Judgment Day

Well, at last a day of reckoning has come to me. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience, but it did help me clarify my priorities, and I have learned a big lesson. I am not going to share what happened as it might reflect on someone else, something I don’t wish to do, but suffice it to say I was not the friend I should have been and I shall be making an apology the first chance I get. In relaying my experience to a friend, she reminded me that situations that happen mirror my own life and are opportunities for growth and change. If I am judged by others, it is likely because I am sitting in judgment myself. Point well taken. Now, to make the necessary changes…

My friend, Perry, and I took his young sons to nearby Castelion Fiorentino on Sunday. Our original plans had been to visit Orvieto with Michael, sans bambini, however something came up for Michael and Perry had his boys unexpectedly, so plans changed. We bumped along in Perry’s little car, which is surprisingly roomy inside, and climbed the hill to the old part of Castelion Fiorentino, and parked the car near the fortress. A WWII German tank is on display which was a great attraction for two young boys and they enjoyed climbing on it. After pictures, we walked to a small park overlooking the Val di Chiana to soak in the breathtaking view, then walked through a stone gate with enormous wooden doors at least 20 feet tall and meandered to the top of the hill where there was an archeological museum. A sky-scraping stone tower, normally open, stood near the museum, but was closed for the winter. The boys were quite disappointed, but Perry promised them a return trip in warmer weather.

We continued to wander through the town until we found a loggia with a view of the church and it’s slim, elegant steeple reaching skyward. It was a photo opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The boys jumped around, climbed on things, and displayed the large amounts of energy that small boys have. It took me back to the time when mine were small and I wished I had stressed less, and enjoyed more them doing the things that little boys do. We stopped for lunch at a small pizzeria and they enjoyed pizza, which Perry said was outstanding, while I had some salmon pasta in a cream sauce as I have been craving salmon lately. After lunch we found a playground and I played with the boys, going down a slide for the first time in about 25 years, after which I joined Perry on a park bench to discuss parenting and relationships, while the boys played soccer with some local children.

On the way home, I pointed out a castle high on a hill between Castelion Fiorentino and Cortona. We took a vote and since none of us had investigated it, we decided to make a detour. It was a lovely day and we witnessed many people of all ages harvesting the olives which have now ripened into a dark, round richness dangling invitingly from branches burdened with slim, silvery leaves, and one elderly couple allowed me to photograph them. I snuck an olive off a nearby tree as we parked the car and set about to walk the circumference of the nearly restored castle. I have been told olives are bitter, and this was no exception, but it was much less bitter than I had anticipated perhaps because of its ripeness. It was very juicy and the liquid stained my fingers a purple color making me wonder if olives were ever used as a fabric dye.

The castle appears to be a residence with a set of doorbells set into the wall near the entrance, so we weren’t able to look inside, but as we drove back down the hill, I was able to take some lovely pictures as a memory of a wonderful day. I shall miss experiences like this when I return home.