“Let’s meet in Rome. I dare you.” That was Agat’s WhatsApp message. I immediately replied … “Tell me the dates, we’ll be there.” And we were.

That was Domenico’s question as we sat down to dinner at O’ PER BACCO, a lovely trattoria in the Piazza Giotto, on a recent summer evening. “Self,” I thought, “maybe it should be.” My thought bubble continued. I’ll combine it with other meals we’ve eaten here. It’s always good eats…

Part 14 … and final chapter … of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY Pilates, then zumba, had re-started … outside. It was GREAT, physically and psychologically. It took a couple of pilates lessons to get my balance back … important for someone who pretends to be a retired ballerina. My…

Part 13 … the penultimate … of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY It’s rainy and damp. The garden is getting a slow start … and we wonder what kind of growing season it will be. In France, grape vines have been hurt by recent below freezing temperatures … and we…

Part 12 of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY March marches forward. I had vaccine envy as more and more of my American friends were announcing first shot, second shot … plans to travel in the summer. I checked the Lufthansa app, then United … and Delta, which flies from Pisa…

Part 11 of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY And just like that, it’s 2021.

Part 10 of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY I meant this sarcastically, of course. Because, well, nobody. Tuscany was now an orange zone. Semantics. For us. Orange and red are almost the same, having to do with who can and cannot work … we still needed at least one good…

Part 9 of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY It was time to pick up our new car, our new electric car … the Volkswagen ID.3. It was announced for delivery in the spring, then the pandemic struck and production stopped. My friend Mark loves his EV. That’s how people with…

Part 8 of THE YEAR OF LIVING COVID-ANGEROUSLY September started with much cooler temperatures … including the words “I’m cold.” …