Have you ever had a piece of knowledge embedded into your memory bank that, when happened upon, makes you smile? It makes you elated, giddy, the shivery kind of happy that tickles your whole body. Of course you have. And that is how I feel right now. Like I have an awesome secret tucked away in the corner of my mind that is just aching to get out, stretch it's legs and make itself known to the world! Except in this case, it's not a secret at all. It's my happy thought. During the chaos of these recent days at work I can take it out and think about it and mellow the work stress away. I'll share it with you. Are you ready?
*Whispered*
ROME
Or, in a single word: Vacatioooooonnnnnnnn........ (It's better if you say it slowly. Obviously)
And yes, I am going to the Middle East too (yay!), but Rome is my personal epiphany.
That's it. All it takes to make me grin from ear to ear like a slap happy little nitwit. That place makes me giggle like a schoolgirl with delight. I wish I knew all of the reasons why. But then again, if I knew all of the reasons why, it probably wouldn't be quite so magical for me. Or maybe it would.
I've always felt a pull, a draw to Rome. Something inviting me there, beckoning me to behold. Ever since I opened that history book in Mr. LaRue's sixth grade class to the section on Rome and saw, in brilliant color, photos of marble busts, gold jewelry, the Colosseum and ancient textured walls. It was entrancing and I was enthralled with it. I even dressed a Barbie up like a Roman woman and had my Dad help me create a Roman chariot for my barbie horse to pull for a history assignment.
When finally I was able to visit Rome for the first time earlier this year, it did not disappoint! (as you might have guessed from my enthusiasm for the place) Instead, it renewed and reinvigorated my love for it. Have you ever had a magical day? Or three? A small part of your time on this earth where everything worked in your favor? The stars were aligned (if you believe in that sort of thing) and Lady Luck was your best friend? That happened to me in Rome. And like any respectable addict would, I want to go back for more! I'm hooked! Three days of being stopped in the streets by Italian men and asked for my phone number, given a bottle of wine, eating amazing pasta and Gelato, getting reamed out by a middle-aged Italian woman for running across the street in front of an ambulance (Yes, I add that to my list of good fortune because, hey, it happened in Italy. It was exciting. And ridiculous. And feeling the wrath of an Italian woman is just so quintessentially Italian!)
I've heard of many people feeling the same way about Paris.
"America is my country but Paris is my hometown" (Gertrude Stein)
Ditto for me. Except replace Paris with Rome (obviously).
I do like Paris quite a bit too, in case you were curious.
Just for now, I have a secret. I'll keep it in my pocket close to my heart and take it out to look at it when there's no one around.
What's your happy secret? Don't worry, I won't tell.
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