then we up and left italy.

Why? It's so wonderful there. And in the days after the wedding Steve and I had the nonnis and my beloved Simona all to ourselves. And there was a concert and a day at Capo Flavia and more pizza eating and a hunt for the best gelato in all the land (in the rain, no less; I've never seen my husband walk with such determination.).

...but we had tickets that said Cagliari --> Rome --> Cairo --> Nairobi. Departing on October 17th at 11:15 am.

What's a girl to do? Especially if that girl's been wanting this since she was like 11?

Well, she gets her arse on that plane, that's what.

is there like a rent-a-kid shop somewhere in Vero so I can take cute pictures of  them to my heart's content?

Bourdain + Sardegna

So there was a No Reservations episode featuring Sardegna (thanks for the heads up lamb)! And His Gorgeousness Anthony Bourdain did a great job of capturing its spirit if I do say so myself. Next time I go I would love to explore Nuoro, the interior, more.

Link to episode description.

Sardinian dancers

There were costumed Sardinian dancers during the wedding's cocktail hour, i scalzi. Barefoot as is tradition. The earliest Halloween costume I can remember was as a Sardinian (miniature) woman in costume--I definitely stood out from the princesses and GI Joe's that were with me in kindergarten, and maybe confused a teacher or two :)

p.s. check out the guys balancing a shot of vernaccia on their heads while dancing!

& then a marriage began

In a real Sunrise, Sunset moment it occurred to me while I was standing up there next to Jacqueline that someday I would be an old lady watching my grandchildren do this same thing. And I would remember this wedding, and my own of course, and my childrens'. This was one of the 'big' moments, and I'm happy I was granted a second to take it in.

I can tell it was a good time because photos from the day pretty much stop at this point. It was time to celebrate and that meant my love putting the camera away.

Sad note, and I'm just thinking out loud here. I wonder how it'll be for them, looking at their wedding photos years from now? I mean, I cherish ours, but there's a real sadness to it as well. I'm not sure if sadness is the right word. Is there a word for bittersweet, only stronger? Like reallybitterextremelysweet? Poignant. It's the last time I would ever see my grandfather walking and talking the way he always did, the way I grew up remembering him, before his stroke less than two years later. People have died. One person can no longer breathe without a ventilator. All this in only five years. The pictures from that day and night temporarily immortalized us all in this stage of sheer happiness but then life kept right on going. I know we need to appreciate appreciate appreciate and not take the joy moments for granted-- it's just a hard pill to swallow when it stares at you in the face on film.

enough with the Debbie Downer now.

my cue to get to bed.

May they always feel the same connected-ness that they did when this photo was taken.

to do: knit a shawl

isn't it stunning? I had bought the pattern for it from Tickled Pink Knits last spring, bought some fantastic fall-y yarn, diligently worked on it during road trips and lunch breaks until, about halfway through, I took it to the gurus at Napa's local yarn store (Yarns on First, miss that place) because of a twist that had developed in my knitting. Stinkin' circular needles. The verdict? Nothing to do but start over. Sob.

I was reinspired to start working on it last night when a picture of the finished shawl showed up in my daily etsy e-mail last night. That thing is so beautiful. Wouldn't it be great if I could finish it by, say, Thanksgiving?

lamb turned bride + leading up to the church

what I believe with all my heart

1) Lamb was the most ridiculously beautiful bride I have ever seen up close. Seriously lamb-- no fair to the rest of us that you're this alien woman who can pull off looking angelic and smoking hot all at the same time.

2) While we got lamb ready, the energy in Nonna and Nonno's house on the afternoon of September 10th could have moved mountains. I'm certain the excitement/nervousness duo is a universal element in all weddings on the planet, and maybe times that by 1,000 to get the energy whereby babies are pushed out but right now I know weddings. I remember mine and now I remember my sister's. Helping her to get her shoes on. Watching her put lipstick on in the hall mirror and going back to the thought from #1 above. Where is paps, we need to go NOW-- he is what, in the bathroom?! Marmousch starting to cry which made me start to tear up until all that salty-cheeks nonsense was firmly nipped in the bud by lamb. STOP.



~

In Italy it's tradition for the groom, with his family, to come to the door of the bride's house bringing her bouquet (and on the wedding day she hasn't seen the bouquet nor her groom yet until this point). That's what Lamb and Adam did. Another tradition is the throwing of rice and rose petals onto the bride and groom. The rice and petals look so pretty sitting on these nice ceramic plates, and oh yeah, the plates get chucked too. At the innocent, ready-to-begin-their-lives-together couple. You heard me. Nonna tossed that sucker like a frisbee, she ain't fooling around here people.

Led by the bride and groom, we headed to the church of Santa Maria Assunta on foot. Our own little happy procession. Once at the church we (tried to) make her beast of a train all flowy and pretty, why won't the veil comb stay darnit?-- a couple I love you's and we headed into the church (American 2 x 2 style), with one last glance back at Lamb and Paps, waiting outside to come in last.

more to come.