« Adriana & Monica Streifer at Mt. Baldy and a Memory »

Today Adri and I drove to Scripps to visit her little sister Monica. She swiped us in for brunch in the dining hall and gave us a tour of her beautiful, private university in exchange for a trip to Trader Joe's with my car. Then we drove 6,000 feet up Mt. Baldy, braved the bitter wind gusts, quickly pointed out that the snow was covered in redwood dust, and left in a hurry.

On the way back to Los Angeles with the sun setting behind downtown, Adri and I compared current feelings about our year abroad together. I try not to think too much about the past - life always gets better - but I did allow for one comparison. In Italy, I spent a lot of time alone. It was easy. I just walked everywhere and looked and thought and looked and thought.

I remember this one time after class when I walked out past the medieval archery tower and directly to the center of the Piazza della Frutta. The starless sky was so pink and heavy that even the evening seafood vendor wasn't there. I turned my face up to the first flakes of snow and closed my eyes. I contemplated my place in the world and how much I love being alive, and when I opened my eyes, the cobblestones were covered white. I really appreciated making that first trail of footprints.

I couldn't reproduce that anywhere else.

Comments

[Adri]

Thank you a million more times for a wonderful day on sunday. I had so much fun with you. Don't worry, I will make up for skipping out on dinner. Honestly, I felt bad; I didn't want to be the third wheel with you and your Dad! I promise, somehow I will get more info about Fetuccine for you...but why don't you try finding out for yourself? Thanks for all the encouragement about the Italian major. I think I will go for it. Un bacione cara.