europe 2018

This summer Gary and I visited Europe again. We spent time in three countries. We started off in London just for a couple days. Then we went to Italy and stayed in Peschici, drove through a national forest up a mountain to Monte Sant' Angelo, and ended our time staying in a medieval manor estate/hotel in Fasano. Then we flew to Paris and stayed there a few days before returning to Toronto.

Highlights of our trip included the easy trip from the Scranton airport with absolutely no one in the security line, laughing and driving through the night to catch our flight to London from Boston, meals at the Landmark in London, hearing the ocean at night at Hotel Marcavallo, the quirky front desk guy who kept saying "cool-a," being served a lovely pasta meal by a mother-daughter team at a tiny restaurant a walk from our hotel, driving through the incredible forest, people thinking we were French, finding homemade breadsticks in a tiny Italian town, the amazing hotel in Fasano - Masserina Salamina, meals at this hotel and picnics on the deck, meeting all sorts of nice people including a family from the US, falafels at Le Marias in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, finding one of our favorite restaurants in Paris, Rue Cler dinners, meeting our "adopted" son in the airport - we helped him fly to Toronto from Paris. And of course, gelato.

sky, 22

Sky I remember your face when you were a little baby. You would look at me with those beautiful eyes and there was so much being said without words. Deep connection, trust, love, happiness, comfort, joy.

All the things your eyes said to me then are qualities that define you as a young woman.

This has been quite a year. You started college where you will finish. You have lots of credits from other schools which is great. You started a relationship where you are learning and growing. You did great in school. You traveled to Europe and had well deserved fun.

You are a hard working, strong, and resilient. You are level headed and trustworthy. You are so forgiving and always willing to see the good in people. You are very funny. You are loving and unselfish.  You are always looking out for people you care about. (like making smoothies for me every day for three weeks on summer break :). You are optimistic. You are a good friend to people.

But most of all my sweet girl, you are happy.

I love you soooooo much!
Mama

our summer, part one

In June we took the kids to northern California, followed by Los Angeles and New Mexico to spend time with Amma. Sky joined us on the first stop and brought her boyfriend to meet Amma for the first time. The kids participated in seva (service), mostly serving food. We all got to send time with Amma, hear some inspiring talks, meditate, and see lots of friends along the way. In New Mexico Gary and I got to tour the ashram there, outside of Sante Fe, founded by our friends Steve and Cathy. It was beautiful. I love spending time with my family, especially now that the little birds are leaving the nest.

a garden tour and lunch

Before our summer trip Gary surprised me with a fun afternoon activity. We drove way up the mountain and ended up on a beautiful organic farm property. We gathered with a group of people and toured the farm, seeing all sorts of food being grown including coffee, tropical fruits, all sorts of vegetables and herbs and macadamia nuts. We all picked from the garden to create a big salad. They had a smokehouse where they cooked the food, a chef with a great sense of humor, and enthusiastic young people working the land and serving us lunch. The food was so good, four courses in all!