Our Long Italian Good-Bye

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We've been out of the house for two weeks now and Italy is feeling less like home day-by-day.  It's probably a good thing because this good-bye will be hard.       

Since April 2021 we have known that we'd be leaving Italy.  We didn't over do it but we did have those moments where we said: this is our last Fall, our last Christmas, our last Spring.  Oh, Spring.  How I have loved you even more here in Italy! 

And since we had a year to prepare for the move back home, we thought a lot about what we'd like to do for final trips and events.  How we'd like to say good-bye to our Italian neighbors and friends, who have been such a blessing these past five years.   

So, here are some highlights from how we've made the most of these final months living in Italy. 

Our final big trip was flying over to England just before Christmas to visit our friend Sandra and her boys.  We've been very fortunate to see them twice over the past five years.  

Tom and the boys - Josh and James

The Fuzzy Kids - just missing Mavis the cat.

Us Girls - Me and Sandra
 

Our final wine tasting trip to Valpolicella was in February.  We added two new wineries to our list.

The final group wine tasting event that I organized in early March.


Everyone was crazy for the local goat cheese

Le Vegre's Frizzante is one of my favorites

I had been thinking a lot about farewell gifts and really wanted to do something cactus themed and possibly a piece of artwork.  When I was brainstorming ideas with a friend, she suggested I do a Corks and Canvas event at the Art Center on base.  I thought it was a great idea and something totally new and unique for the Italians.  I was able to get it scheduled for early April.  As a party favor, we ordered some wine glasses online and had them engraved with a desert image.  I also bought southwest, Arizona-theme wine charms.  This was such a fun afternoon.   

Our teacher Michelle giving initial instructions.
 

Giada's painting turned out beautiful!

Everyone's masterpieces
I thought the glasses turned out great.

Before COVID we were hosting two house parties a year.  Usually one during the summer and one at Christmas time.  We had discussed doing a Christmas party in 2021 but just couldn't get up the energy to do it.  Plus COVID cases were on the rise.  We did find a small window of opportunity to do a final house party in mid-April.  Our neighbors brought over their grill and we had a great time with our American co-workers and friends and our Italian family.  

Tom with Cesare and Enrico

Our Italian family

Our treasured friends Sara and Matteo

Enjoying our fire pit

The party's dead soldiers - I think we're even missing a few
 

We lived in a rural area here and just down the road is a farmer named Antonio.  He doesn't speak English and his Italian is sprinkled with dialect.   And yet we have made a sweet connection and have such deep affection for Toni.  We were the beneficiaries many times of eggs from his chickens and veggies from his garden.  We'd take him wine around the holidays and sometimes homemade baked goods.  Saying good-bye to Toni and his family was the first real waterworks of our Italian farewells.


 

A few days later was the final farewell to our house and our wonderful landlord Carla and her mom.  We have LOVED this home and it was such a huge part of our Italian experience.  I suspect I will do a separate blog post about our home and the many Italian lifestyles we cultivated while living here.   

So blessed to have called this home

And just last night was our final event with our Italian family.  We have lived in a triplex while here in Italy.  On the end is Carlo and Silvia - the patriarch and matriarch of the family.  They are getting ready to celebrate 54 years of marriage this coming weekend.  In the middle home is their son Cesare and his wife Giada and their three kids: Anna, Enrico and Sara.  We've also befriended Cesare's sister Laura and her family.  She and her daughter Emma joined us for a final dinner at a beautiful restaurant that overlooks the city of Vicenza. 

Carlo and Silvia

Laura and Emma

The fam

 

When we hosted our final house party, we got a couple gifts and I loved the ladybug theme.  Ladybugs are considered good luck here in Italy.  Much like I believe they are in the United States.  We have so many treasured memories and people we have come to love here in Italy.  They will forever be part of our lives and we carry their wishes of good fortune and safe travels with us as we prepare for this final journey home. 


Last night I told Giada that this was sincerely not good-bye forever.  Tom and I will definitely visit Italy in the future and we hope that members of the family will come see us in Arizona.  

So...until next time.

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