After the Storm

We had an incredible storm here last night. The thunder startled me once or twice in the middle of the night and I could hear the rain falling. After I got up and began my morning routine of praying in Pier Giorgio’s room, I heard some noise on the front lawn. When I looked below, I saw one of the Polish men standing over a branch that had fallen from an apple tree. It looked like it had been struck by lightning. A few minutes later, one of the Polish cooks was out there picking up as many of the apples as she could. I’m hoping to see them later in a Polish dish that is something like an apple fritter! After all, when life gives you apples…

The storm also managed to clear away three days of clouds that had been hiding Mount Mucrone from view. Once again, I am enjoying that majestic sight from Pier Giorgio’s bedroom window. It will have to get a little warmer, though, to be able to climb the mountain. So much of daily life here depends on the weather. For example, most people still hang their clothes out to dry. When the sun isn’t shining, that can take days. To think that doing laundry would depend on the weather forecast! All around, it is a much simpler life, a casual pace. Walking along the cobblestone street to Mass in the evening, I exchange a “Buona sera” or simply “Sera” with everyone I pass. There is a certain dignity bestowed when you look a person in the eye and greet him. It was something Pier Giorgio was known for – the way he made every contact a human contact.

Well, the dogs are barking, the rooster is crowing (he crows all day long!), the church bells are ringing, and it will be time for dinner soon. If there’s anything you want to know about life in Pollone, send an email to [email protected] and I will do my best to give you my view from the villa. ///cmw