After a year of living in Ireland, we have returned to our beloved former home of Arezzo, Italy.
Don’t get me wrong, we are LOVING life in Ireland. The people and adventures there are more than terrific. But we longed to walk the cobbled streets of Arezzo’s medieval “Centro Storico” again.
How would it feel to be back for just a two-week vacation? The town and its wonderful residents would have spent a full year working, playing, dining and simply going on. Without us.
So, with fingers crossed, we called out to our former neighbors, schoolmates and pals. Would they make a little time for us? —- Guess what!?
Lulu has gone to camp with a former buddy. She has played with her old girlfriends. We have had our nails done at our former salon. We have visited with Lulu’s Italian “nonno” Mario. We attended a great big feast in our old “quartiere.” In short, we are happily being reunited with our favorite people and places!
Yes, life does go on. Some shops have closed while a couple new ones have opened their doors. Kids have grown taller. One dear friend, sadly, has passed away. Yes, the seasons continue to change and the rain does fall – even on our Tuscan retreat.
But no matter if you change towns, jobs or in our case, countries, you can and should stay in contact with your former friends and colleagues as best you can.
Social media is terrific for doing just that.
In fact, last summer, I went to Ghana through the US State Department to train the country’s 60 spokespeople. My co-trainer was Jeff Eller, a wonderful inspiration to me when I was fresh from college and worked under him at the Democratic Party in Washington, DC – some, er, twenty years ago. We were friends on Facebook. And there we were together again last August in Accra!
So, keep in touch. You never know what fun you’ll have in the future.
As the saying goes: Make new friends, but keep the old.
Baci, Gina
Copyright 2015 Gina London. All Rights Reserved.
