The postman and the Italian man

February 18, 2023

“To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere, without moving anything but your heart.”

— Phyllis Grissim Theroux

It was a sunny day and the postman was stepping down the cramped walkway to his small vehicle. Suddenly, from five floors up on the balcony of the apartment building a man yelled down. “Postino! “Postino! Postino!” (Postman)

Having just descended from the bus and following the same pathway as the postman, we both looked up. However, he responded as if it was an everyday occurence to have someone yelling at you from above. “Sì? “ Yes? he asked the white haired man peering over his balcony from five floors up. “Did you deliver mail to me?” he shouted in Italian. “No. Not today!” the postman shouted back.

All the while, the bus passed, cars drove by, and street pedestrians kept walking, no eyes except mine ever looking up to hear the italian ruckus of the busy little moment of the small little town life.

The man above now content to not have to walk the many floors down to check the mail roared out a “Grazie” (thank you) to the postman and went back inside. The postman entered his small vehicle and continued on to his route.

From my point of view, the American gal walking down the street it was quite the random encounter but here it is what you do everyday. After all, who wants to walk down flights of stairs to get the mail if you don’t have any? I wouldn’t and neither did the man it seemed.

Another random small town Italian adventure.

- Ciao from Italy

Drying clothes in italy

August 22, 2021

“We should all do what, in the long run gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting laundry. ”

— E.B.White

I am so often asked from friends what it’s like being in Italy during Covid. My answer is honestly I don’t know what’s different. I am home most days except on the times where I go grocery shopping. Those are usually my outings minus exercise. I look forward to both but especially when there is sunshine. Things have changed a bit since writing this as you know but nonetheless…

Italy is typically thought to be a country of constant sunshine and while I will cede to the fact that yes, there are more sunny days here in winter than in Seattle where I lived for ten years, the days of winter are still cool and the rain still comes and the humidity exists.

Sometimes the things you take for granted in a place you live become what you miss the most.

It is strange because although I am not a huge fan of using a dryer for everything, I have to say having a dryer in your home or even in one’s apartment building is now on the wish list.

The humidity here although not drastic, does not promote happy drying outside. While I do not wash my jeans everyday ,when I do wash them it can be a bit frustrating. It takes three days to dry outside not including bringing them in if it looks like rain. Then I realize that the pockets never completely dried, because I forgot to pull out the pocket lining.

Each night dry or not the drying rack comes inside so as not to dampen the clothing more from the morning dew. So inside they come, on the rack that unfolded takes up about half the living room/kitchen. I live cozy.

Needless to say when a laundromat finally opened up that has three large dryers I became the first person to visit. And to top it all off they had a free day although I admit but understanding originally was that I could only dry on Thursdays from what the sign said. Language problems…. aside.

I do the washing at home, stuff all of the wet clothes into my little “Carello” aka my wheeled cart and walk to the laundromat. One hour later I have dried and folded all of my fresh laundry.

little cart.JPG — the little cart

that could…
I think I can fit more…
I think I can fit more…

The best part of it all is that I think I am the only person who uses the driers with the exception of the few people who dry a large bedspread for example. Two loads 6 euros, becomes the best money I have spent all week. Who doesn’t love freshly dried clothes smell?!

I still take advantage of the drying rack for the lovely items I don’t want to add to the dryer, or the summers of heat when it is unnecessary.

I am however, grateful that the one of the small things I missed has now come to my little town in Italy, even if I do have to leave the house to do it. However my excuse to leave the house is on the list of things I love now as well.

PS- It only took me three trips to the laundromat to figure out the dryers took coins specifically for the machines not normal coins. On an up note one visit was free and the third I called the owner and figured it out with my rustic italian. Win,win.

Your Thoughts?

Send them to me…Ciao from Italy

Lazy weekend afternoons

October 11, 2020

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart.”

— Helen Keller

Today the sun and heat has died down a bit and the breeze is coming in through the window as I write. My onions are caramelizing slowly in the kitchen and every now and then the smell of sweetness passes under my nose.

It’s a quiet day, with the hairdresser next door being closed. Typically talking echoes off the tile floor loud enough to penetrate my closed front door and filter in through my open window. There occasionally women stand outside with liquid color that has been painted onto their heads and plastic pink sheaths wrapped around their shoulders. They speak privately on the telephone, but with such emphasis that the conversation becomes not just between two people but the neighborhood population.

I find the chitter chatter soothing most days, I don’t know why. Perhaps it is because I do not fully comprehend the language or maybe because it fills the moments with background noise. It is similar to leaving a television on, but without paying for the electricity.

Today, however, I am happy to listen to the breeze and have the slow soft jazz music in the background. I am looking forward to my evening walk along the river when it cools down and the sun sets over the river.

During this time of solitude one must find joy in every moment. Reaching out for the moments that one has to reflect, to find goodness in others, and to not be shaken by silence.

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”

— Helen Keller

The carmelized onions are finished and their sweet taste lingers like the silence I am surrounded by today. It is time to eat. The next best part of the day after the lazy solitude. Until next time.

May your weekend be filled with quiet if you search for it, people because it brings you joy, or a lazy afternoon of time to just be you.

How did you spend your weekend? Comment below…

Ciao from Italy,

-jc