Taking It Easy

      After 55 years of marriage and over thirty trips to Italy,

this will be our last time to cross the pond. Since 1971 we have traveled to Europe. In 1971we were just kids, in our early 20s. We hadn't even started full time jobs but took a leap of faith and boarded a plane, me for the first time, carrying our backpacks complete with sleeping bags. We hitch-hiked the British Isles,

found long lost relatives, walked countless miles, slept in places our mothers would have been aghast to find out about and made new friends. Next, we Hover Crafted across the channel for another two months where we explored a dozen countries on a student rail pass. After a few weeks we bought a tent and decided to camp the last six weeks. Lynda had never camped before. It was a whole different experience where we would meet the 'real' people of Europe.

    Now we are older, 77 and 76 respectively. Last Fall, Lynda had a serious fall which stopped her from walking for some strange reason. Now, after PT and God's grace, she walks with a cane. I, also, have a bad back but am at least, very mobile. The long trips across have gotten harder for us, especially my lovely wife. I have tried with this trip to make it more comfortable for us. We are flying Air Canada to Montreal, a long stop there to get a change of seats for her, and then a shorter than normal for us, flight to Rome. I have paid extra for more comfortable seats just behind first class. I hope this helps. (Speaking of Air Canada, they threw us a curve last week by having their attendants going on strike, shutting down the airline. They settled, thank God, and we will be on our way.

    Usually, we add extra countries to our trips, but this one will just be in Italy. We are spending a week in Tuscany, three and a half weeks in Le Marche, an area where we have made many friends

, and then a week in Puglia before heading back to Rome for a couple of days. It will be hard saying good-bye to our dear friends over there, but it must be done.

    So you can see, like the old song, "This Will Be The Last Time'.