This piece was prompted by a quote from the late Thich Nhat Hanh:
“Because you are alive, everything is possible.”
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“Here’s how I imagine it,” Ricky says. We’re talking on a screen with 6,000 miles between us. “You move to Italy and settle into your own little stone house. I head over to Paris to pick up Eddie, and we get on a train to meet you in Italy.”
Eddie lives in London; Ricky is in Berlin.
“Why Paris?” I ask. Ricky can’t stand Paris. Dog shit and rude waiters. Those are his main complaints.
“I don’t know. Because I want to meet him when he arrives on the Chunnel?”
“Okay.”
“We take the train to Rome, and then transfer to wherever you are in Italy.”
“That’s a long train ride,” I say, knowing it’s over 11 hours. “Why not rent a car?”
“This is my fantasy, okay?” he says, a little annoyed. “In your fantasy, you can rent a car.”
“Okay. The train is better for the environment,” I say, trying to smooth over my annoying interruptions.
“Exactly,” he says. “When we arrive, you have a beautiful spread waiting for us: local cheeses and meats, local wine from the winery where your Italian boyfriend works—”
“Oh, I like the sound of that!” I say.
“Well, I know how you are,” he says. “And bread of course, which you’ve baked yourself.”
“Nice. What about dessert?” I ask.
“We’ll bring dessert from Paris.”
“Ooo la la!” I say. What I really think is, After a whole day on a train, even the sturdiest eclairs will be soggy. But I don’t say anything. This is his fantasy about our reunion, and in his fantasy, we all live in Europe, and travel at the speed of light.
My dear one,
This is absolutely wonderful. I read it to David. Also spoke to Elizabeth yesterday. She is so happy living in Italy. I picture it all. Who knows there might be a stop over at our little stone house in a town nearby. Definitely you got us dreaming. Of course I know the other characters in your story so can really see it!
Please say hello to Ricky and tell him I believe in his dream and think it is possible. Why not!
Love, s
Sent from my iphone
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Thank you, Sharon! We gotta keep dreamin’!
I can’t wait to meet your Italian boyfriend! I love that he says this is HIS fantasy. Also that you’re secretly picturing soggy eclairs! So you.