Feet facing the sun, hitting the down beat to the music I am listening to.  I soar in my hammock.  My body soaks in the sun and remembers recent times under the Italian sun. It remembers just a year ago that the sun hurt.  Gratitude for health and swinging where I am right now.  With memories spilling over.

The big tree of liberty, love and peace

July 30, 2012 - Under the big tree at the big yellow house with blues the dog and Teresa the artist. 
I am ready to return home, go back to my life and stop living out of a suitcase. I don't know why I couldn't return next summer. I have confidence that I could make it, and I have great friends to stay with. 
This first trip of mine to Italy makes me smile and tear up. Was it what I expected? I have travelled many places and have learned about Italian history and culture. I lived in the moment, soaked in everything. I explored the streets here and the "streets of my life". I got to stay with many different families, to see how they live, how families work here. I had time to try the food, all the things they enjoy eating. Time to understand what my body likes and doesn't like. I broke through fears my body had and worked on fears I had about my body. I have felt very close to God and felt guided and growth here. I practiced letting people know me. I have had time to ponder and relax, just to think about life.  I have enjoyed taking pictures, reading, learning, studying history, asking questions about everything. I love what others have shared with me. I have taken time to enjoy the bells tolling, the architecture, people watching, nature, churches. The free time has been enjoyed. Having my own agenda was great- being able to wander and do what I want, just me!  I have made the best out of tough times. Had fun being frivolous, shopping and spending money, eating loads of gelatto!  I have come to learn the importance of the church I belong to. That it offers a fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is his church restored in these days with the saving power and ordinances that gives us access to God.

Dreaming

I wrote in my journal once - dreaming is hard to come by such a practical person. 
June 6, 2012, 9:30 pm journal entry as I was entertained by the view of Borgio Vareze. 

How do I describe how lucky I feel to be here.  I am in this completely gorgeous place.  It is an evening with the Ligurian sea breezing through the ivy colored arches, bringing with it the cool blue of the water, the flirty green texture of the hills. Orange, pink, yellow buildings are beginning to glow with the night lights. The clouds sit relaxing in the sky overhead.

So I could hang my shingle here, do therapy.  My name could spread through the region here and people would come.  I could live in a year-round Mediterranean climate, by the seaside. I could have an office in Tuscany that I worked in one week of the month.  (the music right now is telling me to get up and boogie).  I could teach a yoga class on the beach. I could have a place to rent out a couple bedrooms to tourists. I could own a stand where I sold gelatto snow cones.
 I can do anything!