Up and Down Arezzo's Streets

Well, I am certainly not a chiseled, fashionably dressed, young Italian stud, but Aliyah walks well with me by my side. We walk up and down the very old streets of Arezzo, stopping for a cappuccino here and a cafe' latte there, and then we walk a little more, and we stop for a cappuccino here and a cafe' latte there. It is wonderful being with her; she has a purity and a beauty that is absolutely lovely to be around, and there is no one more beautiful here, no matter how high the makeup or style has been designed....

So, we promenade up and down the wonderful alleyways. I keep thinking of Jean Val Jean and his lovely little Cosette, who had blossomed into the loveliest young woman, in Les Miserables' taking their daily stroll, resting each day on the same bench in Paris( you must go and buy at least the abridged version of the story- the amazing musical does not provide enough background to fully understand the developments surrounding each part of the play).  Oh, and with that reference in mind, I might as well clue you in to the other prominent sounds and references that are resonating in my head over and over again: One is the song, Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, and the other is the final song from the movie, Gladiator, when Maximus is set in motion, transitioning from this world to the other. I think to me these two musical wonders represent the true essence of beauty that the Italian reality has to offer.

I have that soul wrenching depth of feeling, the inner, passionate Italian residing within me, but I am wondering and asking God to help me understand why I have ventured back in time to reinvestigate this karmic connection in Italy. I am very content to be with my daughter, who also has blossomed into the loveliest young woman, but I also am very anxious to find light and God's will in motion no matter where I go. So, for me it will take some digging and some inner work to unearth the subtle secrets or lessons that I am here for.

Don't get me wrong; I can continue to walk and stop for cafe' lattes here and there, and it is only my first day here, but my soul must have more nourishment. I don't have enough time to just latte myself to death! There are quite a few Morrocans in this town ( they even dress stylishly in their jibbas and head scarfs and designer shoes), and I can feel myself being drawn toward them. Perhaps a meeting and a greeting with my Morrocan brethren and of cup of tea, for God's sake, is what I need to get the ball rolling. I am sure that when we investigate Sicily, and especially Marettimo, where the Arabs have left the greatest legecy, the cous cous itself will restimulate my senses.

I don't mean to demean all things Italian, but my entire life has gone against the grain of my upbringing, and I didn't write the script. I was beaten literally, figuratively, and any other way you would want to describe it, out of my Catholic existence, so artistically I can love and appreciate all things Italian, and appreciate any Italian person as I would any other fellow human being, but my love of God was preserved in my inner life flight recorder when the Holy Rome Catholic flagship crashed for me years and years ago.

So, with that, this blog ends. Please forgive me if any of this is offensive to anyone reading this. If I elaborate on what I experienced at the hands of certain sado masochists adorned in robes with crucifixes dangling, every fiber in your being would rise up and want justice, no matter how long ago it was. My life has been filled with wonders beyond anything that I could have ever imagined since those days, so I am filled with gratitude to God for leading me to the light, and giving me a path of openness and freedom. My best to any and all of you tuning into this blogcast or whatever it is called. Please download the two songs and read Les Mis. Arivederchi