Life with the Clements

Italy!

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:40:18 -0400

We are back from another memorable trip to Italy. From our base in Sabaudia we renewed acquaintances with family, saw a few new sights, and enjoyed it all again through the eyes of David, Carol, Melissa, Cathy and Joe and the newest adopted family member, Paul (who is the son of Elmer’s cousin in Rochester and came to meet the family). Our house was comfortable, at least when the water was working. Neptune, god of the sea, was angry, we decided. We learned more than we wanted to about Italian sewer systems, hot water systems, how to deal with inefficient Italian tradesmen, and suspicious and exasperated Italian booking agents. Kind of funny now.....

We spent hours at table with our generous and loving family, laughing, toasting, and eating endless amounts of amazing food. Wine tasting with Stefano, our sommelier-to-be, watching Lena serve her family with enthusiasm and love, being entertained by Gabriella and her friends as they performed karaoke to Whitney Houston, watching a local pizzeria/restaurant as it filled with local families on a Saturday night, visiting the miracle of the huge traveling mercato, which appeared at 7 am and disappeared promptly at 1 pm. Finding the rhythm of every day Italian life (no, you can’t get lunch after 1 PM), enjoying at least one gelato per day, discovering new Italian wines. We did a one day tour of Rome with Stefano, who introduced us to the intricacies of the bus system, and the joys of strolling the Trastevere at night. We explored the coast, including the whitewashed simplicity of Sperlonga, and the warm colors and intermingling of ancient and new in Gaeta. We visited the lovely abbey where Stefano and Rosella will be married next summer in Fossonova, and saw the home they are preparing.

And now we are home again, enjoying being able to communicate easily with our girls and having hot, running water whenever we want it, up at 4 AM every morning (gotta love jet lag), and resuming the American way..busy busy busy. But with a renewed connection and appreciation for our Italian side of family, life, and love.

Click here for pictures, there are several videos which take a while to load. Enjoy.

Spring and a Mother's Day surprise

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:59:15 -0400

Spring has definitely sprung, and it is a beauty. After our early warmth, it is now more seasonal, but the flowering trees and shrubs got a big boost. I think Rochester makes up for it’s harsh winters with an exuberant show for those who survive. Toby and I have enjoyed walks in the woods during the transition time, between ice/snow and poison ivy. We had a beautiful sight the other day, as the dawn revealed a heavy fog sitting low down below our hill.

I was anticipating a quiet weekend last Friday, and had dozed off on the couch. I was awakened by the sound of the garage door, which I assumed was Becky returning from her evening shift at the hospital. Well, it was, but she was accompanied by her sisters, who had arrived shortly before, Maggie by air from Chicago and Christine by car from Boston. To say I was a little confused would be an understatement. I couldn’t believe my family could put one over on me like that, and I never had a clue.

We had a lovely weekend, spending Saturday afternoon at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, which is amazing, and enjoying a home-cooked brunch on Sunday, before Christine drove back to Boston. Maggie left for Chicago today, but we’ll all be together again in June, with Grandma and Grandpa. see album

Mid Winter update

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:01:06 -0500

The sun is feeling different these days, even on the coldest ones. A little higher in the sky, a little more intense. Amazing how it lifts the spirits and makes you think spring will arrive, probably not as soon as we’d like to think.

Becky and I traveled to the New York for the last of her scheduled medical school interviews. SUNY downstate is in Brooklyn, where I spent some time exploring while she interviewed. Got to see the Botanical Garden in winter. We were also on Long Island and woke up Friday to a bit of a blizzard. Found out early that our flight home was cancelled, but it all worked out. After spending hours trying to work out alternate transportation, finally got through to Jetblue on our way into the city and our hastily arranged hotel for the night, and they put us on an earlier flight, which we made in plenty of time Yippee!! For once the travel gods smiled on us...

Lots of travel coming up, Florida, California, Florida again. By then spring should be showing some signs of life....we hope....

Happy Birthday to Cathy!

Sat, 5 Jan 2008 17:51:41 -0500

I hope you had a good day, sis! I miss you. I’m so glad we can spend more time together.

Happy Birthday to me!

Fri, 4 Jan 2008 16:19:05 -0500

These are the flowers that Maggie sent to me. Thanks Mags!