Ode

 My aunt Erika died.

She was 91, so we can't be too dramatic about it
and she's lived a full life, though not without a good deal of struggles.
I hope it was also a fulfilled life, but she's the only one to know that.

When I was little, she was my favourite aunt.

She was probably everyone's favourite aunt.
She was fond of children, but didn't have any of her own.
So during summer holidays, all nieces and nephews took turns in 'going on vacation at aunt Erika's',
always in pairs of two
 (my father had 12 brothers and sisters, so there were quite a few of us).

When I was older, I got to know her as a wise but stubborn woman,
who had no interest in superficiality but looked for deeper, spiritual truths.

In these past days, I have realized that I have adopted some of her habits or characteristics.
Just like she did, I have a cupboard with colouring books, games and puzzles for the grandchildren,
and when they were little and came to visit us, they immediately ran to 'their cupboard'.
I am the favourite 'aunt' of each and every one of them, at least until they start puberty.
And I think I have some of her weariness of society.

Of course, I have learned and adopted much more from my mother,
my father,
my Love
and if you think of it,
we learn from every person we ever meet
- as long as we're not too absorbed by ourselves.

Thinking of that, 
it feels as if I can see the seams of society,
keeping us all together,
expanding,
making humanity go on,
generation after generation,
as a never ending spiderweb.


clara

 Lazy Sunday.

Since about 5 months, the Lion King is unable to walk independently for more than a couple of meters, a consequence of his cancer intervention at the end of last year. 

That's why we're spending as much time as possible at the sea, in the water, because it's the only way to leave the house without being too much in pain.

But on Sundays we go out for breakfast and try a short walk in the park.

Some days are better, some are worse.

Today was worse,

so we made it short and spent the rest of the day with dolce far niente.

 

Clara 

 Neapolitans don't like to plan in advance.

I think it has to do with living in the shadow of a vulcano that will sooner or later wipe out half of Italy (or more).

 'There is no certainty about tomorrow, so let's enjoy today' really is pretty engrained in the way they live.

Even after ten plus years, that philosophy still isn't even slightly engrained in me, but I do admit that it has some good aspects, every now and then.

Because just when I thought my holidays were as good as over and today all I would do would be clean, iron (with a view) and moan about my period,

 

Enzo, the son-in-law, called to ask if we felt like eating una zuppa di cozze (typical Neapolitan dish based on mussels) tonight.

Luckily we found a restaurant that's open (because you know, national holiday week) and it was...

 

 

Clara 

 

 Day 8 of my summer holidays.

Last day, really.

Every summernight,

when the day with all my 'have to do's' is done,

 and the cat awakes from her heat induced summer lethargy,

we lay down on the balcony floor

and watch the stars.

Or at least, I watch the stars,

she's just her adorable 'let the night roaming begin' self.

For 10 minutes, we are living the moment, together.

The longer you watch, the more your eyes adjust to the night and the more stars you see. 

I'm sure there's some analogy with life in that,

but my period just came through and I'm not in the mood. 

 

 

Clara 

 Day 7 of my summer holiday.

 Sea, now with the other daughter, her husband and one of their sons.

 Why the sea, you might ask?

Because it's too hot to do anything else. Only tourists think they are above the laws of physics.

We know we are not.

This year summer has been really atrocious when it comes to heat. It's getting worse so fast that it frightens me.

We're even talking about finding a house in the mountains in order to survive summer.

The irony is that when scientists warned for climate change 40 years ago, people didn't take them seriously.

Now that it's clear they were not only right, but even underestimated things, people still refuse to believe them and say it's bioengineering...

Make it make sense.

 

 Meanwhile, my sweet love today

 

 

 

Clara 

 

 

 

 Day 6 of my summer holiday.

 This song gives a good idea of my week

 

The first phrase:

'you can smell the sea

in the dreams 

of those  who never leave'

 

The week of August 15th, 

all people who can't go away for the holidays,

(like us) 

go to the beach,

like us.

 

Because yes, we are so very very lucky to live nearby the sea. 

It was calm until Monday,

but today was a real inferno.

 

But still,

somehow,

it has its charm.

 

 

Clara 

 

 

 

 

 

 Day 3 of my summer holiday.

 

Around August 15th, Italy falls silent for 2 weeks.

Historically this can be explained because up in the north of Italy, a lot of people worked for huge car factories like Fiat and they closed in August. Therefore all of the thousands of smaller businesses that were suppliers of the car companies, were out of work, so they closed as well. And so pretty much all of Italy is on holidays at the same time.

Personally I like it.

Sure, you don't want your car, washing machine or plumbing to break down, you don't want a tooth inflammation or other medical problem and you need to take certain precautions because apart from some supermarkets EVERYTHING IS CLOSED.

But as we live in the densest populated region of Europe, it's nice when the streets are quiet and the park is empty.

And it somehow creates a sense of community, an overall holiday feeling.

It also forces you to slow down, you can't just pretend life goes on as usual, because it simply doesn't.

I like it.

 

 

Clara 

 Day 1 and day 2 of my holidays:

 

 

Lion King with youngest daughter and grandson

Clara

Lessons from Mr. Romantico

These nights are the Perseids,
bringing 'a shower' of falling stars
and between 3 and 4 am there's most chance for us to see them.

So I set my alarm at 3 am
and sat down on our balcony.

5 minutes later the Lion King appeared
'I woke up and you weren't there'
and sat down beside me.

And so we sat
- and later lay on our backs -
for 40 minutes
in our underwear
in the summernight.

We saw only one falling star
but life hadn't been this romantic
in quite a while.

clara