Tomorrow we are leaving for Italy! And we are so grateful to be taking this trip.
People, well a few, ask what happened to my blog. It has gone beyond reluctant, and into an abyss since November. I really am not sure, but it would be easy to blame it on Facebook :), or the fact that I just decided life was more about living than writing. It's not that I stopped cooking with the Sunday Slow bunch, no, I did, but just posted on the the Slow Travel threads. And it's not like there has not been any excitement in our lives: an engagement for our younger daughter, the birth of a new grandson to our firstborn and his bride. But there it is, a submerged blog.
I knew I would bring it back to life for our long planned trip to Italy in June and I honestly planned to write about the planning process, since it consumed me, off and on, for most of a year. Then, May came along, we were waiting and waiting for baby Battin who finally arrived on the 20th of the month. Back when we planned this trip for the day school ended, Matt & Emily had just gotten married; when they told us of the pregnancy in September I had to count because I thought we might be gone. But we weren't and even had planned for a second baby visit with James and his now older cousin Sebastian over Memorial. Unfortunately, the weekend after the baby's birth, while we were celebrating Addison's graduation, David took a tumble.
And it was a major tumble, his knee gave out on the last step of a steep staircase on a steep driveway. Long story short, when we returned home he saw an orthopedic surgeon who said, oh, yes, you are going to need surgery to reattach your quad muscles to your kneecap, and the sooner the better. BUT, he also said that he didn't see why we couldn't go to Italy, if David did not mind hobbling about.
It was a wait and see game of several days, lots of conversations about adaptations (I would have to drive in Italy for the first time, and carry suitcases, etc). Did we really want to go, with limited mobility. The answer was yes, and so after being cleared by the doctor on Tuesday, we have been packing, and organizing. It has been an emotional rollercoaster for me certainly, and a lot of pain/limited mobility for David. Should we have thought about taking the trip another time. Certainly we could have, but it would not be this trip. And in part, it has to do with plans we have made with friends for part of the trip, in part just because we have wanted this vacation for several months.
So we shall be going slowly to Italy, eschewing climbing towers for people watching in piazzas, sipping Prosecco. We cut out one stop, to not move around as much, and I think we will be just fine. Perhaps when we get to the airport tomorrow I will have time to do an intinerary, but for now I just want to breathe some life into my travel blog.
Oh,and to share how David will be traveling, sans crutches, with a cane, or two (we have an assortment from post-hip surgery several years back).
Cin-cin!
Comments (6)
I am so glad you are able to still go to Italy. Have a fabulous time! Can't wait to read all about it on your blog.
Posted by girasoli | June 4, 2010 1:29 AM
Posted on June 4, 2010 01:29
Hi Marcia,
How great to read your blog again after all these months. Sorry to read about David's fall and hope that his knee is healing well. He is so brave to attempt to take your wonderful trip to Italy.
TWO grandsons! Wow, you must be proud as punch! Do you have any pictures of the boys? Could you post some so those of us who are so fond of reading your blog can see how handsome they are?
Your daughter is engaged?
Have the happy couple set a wedding date.
It would be a pleasure to meet your children and now that two of them are parents, I know that you and David are very proud of them and their beautiful sons.
I look forward to reading and enjoying more of your blog. Please write all about your fine vacation in Italy.
Your friend, EC
Posted by Elinor Clymer | June 4, 2010 7:43 AM
Posted on June 4, 2010 07:43
Have a wonderful trip.
Wow! The magic of medicine today. That was much more than the typical knee cartilage surgery. I had a similar surgery way back in college. Moved the quad muscles on the knee cap to keep the cap in place. I did a full knee dislocation when I blew mine out. Back then it was 4 days in the hospital and six weeks in a full leg cast! Today - you're going to Italy just days after surgery. Wow again!
Take it easy and enjoy. Nothing better than sitting in a Piazza in Italy.
Posted by marta | June 4, 2010 8:03 AM
Posted on June 4, 2010 08:03
It's alive! It's alive! (your blog that is) ;-)
I'll be following along every gentle step of the way!!
Buon viaggio!!
lots of love and hugs *heart*
Posted by Mindy | June 4, 2010 8:23 AM
Posted on June 4, 2010 08:23
Marcia, I am so glad that you and David will be able to take your trip.
The blog posts will be great to share your adventures with family and friends.
I blogged nearly every day on our last trip to Italy - to keep people informed AND to document the trip while I remembered all of the details so I could relive it at a later date.
Safe travels!
Posted by nancyhol | June 4, 2010 9:03 AM
Posted on June 4, 2010 09:03
Your's is the first blog I have viewed. Yes, I still live in the 20th century. I love getting your news and look forward to your next entry. Hugs Margi
Posted by Margi | June 7, 2010 7:58 AM
Posted on June 7, 2010 07:58