Venice: Chapter two

     I am amused. Imagine yourself in Venice, no map, meandering through the streets and canals feeling a little lost, turning left, then right, looking for that sign that will finally point you in the right direction. It will come, it's hard to get lost in Venice, you will find your way sooner or later. And, we will wander through these next few posts, you may feel lost, every now and again, I take you somewhere you hadn't expected, and surprise you with a photo ( a great view ) and sooner or later, a point and an end, and then, you may begin to understand Venice.

     In my previous post I mused, cappuccino was an event, a chance to sit, relax and enjoy, but, enjoy what? The answer is: enjoy the moment. Enjoy, the moment. This is why I am writing, therapeutic as I write my thoughts, a life lesson learned as I ponder, read along if you would like. Seems like a no-brainer, but how many of us enjoy the moment? If I could do it, I would sleep better, yes?

     I have added a few pictures here, a few chances, a few opportunities for you and I to stop, and enjoy a moment:

Above: around every corner, down every alley and over every canal in Venice, is a chance for a great photo. The great thing about Venice, Venice is the attraction. So, leave your map behind, and maunder about the streets of Venezia.

Above: Day has been practicing her Italian, for two months now, in preparation for our trip. As we walked the neighborhood of Murano ( famous for glass blowing ) we came across this canal. The sun was shining, reflections of the buildings, and add in the laundry, and we have an interesting photo, no? I wasn't the only one who thought so, three or four other people were taking the same picture. The amusing part of the story is, as myself and a handful of others were taking these pictures, Day had overheard a couple of locals, calling us crazy, crazy for taking pictures of laundry hanging on a line.

Above: the famed Grand Canal, from the Rialto Bridge, at, 5:30 in the morning. I have plenty more photos of the Rialto and the Grand Canal, but as usual, I have gotten off track. Cappuccino, an event, a chance to, enjoy the moment, never lost in Venice...

     I have now received my second application for AARP, in as many months. No, I am not at all concerned about turning 50, I could care less about my age, my life has only gotten better over the years. My body is not as enthusiastic as I am though, years of construction has taken its toll. My back is always sore, my knees hurt, but with any luck, my wife and I are doing all the right things, to enjoy an early retirement. "My wife and I," *smile* we have now been together almost, eighteen years and married for almost ten. You do not make it eighteen years without some bumps in the road, and, 2014 was a bumpy road for Day and I. Right now, if you are reading this, I imagine you are one of two kinds of people; if you are smirking, and nodding your head, you are in a long term, committed relationship, ten, twenty, thirty or more years, and understand, if it is meant to be forever, it is going to take hard work, and the only option, is to work through it. As I had said in the beginning of my post, I began writing this on the train. I took this picture at the station.

How long, how many decades have these two cared for, fought with and loved one another? Can we stand the test of time, only time will tell.

Second, if the idea of Day and I having a rough year is worrisome to you, well understand, relationships are hard, and they should be. John Lennon was wrong, love is not, all you need. He left out, patience, understanding, the ability to communicate, comprise and forgive. Oh, and the learned art of, selective hearing, also the ability to appear to be listening, when in fact you are, well, doing most anything else. For those of you who are young, and think you are in love, it takes years to learn to love one another, and it was Nazareth, who was closer to the truth with, "Love Hurts."

     What does all this mean? I am in Venice, Italy, enjoy, the moment. Luckily, there is plenty to enjoy in Venice, and Day and I took every opportunity to stop, enjoy the moment, and one another. Something maybe, we don't do often enough. Yesterday is the past, tomorrow has not come yet, we have only today, this moment to get it right. Learning that takes time, patience and experience.

A picture of fruits and vegetables?  I like taking pictures, finding an interesting shot, this was taken at the local open air market, go north over the Rialto, and head NE. I liked the colors, and wanted to see how it photographed.

I also love food, I enjoy food, good food. But, do I sit, and enjoy the moment, the hour with my wife, at the dinner table, when we are out with friends or by ourselves at a restaurant, or am I stuck on yesterday or tomorrow?

We did a tour, usually I am not a big fan of tours, they are, so touristy. We like to think we are not your average tourist, but I suppose we are. Anyhow, I liked this tour, the guide was great. She gave us some great background and history on Venice. So, for a couple of hours, I, was lost in the moment.

Here is a question: how often do you, enjoy your spouse? I don't mean love, I mean, enjoy each other, enjoy his or her company. Sometimes I realize, I truly enjoy spending time with Day. I think it comes as a surprise, because we don't do it often enough. We work, we mow the lawn, clean the house, on and on and on, you know the routine. Days go by, then weeks, months, and before you know it, the year is over.

It's easy to enjoy one another when on vacation, but now vacation is almost over, and we still need to learn to take time to enjoy one another, or enjoy a moment, or, just enjoy today, like the Dalia Lama had said. I am finishing this post from Milan, the morning of our departure. I will write one more chapter about our Venice trip, from home.