Overheard in . . . Pisa

"It really does lean."

We have arrived in Italy!  I have waited, tentatively, to see if my daughter will appreciate it's beauty and charm. Perhaps yes, perhaps no... but in any case it is the gentlest I've seen her on this journey. Even hot and tired she stopped to ask me how I was doing. Now, she naps quietly, worn out from two long weeks of travel, an early morning flight, a hot day, and a swim in the pool. Or, it may simply be that she's lost all her energy because I have barely fed her today. She wanted to stop at.McDonald's along the roadside as we drove to the B&B, but.I.said, "No! We do not eat McDonalds in Italy." At the leaning tower of Pisa she asked for an ice cream - again the answer was no.... there was nooooooooo wHen I wild allow ice cream in a carton when we were in the home.of.gelato.

Okay... so, like my character Anna, perhaps I.am a bit.fixated.on.the wrong thing. It is difficult.to.imagine her wanting to return to the country that starved her. I have been learning a lot on this trip about the danger of living for the ideal, rather than for the moment. There is no better way to get a handle.on his concept than by travelling with children. Romantic visions aside, the respond mostly to what is exactly around them and what their body is telling them (e.g. hot, tired, hungry.)

The good.news is that, while I did not allow my daughter McDonalds, she does get pizza when she wakes up.... and hopefully it will.be the best pizza she's ever eaten.
Ciao for now....
Deanne