December 21st 2023 to January 3rd 2024

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season !

Here, for my two weeks in Adrano, I had prepared myself for a solitary end to the year, with a call to the family on Christmas Eve. Away from relatives and friends, these moments don't have the same meaning, so I had set a little sedentary program for myself. Reading, cooking, a self-taught introduction to meditation, learning the basics of photography and my camera, and of course a few bike rides in the area... So, two very full weeks indeed...

Well, I... I didn't achieve the quarter of the half of my objectives... much to my delight !

Laura, who rents me the apartment, first invited me to spend Christmas Eve with her family, at her parent's place just below mine. I felt so moved and delighted ! I first helped out in the kitchen with a few dishes, including a caponata under her mother's direction, and then spent an incredible evening, surrounded by her husband Tino, her daughter Emma and her boyfriend Federico, her parents Alfio and Concetta, her brother-in-law Angelo, her aunt Piera (a pastry goddess), and finallly Argo, the tireless cocker spaniel. Between Sicilian culinary delights, salty and sweet, there was much joy and smiles ! We played enngaged card games, as in the tradition, and I was even spoiled a bit more during the gifts session ! What a night !!!

The following days were a succession of heartful moments, shared with my new Sicilian adoptive family. Between walks in the mountains, meals at home or in restaurants, card games evenings, sometimes meeting many of Laura, Tino and Emma's friends. I couldn't have hoped for a more beautiful gift and a more wonderful way to spend these two weeks in my temporary sedentary life. I feel so lucky and spoiled, and my emotions have been running high these past few days. Thank you all, here in Adrano, for having welcomed me among you like a member of the family and so well surrounded ! Thank you for the care and your endless generosity !

It's going to be hard to leave them tomorrow :-( My eyes are misty just thinking about it... But they also reflect a full reel of warm moments spent here, which will always be with me to brighten my grey old days!

Grazie alla vita !!!