Yesterday afternoon found us in one of the prettiest places we have ever been to in this country, a small town nearby called Locorotondo. We needed a cash machine, and easily found a convenient one. After our transaction, we spun around the periphery and found a nice parking space. We hesitated, it was getting late in the afternoon, but then, I said to Joe...."let's park, grab a Spritz, and enjoy the magnificent view of the valley because, you know what? Life is too short!"
We had just about sat down at an outdoor table with a breathtaking view when I received an email from one of our dearest friends back at home. Beth wrote to tell us, knowing that we would want to know immediately, no matter where we were, that her husband, our dear friend of almost fifty years, Peter, had passed away only hours earlier. His health had been declining. Lung cancer and COPD won the battle after a long and valiant try at remaining alive. We were truly saddened to hear the news. I was especially sad, knowing that were I at home, I would have been in close proximity, ready to comfort and help Beth in any way possible. What an amazing wife she was. Together, with her children, she protected Peter, in his immunocompromised state, from Covid. Because of his fragility, she went nowhere, did very little outside of their home. For two years, her daughter did all of their grocery shopping. Peter never got to enjoy life post-Pandemic and that, for a man who really did, once upon a time, enjoy the best of life, is tragic. So, rest in peace, friend. And, yes, life is too short. Indeed.
This morning started with joy. Another beautiful day dawned and I greeted this one with an early walk through the narrow roads surrounding our lovely vacation home. Clean air, wild flowers everywhere, the sounds of nature. This is so special a place and mornings are incredibly beautiful. In the serenity, there is time for prayer and contemplation. Prayers for friends who are in need, and for their care providers. Prayers for dearly-departed and those who are left to mourn their loss.
When I arrived back at the Casa il Tra Trulli, Theresa and Pietro, the senior generation, were already hard at work. It seems that they never stop working. Their understanding of the ways in which they must cooperate with the land upon which they live, is palpable. They go about their chores in a cadence. She, to her beautiful and already bountiful garden, and he to his agricultural pursuits. We're told, by their lovely daughter, our hostess, Mimma, that Pietro grew up on this very land. His parents lived in the tiny trullo on the property, and in it they raised their children and remained until 1950. Mimma, her brother, and her children, all have lived here for their entire lives.
Shortly after my return, as I sipped my coffee, Mimma sent me a message. Would we like to see the "baby horse" that was born last night? So, later this morning, accompanied by Mimma, we visited the equestrian family and welcomed the newest boy in town. The colt is gorgeous, already following his mother around and nursing. She looks wonderful! Imagine giving birth to a horse and going about your business hours later? Our hostess gave us a lesson in horse-husbandry, explaining that there is one father, and two mothers. The other mother gave birth to their baby horse-daughter just over two weeks ago. So, it's one, big happy horse family back there, complete with last Spring's addition. We learned that the mothers will become pregnant again shortly and that they, after a thirteen month pregnancy, will give birth again next Spring! Fortunately, these horses are for their owner's pleasure, not to become a meal (horse meat is on the menu in many an Italian restaurant), and one day, the new baby will go on to another family.
Early afternoon found us on the road. A nice drive to Massafra, another small city, near the very active coast (lots of shipping happens from these shores to other parts of the world), and lunch at a small trattoria that was also a fish market. Sorry, Cape Cod, but your fish isn't as fresh as this fish! Mine was a cavatelli with small chunks of swordfish and eggplant. I could tell that the fish and veg had been first sauteed in olive oil, combined with tomatoes, and then joined with tiny cavatelli pasta. Joe's was a cavatelli with shrimp. Our antipasti consisted of small portions of everything wonderful from the sea, including stuffed mussels, white anchovies, shrimp and an assortment of other lovely items that only seafood lovers as are we, could fully appreciated. The costs associated with food here have risen, just as they have at home but, this meal was slightly more than the price of a small pizza and beverages for two. Here, lunch is dinner so dinner is relatively inexpensive given the quality, size and atmosphere.
We're back at our joy-filled casa, enjoying the shade and breeze. There hasn't been any rain for a very long time, at least not in these surrounds. The fear is that vegetation will soon die if this continues. While we're hoping that nature will accomodate the needs of those who live here, we'd just as soon have that happen after we depart. We've seen many an Italian rain storm and know that the dry ground does not do well with torrential downpours so please, sometime in the future would be just fine with us.
The day is winding down. We've learned a lot today. Mimma is a wonderful guide to the Puglian lifestyle and together, with our Google Translate apps, we shared life stories and had a few girlie laughs. She's extremely sweet as is the entire family and we have been made to feel very welcomed. She just popped around with a bouquet of lavender, fresh from her garden and some bread crumbs that I will use in prepping dinner much later.
I may even ask her if they might consider naming the new colt Peter. Strong and determined to live.
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