Summer in Italy

Saturday--I took the four children (Max, 9: Lucia, 8: Ella, 7 and Elisa, 4) to get ice cream. The wind was blowing, the heat was melting the gelati WAY faster than we could possibly consume it. The five of us had gelati all over the place--it was quite a scene. The only one not making a mess was Elisa. She managed to be totally zen with her gelato--it melted only as fast as she ate it. I'll have to study her more.

:-)

On the way home, Ella and Lucia, best friends by now, walked along, hands linked together, occasionally in quiet conversation. They pointed out beautiful flowers outside a florist. Ah, beautiful, yes. I kept walking. Ella ran up to me and asked if she and Lucia could spend their own money to buy something. bubblegum? a toy? jewelry? Depends on what it is, I say. Ella says in a half whisper, "we want to buy flowers for Auntie Natalie."

The scene that followed seems out of a movie--Lucia (8) and Ella (7) pointing to flowers and asking how much to the store owner. 10 euros for the dozen yellow roses. I point out the ones in the front of the store (they look much less expensive for a seven and eight year old). The vendor tells the girls 2.50.

Lucia paid, making sure that Ella would pay for half when we got home (what is half to an eight year old).

The vision of these two girls walking home, planning their surprise to Auntie Natalie. Each one carrying the long, dried flowers for a time. They were an absolute vision.


		more from Saturday
	Saturday--I took the four children (Max, 9: Lucia, 8: Ella, 7 and Elisa, 4) to get ice cream. The wind was blowing, the heat was melting the gelati WAY faster than we could possibly consume it. The five of us had gelati all over the place--it was quite a scene. The only one not making a mess was Elisa. She managed to be totally zen with her gelato--it melted only as fast as she ate it. I'll have to study her more. :-) On the way home, Ella and Lucia, best friends by now, walked along, hands linked together, occasionally in quiet conversation. They pointed out beautiful flowers outside a florist. Ah, beautiful, yes. I kept walking. Ella ran up to me and asked if she and Lucia could spend their own money to buy something. bubblegum? a toy? jewelry? Depends on what it is, I say. Ella says in a half whisper, "we want to buy flowers for Auntie Natalie." The scene that followed seems out of a movie--Lucia (8) and Ella (7) pointing to flowers and asking how much to the store owner. 10 euros for the dozen yellow roses. I point out the ones in the front of the store (they look much less expensive for a seven and eight year old). The vendor tells the girls 2.50. Lucia paid, making sure that Ella would pay for half when we got home (what is half to an eight year old). The vision of these two girls walking home, planning their surprise to Auntie Natalie. Each one carrying the long, dried flowers for a time. They were an absolute vision.