Fatto Limonata (Making Lemonade)

Siamo arraviata! (We have arrived....). It was actually last Monday evening. First thing Tuesday morning I went to Bella Rustica Cottage and what I encountered gave new meaning to the word rustica. The cottage had not been cleaned; there was one broken window and two others were cracked; half the windows were not screened and of those that were most of the screens need to be replaced. One window does not open at all and another opens but does not stay opened. The kitchen sink leaks when you turn on the water and there is only one drawer in that entire kitchen. Fortunately there are two bathrooms because one toilet needs work and when I went to flush it as I was trying to make my own repair the handle came right off. Two days later 8500 pounds of my "household goods" (a polite phrase) arrived and was placed inside and around la mia bella casa so I am staying. Then is started to rain and only stopped this morning. Lezione (Lesson): Focus on the positive or ...... make lemonade so sono fatto limonata (I am making lemonade).

1/10 of a mile from my back door

After I made a few phone calls and got a cleaning crew started I went to Home Depot to order fencing and to pick up six 8 foot 4x4 fence posts. Although fit I just could not lift these and I began to feel the frustration and fatigue of a cross-country drive set in when I heard a young man ask if I needed help and I said, "I really do". He was not an employee but got what I needed lifted and loaded and then said he was glad to help and walked away. He had no ulterior motive except to assist me and I suspect he would have done so had I been male or female, black or white (he was black), young or old. I actually had to compose myself as he walked away because I could feel a flood of emotions already watering my eyes. "Thank you" I whispered within myself as I could not have managed the words. I walked by him and a friend later and I thanked him for helping me then as he passed. I heard his friend say, "Man, I would have helped her more".

I found the ceiling fan remote controls for my home in Coronado so will get those in the mail tomorrow. Still looking for my camera cable to share photos. Discovered a few things I had forgotten I had and, overall, have come to quickly to the conclusion I still have troppo tutti cosi (too many things).

Tomorrow is my first day at my new job. Buona Domenica (Good Sunday)!