Tuscan Sky
66
“Mom just go, it is a trip of a life time!”
“I don’t know honey; I have never been on a trip by myself.”
“Dad would want you to go, we will be just fine, just push the button!”
I look at the computer intently. I am one click away from booking our dream trip. Tuscany, Italy the one place we said we would go one day. Never in a million years did I think I would be going there alone, and without the love of my life.
Tears fill my eyes as thoughts of you fill my heart and soul.
With trembling fingers, I reach over and touch the keyboard.
“Okay…there I did it, I am going! The trip is booked; my flight is due to leave in two days."
I look at my daughter with tears in my eyes.
“Your father and I …”
“I know mom but it has been over ten years, it is time.”
I arrive in Italy about two pm on Saturday. I look around the airport like a lost child. What was I thinking? Me, all alone in Italy? Crowds of people pass me by as I stand with my suitcases, wondering what to do next. The Villa is only a few miles away and I know I have to find a taxi to get me there. Suddenly a young man, speaking broken English asks me if I need a ride and points to his little car outside the terminal.
“Buon giorno!” he says flashing a big smile.
“Yes, I am going to Villa Cypress? Just outside of Florence, do you know where this is?”
“Yes, I will help you, please come.”
He grabs my bags and I quickly follow him to the taxi. My stomach is in knots but at the same time, there is a feeling of excitement that begins to overtake me.
I am in Italy Stephen can you see me?
As we drive through the countryside, I look out the window admiring the beautiful scenery. It is everything I had ever imagined. I did not book any tours, or have any agenda. I was going to try to let things fall where they may. I never in a million years would have guessed I would have done this on my own.
We soon pull up to a beautiful Villa nestled deep in the countryside. There are no busy streets or houses crammed together. I notice wine vineyards on the hillside. The sun is starting to set and a calm begins to come over my soul.
My room is rustic, a true Tuscany decor. I notice a flower painted washbasin and water picture on an antique dresser. The colors in the room are bright and cheery. The old bed, is decorated in fluffy quilts and large pillows. I look out the window to see the sun going down behind the rolling hills. The sky is magnificent in its many arrays of colors. I realize I am tired, and tell myself that tomorrow will be a day filled with adventure. Suddenly there is a knock at the door.
“Buon giorno! Please come join us!”
A lovely woman that looks as if she is in her early thirties motions me to come downstairs. I can hear music and laughter. Before I am able to answer, she grabs my hand and leads me down stairs, outside, where many people have gathered. They all look up and smile.
“Please join us, sip a little wine, sing a little song, and let us be happy tonight!” she says with a beautiful smile.
Before I know it, I am sipping wine, and trying to discern any English that may be coming from the friendly crowd.
I suddenly feel a hand touch my shoulder and I look up to see this beautiful man standing over me. He is not a young man but a very handsome man. He has salt and pepper hair, tall in statue, and a smile that will melt any woman's heart.
“Hello sweet lady, my name is Abramo, welcome to my Villa!”
“Hello,” I reply shyly.
“I see you have met my daughter Bianca. She does not meet a stranger.”
“Your villa is very charming; I look forward to staying here.” I say awkwardly.
My words seem dry, unfeeling, rehearsed. I am a bit nervous. This whole scene is like out of a movie. I feel like pinching myself to see if I am really here in Tuscany, sitting amongst happy people.
The last few years have been difficult. Finding myself a widow, alone, and trying to make sense of it all, has been a work in progress. Here I am on the verge of breaking the cycle of depression. I can feel it. A ray of joy is coming over me. It seems foreign. At this moment in time, I am not thinking about death and loss.
“Thank you, my wife, God rest her soul, loved this Villa. She decorated every inch of this place.”
Suddenly I felt Abramo’s heart, I knew the loss, and I felt his pain.
“I am sorry for your loss Abramo; I too have lost my husband.” as I look into his sad eyes.
Without missing a beat, Abramo says, “So…let us not talk about loss, tonight we dance!”
Suddenly he whisks me up in his arms and I am dancing. The crowd laughs and cheers us on as we dance pass them. I had forgotten I once danced. Abramo twirls me around repeatedly until I am short of breath. He laughs so loudly, and sings out without a care. I too am suddenly smiling so big and laughing like a young girl.
The night passes and I admit I may have had a little too much wine. Abramo escorts me to my room and like a true gentleman, he kisses my forehead, and wishes me sweet dreams. I close the door, and fall onto my bed. My heart feels light, my senses are reeling. I close my eyes and drift into a peaceful sleep…
“Mom! Mom! Are you going to book your trip? Mom are you okay?”
I look up and realize I have been in a daydream...
I quickly push the button on the computer to book my trip.
I look up at my daughter who looks quite puzzled,
“Are you going to help me pack or what? I leave this afternoon!”
Sunnie Day 2011
- The Well in Pollone Chapter One
In northern Italy there is a province known to the world as Piedmont. It is an area that for centuries has been invaded by Romans, Burgundians and Goths. It has been annexed and reinvaded by Byzantines,... - The Well in Pollone: Chapter Two
Eventually we reached Pollone, and I was not disappointed. It was a charming village, and everything nice that Umberto had said about it had fulfilled all my expectations. We drove at speed through the little... - The Well in Pollone Chapter Three
On the first Sunday morning of my stay in Pollone, I was sitting on the stairs; basking in the sunshine when a heard a voice. “Buongiorno,” I looked down to see Olga standing, just inside the great door.... - The Well in Pollone Chapter Four
One evening, Olga drove us to a village on the edge of Lago Maggiore. We entered a piazza in the centre of the village. The piazza was surrounded on four sides by four or five storied houses and apartments.... - The Well in Pollone Chapter Five
But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Days stretched into almost two weeks, and I had to return to London far too soon. I had enjoyed myself enormously. On the day before I was due to leave, I...
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Hey, a Sunnie Santa helper.
Hi Deb,
Thanks so much for stopping by..I would love to go back one day as an adult..was there as a child..I love everything about Italy..Thank you for your kind comment..
Happy Holidays,
Sunnie
Italy is a great country to visit or live.. You will love it there.. BRAVO on the story.. Love your writing..
Hi Delores,
I am like you..it would take alot for me to go by myself. While I seem somewhat bold in this story it is not like me at all..lol
Thank you for reading and stopping by..good to see you.
Love,
Sunnie
Hi, Sunnie - you put a good spin on a story of a dream trip. I still think it would be hard to go to another country alone. If I see something marvelous, even in my own back yard, I need someone I can point it out to or share it with. But Tuscany would be such a wonderful place to visit. Hope you do it. Take your daughter with you!
OH yes Ian please do!...We can have a wonderful time..Jangaplanet can show us all the wonderful places..We all will sit in the evening, drinking wine, telling stories, and just maybe I will get you to dance..
Big hugs,
Sunnie
Take Jangaplanet along with you as well as your husband. he's handsome, Italian, a Roman, Intelligent, a Great Writer... and can I come along too, to say, every now and then, "Isn't this wonderful?"
Hello Seedplanter,
Oh I am sorry..it is a great dream to visit..but not my dream to go alone or without my husband..but to visit this wonderful place would be a dream come true...
Thank you my friend,
Sunnie
Sunnie, Sunnie, Sunnie! You really zinged me with this one! :) I've been sitting on the edge of my chair. I do hope you get to visit Tuscany one day.
Hello Sue,
I hope you enjoyed your visit..I for one would love to go one day and see the beautiful country side..A peice of heaven on earth I bet.
Take care and thank you,
Sunnie
Hi Sunnie
I just got a taste of Tuscany. Thank you.
Voted up up and away!
Hi Denise
I think my husband would let me go with a bunch of friends as along as I did not meet an Abramo..hahah
So happy you enjoyed this story..I do so love Andre Bocelli...I crank up the CD..lol
Take care my friend,
love,
Sunnie
Dear PDx,
Lol You are funny..I am suprised sometimes at some that get censored and others that are not..Oh well..still believe in freedom of speach..lol
Thanks again,
Sunnie
Dear Ian,
I thought you may like that...I am so glad..sort of going on vacation in you own home but I know it is nothing like the read thing,
Much Love,
Sunnie
Hi Kelly,
I will head over there..Just got home from a day of Christmas shopping for the grandkids..I am so not the shopper but for them I would endure anything,
Take care,
Love,
Sunnie
Sunnie Day, I wrote my first hub for you and your convertible.Thanks
Thank you, Sunnie, I have just watched it. oh my!
So beautiful.
i wasn't asking for NC17. I'd be fine with PG-13. I'm surprised some of my HUBS don't get censored!
Sunnie-I'll go with you! I loved Italy when I went with my daughter and thought frequently about my husband, who was back in the states at the time with my younger daughter.
I would love to see Tuscany...never been in that part!
You will have an awesome time. Loved the story/daydream. It was believable...you will meet those gentleman for sure!
This is one of my favorite Andrea B. songs. Glad to see you picked the version wth the translation-always wondered what he was singing. I saw him in an opera once, in Detroit and sat at the edge of my seat enthralled. Great hub-rated up.
Thank you Kelly,
Have a great night!..Your are too kind! :)I am so tired of coloring..went months grey and loved it..its my avatar so probibly will leave it finally..thanks for the encouragement..Have you seen the site Rock the Silver..It is fantastic..
Have a wonderful night,
Sunnie
Sunnie Day, As a porfessional barber a flattop would work for you, you would be super sexy! I cut over 40 women in to flattop at my shop over the years you have the best features for this haircut and go gray already would you. I love your stuff.
Thank you Kelly..I forgot to tell you how stunning your picture was..You can totaly wear the flattop..
Thank you for you wonderful comment. I look forward to reading some of your hubs..I know you just joined and I hope you enjoy hubs as much as I do..
God Bless,
Sunnie
Sunnie Day, VOTE UP!You have such a wounderful gift of writing. What a story. Thank you
Hi Ian,
I would truly love to go there one day..When I read your hubs it was magical..Did you see that I linked them..
I found this video..I guess I can dream..Enjoy my friend.
Love,
Sunnie
Believe me, Sunnie, Tuscany is stunning. The skyline dominated by poplars (Lombardy Poplars, I think, strangely enough) and the farm houses and villages are so, so beautiful.
Italy is so beautiful. And, as you know, I adore the Italian people also.
LOL PDX..trying to keep in G rated..although on hubs I think that doesnt count..:) Thanks for reading and stopping by..I heard Tuscan is beautiful too..would love to go one day..
Thanks again,
Sunnie
cmon. in her day dream she can't get more then a kiss? That makes me sad ;-)
nice story. I hear Tuscany is beautiful. Voted up!
Dear Josephine,
So happy you enjoyed this story...sorry for the little bit of deception..lol..Have a wonderful day..
Love,
Sunnie
Hello Martie,
Oh My friend I am sorry I had to wake you up in this beautiful dream..now go back to sleep dear and you can go back to Tuscany and meet your Abramo...lol
Love,
Sunnie
Ps thank you so much for the lovely song..goes perfect with this hub..I loved it..
I was heart and soul in the story, ready to fall in love, when you woke me up :)) Oh well, dreams are good friends....
You had me, till the "“Mom! Mom! Are you going to book your trip? Mom are you okay?” interrupted my beautiful imagination of your vacation.
Excellent writing.
Dear Rosemary,
SO glad you enjoyed this one. I am glad you had a nice trip and you are back home safe and sound..
Thank you for stopping by and reading.
Love,
Sunnie
Hello Prasetio,
Thank you my friend for joining me on an adventure..
Sunnie
Hello Nellish,
So glad you enjoyed this story..Sorry..could go not any further...lol
He must have found another..:)
Thank you for the smile..
Sunnie
errrrrrrr didn't the dream stop a little too soon. i mean that nice Italian gentleman didn't just go away did he?????lol
a good yarn Sunnie
Nice vacation and I am glad to know this from you. You always show the progress here by produce beautiful hub like this one. I give my big appreciation for you. Have a nice day and Rated up!
Prasetio
I am late, was away visiting family the other side of the country, and now I have so much to catch up on.
I loved this story and the twist at the end. Daydreams are so exciting we can go anywhere we want to go and even though we really didn't go it lightens our hearts and makes us feel so good.
Voted up
Dear Makusar,
Thank you for stopping by my friend. It is a place I would like to travel to one day.
God bless,
Sunnie
Hello Janga planet,
I read that your are form Rome. I feel so honored that you enjoyed this hub.
Ringrazio il mio amico
What a beautiful hub. I enjoyed it much. Una bellissima storia e un ricordo della Toscana! Splendido articolo e complimenti!
Voting up and beautiful!
Ciao:)
Sunnie,
Gretings. This dream shows where the heart is. One longs for a thing and sees in the dream. As beautiful as a dream can be.
With warm wishes,
MAKUSR
Hi Ruby,
The last time I was in Italy was when my brother and I were running up the steps of the leaning Tower of Pisa..lol..I would love to go again though..
Thanks so much for stopping by..Hope you have a great day..
Love,
Sunnie
Oh Sunny, I just loved this. I was so sure you really were in Italy. Loved it..Cheers
Well thank you there my friend Mike..glad to bring you to Tuscany if even for a moment today..
Sunnie
Che magnifica serata. I see I am late. I’ll just clean up these wine glasses and sweep the portico. This was a perfect momentary escape.
Thank you Gary,
I am glad you enjoyed the story. And I accept all the beacons of light and love..We can never have enough.
God bless,
Sunnie
So, as I listen to Andrea Bocelli, I feel and recall the passion and magic of your writing. There is sadness here but sunlight and joy too. Sending you beacons of golden Light. Peace....Gary.
Hello Susie
You are so kind. I am so happy you liked the story..Please read Ian's links below. "The Well In Pollone"..I think you will enjoy his adventures and they were real..lol
Take care,
Sunnie
Thank you Becky,
Once you get through school I hope you will get to travel just a bit.. I am glad you enjoyed this story..Like Mary we can do some arm chair traveling..just close our eyes and we are there.
God bless,
Love,
Sunnie
Hello Ian, When I posted this story and song I did think of you. I thought you would totally relate to this story. I remember reading your stories and loved every word.
"The Well in Pollone"
I would like to link them too..
Thank you my dear friend,
Love
Sunnie
Hello Vinaya,
I think it was a dream at first but soon to come true..taking a step towards love once more. Thank you so much for taking the time to come by..I am so happy you enjoyed this story.
Love,
Sunnie
Hello Bob,
Oh my friend I am such a hopeless romantic..I love all thoughts of love stories unfolding in Tuscany or Irelands countryside..One day maybe we will get to go. But for you my sweet friend there has to be a beautiful maiden waiting on a Tuscany hillside somewhere!:) or on a Mexico gulf shore.
Thank for for your oh so kind thoughts,
Love,
Sunnie
I loved this. My traveling these days is totally restricted to hubpages. Thanks for the wonderful trip. So sorry she had to make the trip alone but the daydream could have a breath of life in it. Beautifully written story Sunnie.
Beautiful story, Sunnie Day! I wondered all the way through it if you were really going there. It is a beautiful place. There was a Hallmark movie that took place there and I loved the countryside. You are a true writer!
You must have known it when you were writing it that I would love this hub... this story. I have an idea you are going to add more to the tale.
Viva la Toscana!
Viva Sunnie!
The past is haunting the mother or is it just a dream? In either case this is beautiful story.
Sunnie...so lovely, I too know loneliness. I love Italy and Italians, but you would be lucky to have your dreams realized like that.
Italians are the most marvellous people on the planet, their economic woes notwithstanding. They have their priorities in order and they are most welcoming and helpful. I hope you do go and meet your Abramo...Bobx
Hi Chris,
Hummm..that is a thought..Still working on Delilah story and need to change the menu every once iin awhile..lol..Thank you for stopping by..
Have a great day,
Sunnie
Hi Mary,
I like your idea of arm chair traveling..sure cost a whole lot less..lol
Thanks for reading..
God bless,
Sunnie
Hi Dave,
I am sure the countryside is alot better than the busy streets of Rome. Thanks for stopping by..Have a blessed day,
Sunnie
Hello Gail,
So glad you enjoyed the story. I love Andre Bocelli..He makes my heart flutter..lol
Thanks for stopping by,
Sunnie
Hi emichael,
When I was a young child we did go to Italy. I actually ran up the steps of the leaning tower of Pissa. I am not sure if you can do that now..I loved the Cathedrals and the beautiful countryside. Of course as an adult I think it would be one of the most romantic places to go..I would love to go before I leave this earth..I hope you get to go too one day..
Thank you for stopping by,
Sunnie
Oh man. Italy is at the top of my list of places I want to visit. Have you been or was this wishful thinking ;)
Loved this poignant story especially the dance and the ending. Thanks for the lovely trip to Tuscany this morning, it was a great way to start the day. Also loved the video.
Voted up, awesome, beautiful and interesting.
I would rather visit a town like Tuscany over a metropolis like Rome any time.
I'm an "arm chair" traveler. There are so many places I'd like to see, Italy included. I daydream about them. This was a great Hub, voted it UP, etc. Have a wonderful day!
I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to this one!
:)
Chris
It is so hard to keep up right now with all the postings..Such wonderful hubs to pick from..Thank you for taking a peak..How wonderful Frannie. I know you will have a fabulous time..Thank you for reading and linking.. Look forward to seeing lots of pics and reading about your adventures when you get back..
Sunnie
So many new hubs to read I'm falling behind but this snagged me because my four cousins and I are actually talking about Italy for Fall 2012. Great day dream! I'm going to send them a link to this. Such fun!
Thank you Brenda,
I bet your mom had the trip of a lifetime..I hope to go one day but with my husband for sure..I was there as a child and will never forget the countryside. Thanks again for reading..Glad you enjoyed it.
Love,
Sunnie
Ah!! That was a tricky ending and I love it. My Mama went to Italy and that had been her dream. Voted up of course and clicked funny because of the ending.
Good Morning My friend Eiddwen,
I have not been getting alerts and it is throwing me off keeping track of new hubs..so thank you so much for letting me know..I do not want to miss one of yours..will head over now..I am glad you liked this one. Getting up early has always been such a good thing for me in writing..I do so much better than late night writing.
God bless,
Love
Sunnie
Hello My friend Snake,
So glad you liked this one..Hope you have a wonderful day..
Love,
Sunnie
"Suddenly he whisks me up in his arms and we are dancing" This is perfect Sunnie Day, I hope there is more? Regards, snakeslane
Hi Sunnie,
This is one of the perks of being a writer isn't it?? We can be whatever we want to be and we can be wherever we wish to be??
A great story!!!
I have been getting up at 5.45 am these last two mornings ,only 15 minutes ealier than usual but then both mornings I have written three hubs before 6.30.
Not sure what is going on-lol maybe the new way of poem composing!!
I am now listening to to your beautiful choice of song!!!Absoloutly beautiufl!!!! So I am bookmarking this one.!!
I don't know if you read my hub yesterday'Our Johnny Robinson'if you have a few moments have read and listen to him singing;he is amazing as well!!
I vote this one up up and awayyyy!!!!!
Take care and have a wonderful day my friend.
Eiddwen.
Hi Fiddleman,
I am afraid vacation is on hold until next summer..just winter thoughts of story telling..lol
Have a great day..thanks for stopping by..
Sunnie
Great day dreaming. Have a great vacation.
Sunnie Day Hub Author 5 months ago
haha..It pays time and half...:)