The Tortelli's
I met the Tortelli family last September. If you would like
to read about how we met I've written a short story about it.
The Tortelli's are my way into Italy's famous "dolce
vita". They are a not so rich
family that benefit from the social democratic government that places a sliding
scale of the cost of activities children might enjoy. The two youngest Tortelli
girls took two-week trips around the Mediterranean Sea, one on a catamaran the
other on a sailing ship.
The oldest girl will study abroad next year. The middle
daughter will attend a music academy and the youngest needs to be reminded to
do her homework. All three girls are extraordinarily beautiful.
The mother, Gloria Tortelli, simply must have cheese, onions
and garlic in her kitchen. Gloria's husband, Giuseppe, cannot do with his bread
and wine. At their kitchen table, everyone talks at once.
Picnic on the Wall -
August 30, 2012
Last September, when I studied Italian in Lucca, I stayed
with Alessandra. We planned to hike in the mountains today. However, she called
yesterday to let me know she had to work, but invited me to picnic this
evening.
Italians eat their last meal of the day sometime after 8 pm.
It is dark when we gather in one of the many parks on Lucca's wall. I remember
some of the people gathered from my last visit. A congenial group, on the
picnic table they display an abundance or food and wine.
At one point I wander off a bit, full of food and drink,
feeling the cool evening breeze and marveling at the beauty that surrounds me,
I conclude, Italians truly live the good life.
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