious planning for a future trip to Italy for the three of us.
Oh, the possibilities!
Keeping in mind that my husband and I would be moving across Canada in 2011, we tentatively scheduled our trip to Italy for the fall of 2012. Excited by the opportunity to visit this beautiful country for the first time and discover my roots, I headed into the new year with all kinds of enthusiasm and plans for learning to speak Italian and preparing myself for our journey.
My timing couldn’t have been much worse!
In addition to my full time job, the majority of my focus in 2011 ended up being, by necessity, on planning and executing our move. Unsurprisingly, the distractions and complications involved in selling (for less than we’d hoped), buying (for more than we’d planned), and moving (later than we’d expected) took precedence and my Italian learning and vacation preparations took a back seat.
And, sadly, the fall of 2012 was no longer a realistic target.
Now we’re approaching the summer of 2012. My husband and I moved into our new home some seven months ago, and have been gradually putting down roots and getting to know our new city. And now that things are becoming more settled, the remembrance of that anticipated visit to Italy has started to poke at my brain once again, and the old excitement of learning and planning is resurfacing.
At this moment I can’t say precisely when the trip will take place – there are three of us with varying family, health, schedule, and budget issues to be worked through and discussed – but I have made up my mind that, by hook or by crook, I am going to Italy! My first step to getting there is to restart the process of learning and preparing for this vacation of a lifetime. As I make new discoveries about all things Italian I’ll be sharing them through this blog… and you are invited to follow along on the journey.
Andiamo! Let’s go!
Photo courtesy morgueFile, photographer ricorocks
