Tag Alongs

There is a panificio in Licata, Sicily where the bakers made us feel at home the very first time we went there.  The woman behind the counter spoke just enough English, and we spoke just enough Italian to communicate our stories to each other.  She told us that she has always wanted to go to New York, but is too afraid to fly.  We told her that we sailed across the ocean to see what we could find.  

What we found was Antico bread, and we ate the whole loaf.  We went back for more, and more.  Until one day, when there was none.  If we wanted it, then we had to wait.  It would be ready in 30 minutes.

It was worth the wait!

The woman behind the counter, Adriana, doesn’t know we took her on the plane with us to New York twelve days ago, but we did.  I took her jogging through The Ramble in Central Park at daybreak, past the zoo, and down fifth avenue. 

Michael took her to visit a construction site with his employee Teresa. 

We took her to a Middle Eastern lounge in East Harlem where we listened to live music.  We took her to Zachary’s apartment for dinner, and on a tour of his medical school.  We took her 93 floors into the sky to The Summit observation deck, where we looked at the view of everything. 

We took her to visit old friends in Irvington, and to Maryland for Thanksgiving dinner. 

We took her ice skating, and for a walk along the canal.

Then we took her to The Storm King Sculpture Garden in Cornwall, NY.

On Sunday, she was with us when we watched the snow sprinkle the evergreens, and hush the air around our extended family.  Together we ate turkey, bagels, and diner food.

Now we’re on the plane again, traveling in reverse, and our friends and family from the United States don’t know that we’re taking them to Licata with us.  But we are.  We’re taking our parents, our kids, and our siblings.  We’re taking our nieces and nephews.  We’re taking our cousins and our wonderful friends.  We’re weaving through the narrow streets, to the vegetable stand around the corner from the church.  We’re climbing the steps to the cemetery and looking out at the view of the Mediterranean.

We’re tasting arancini and pistachio gelato.  In my mind, we’re taking them all to Panificio Santa Maria for antico bread, because it feels like our home, away from home, since the very first time we went there.

Last Remarks (in chronological order)

• Thank you Mom for driving in and out of Manhattan umpteen times to spend time with us!  For the rides to and from the airport, the Mentos, the laundry, for your energy, all the love, and more.
• Thank you Zachary for it all.
• Thank you John, Stacey, Kyle, and Justin for Saturday night, for your friendship, and for convincing the kids to hangout with us.
• Thank you Allyson, Hilari, Judi, Lori, Melissa, Shari, Wendy, and Liz for the precious girl time.
• Thank you John and Elaine for hosting our Thanksgiving shindig.  The food was delicious, and the company was even better than the food.  Alice, Steve, Nathaniel, Nicole, Mira, Mick, Tracey, Todd, Ari, and Sammy- thank you!
• Thank you Todd, Liz, Talia, Kayla, Emer, Kona and Grandma Polly for another delicious Thanksgiving, in Cornwall, complete with board games.
• Thank you Aunt Rita for making the trip- the perfect send off!
• Panificio Santa Maria is located at Via Architetto Licata, 137, 92027 Licata AG, Italy.  Licata is a lovely out of the way town, and our home base for the winter months this year.