Judy, Oprah and Frank

4-13-2009

Today we leave Bibbiano and return to Rome. I woke up early, packed my bag and cleaned my room. Camilla had told me that we were going to leave at 10 a.m. However, she "changed the program" and decided we would leave after lunch. It is a 3 hour drive from Bibbiano to Rome. I spent the morning organizing a heap of toys and playing with the children. I cannot wait to get away from them. I just need some time to myself.

Camilla wanted me to take Peter on a walk, and I would have loved to, but it was very windy and he did NOT want to be outside. This is really frustrating. I lead Peter outside and he runs screaming for the door. Finally, I am fed up. I take him inside and ignore Camilla. He's really unhappy today. I try desperately to entertain him and keep him away from his mother. UGH! I am over this. I keep telling myself, "one more week and you're in Morocco."

We ate a wonderful lunch. Mozzarella and tomatoes, pasta and artichokes. Finocchi ... I've died and gone to heaven. I LOVE FINOCCHI. During lunch I ask the children if they have ever seen The Wizard of Oz. They have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm explaining Dorthy, Toto, magic red shoes, an evil green witch and a good fairy ... They're looking at me like I'm nuts. I'm sure Camilla and Federico know what I'm talking about. I ask why they've never shown the babies The Wizard of Oz. They are clueless. Federico says, "What? Say that again slowly." I explain to them that it is a very famous film starring Judy Garland. Federico asks, "Is she blond?" I cannot believe they don't know of The Wizard of Oz. I will have to see if it exists in Italian and if so, purchase the film for the family. The thing is ... I HATE dubbed films. I mean, part of the charm of this film is Judy Garland's magnificent old-fashioned American accent, and the music ... I always wonder how they manage to translate the songs. The film probably doesn't exist in Italian. I wanted to explain Pink Floyd and The Dark Side of the Moon to them, but I'm sure they would think I was insane.

After lunch, we clean the kitchen and load the car. I sneak some last Easter chocolate for Anna, Ludovica and myself. I forgot to mention that it is Monday and it's a holiday in Italy. It is called Pasquetta. On the way home Federico plays Frank Sinatra. I tear up when I hear "I Did It My Way." He knows Frank Sinatra, but not Judy Garland. Hmmm??? Finally we are in Rome and I hear talk of pizza for dinner. YES!

I help Federico bring in all the bags and then retreat to my room. I don't care. I'm not supposed to work all day. I close the door and immediately connect to the Internet. It has become a major addiction. I hear the family leave the house and I wonder if Camilla is upset that I am not helping. Oh well. I think I work too much. When they return I try to help with the bath, but she tells me not to worry and so I don't. The pizza took FOREVER to arrive and we didn't eat until 8:30 p.m. I was starving. At dinner, another American legend comes up in conversation. Federico is drinking red wine and eating pecorino cheese. This reminds me of the Oprah blue zone special about the regions in the world where people live the longest. I tell Federico that one of the regions was Sardinia because they drink red wine and eat pecorino cheese. He has no idea who Oprah is, but liked my story nonetheless.