(Appertivo with the little free nibbles)
One of the greatest pleasures in life is people watching. I delight in watching the way families and couples show affection with one another. Or observing mannerisms of people different than myself. And I marvel at the drama of life unfolding before my eyes.
Much of the trip from which I just returned from with my husband, was just that—people watching.
Maybe it is because my own boys are growing up or if I would have had children young as the generations before me did, I would be a grandmother right now, but I am baby crazy. I want to hold one. I want to play with them and laugh at all the little things they do. No, I do not want one of my own. I’m pushing 50.
My husband feels the same way. Each time we heard the coo of an infant or the mousey voice of a toddler, our ears would perk up. We showed no restraint. We out and out stared at adorable children doing adorable things.
(Piazza in Verona I speak of)
On one of our last evenings, while sitting in a Piazza in Verona, a father stopped his stroller right in front of our table to spoon feed his son gelato. It’s like he knew we would love to watch this spectacle of life unfold before our aperitivos. The little boy seemed uninterested at first as his father dug into the cup from some of the cold delight but when his father spooned some into the child’s mouth, it was as if the little boy pulsated with electricity. All his limbs shook and flailed. YES YES! His clenched fists communicated. The father could not feed him fast enough.
(Best Gelato I have ever had. I thought I had gelato before, turns out I had not)
My husband and I remember our oldest reacted in the same way the first time we fed him meat. Justo had slow cooked a beef roast until it was falling apart. We spooned bites into our son’s mouth and all of a sudden, he was Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein, the creature come alive. Because he could not speak yet, he moaned for more and more while my husband and I cried we laughed so hard at his reaction.
I think I am a way off from being a grandmother, but I will gladly watch your child or grandchild or any kid really, just be a kid.
***
This week I’ll be hosting my monthly Undaunted Joy Zoom for paid subscribers. Meet some of the other readers….and writers in this community and get a sneak peek of the book. My goal is to give you a quick refresh for the rest of your day in less than 30 minutes. Last month participants said they felt energized and encouraged after the quick Zoom.
Paid Subscribers will receive the Zoom link later in the week.
I am so grateful for all my subscribers, free and paid. Once I pick up 3 more paid subscribers, I will be able to provide a small stipend for each month’s guest writer.
Dear friend, I am glad you are safely home, wondering about you on the other side of the world. What a lovely tale you have to tell. Hope to catch up soon!
One of my favorite pastimes! Too many years in Paris. 🤣