What happened to my rainbows and sparkles?

Ok... so... little miss Rainbows and Sparkles... (that is me)...

ran into a snag... 

My last workaway.com post didn't work out mostly because 
they needed burly men for clearing land...

... and so...well... I kinda got fired...

What!?  This is a volunteer position!  You can't fire me!

...But Wait!  Everybody loves me!

..I think I've gotten spoiled by having a Salon where only people who like me 
come to get their hair done...

It is quit a privilege really, 
to work in such a positive environment.

Think of it... if you worked in a complaint department, the only people you would see

would be the unhappy ones who wanted to vomit complaints all over you...

And so a difficult part of my journey...
...being 'fired' and subsequently having a bout of loneliness and home-sickness..
 turned into a beautiful part of my journey when I met loving people......

These beautifully kind people were also volunteering at the agritourismo where I got fired... 

(that is located in the middle of nowhere)...

               ...and offered me a ride in their van to the beach which is a closer to civilization...

...so we all stuffed ourselves into the van

 and sang songs along with a little-kid tape 

as we wound our way out of the mountains down to the sea...
(I love to be around people who have not lost the child inside).

Once at the beach,

they called their friend Daniele for me and 
he came and picked me up on his motor scooter,

wait... a motor cycle...um...I have luggage...
...I mean it's only one small suitcase and a backpack but...
..and...I haven't ridden one of these in a long time...
Then I heard the phrase I've come to love...

..."Naaaww Praaahhh-blum"...
...for those of you who can't read my phrasing, this mean "no problem" with a thick Italian accent. You must add the gesture! Bring your hands together, palms up, 
with the arms lifted forward...all the way to the shoulders ...
This phrase will not work without the gesture.  You must do the gesture!

I wondered if I should be concerned about the safety of it all and then made a decision...
 ...to have faith that whatever is supposed to happen will happen...
..I have finally learned that worrying will not change the course of events...

...and so a worry free grin began to take over my face...
...and I felt the freedom that comes with faith...

Riding down the Italian autostrada on this motorcycle made me giggle..
I used to ride motorcycles a lot when I was a kid and feeling the rush of the  fresh,
 warm sea air and freedom of riding a motorcycle once again
 made me smile...
I must admit, it felt a bit like a scene from a movie...
...now about that movie deal...I am actually a part-time professional actress and I love it...
...so I want to play myself and...
(...yes...Leslie Suzanne...whatever...)

OK....so back to real-life...
...but wait...my real-life  is  like a movie...
...anywho...

... so kind and handsome motor-cycle-Daniele took me to to stay with his friends 
Giovanna and Paolo...

They are warm and lovely and own a wonderful B&B named La Meridiana.
These gentile and kind people provided a sort of healing that I really needed
 after my workaway place turned out badly...
once again, I am reminded of the power of kindness...
an ability to help change the course of someones life... 
to become a lasting part of their memory...
...to throw a life preserver to a drowning person and become forever connected...

http://www.lameridianabeb.it/pietracatella/galleria.htm.

Talk about a room with a view!

This view is from my room the B&B La Meridiana near Pescara in Montesilvano..

 

This is the nearby modern town of Pescara that is located next to the Adriatic Ocean.
I once thought that all the towns in Italy must look like Rome or Florence...
but no... there are a LOT of towns that are modern like this one.

This is a nice pedestrian street for shopping, called Via Trento in Pescara, Italy 
( Here there is a great shoe store named Naturino ;)

This expression shows the healing power of kindness...
(The previous week there were a lot of tears)
uh oh..here comes my philosophical side again... 
Without the arduous climb to the top of the mountain, would the view be as beautiful? 
 Without hunger, would the food taste as good?
Without despair, would kindness be as gratefully and completely received?... 
ok! ok!  I'll stop already!



This is my new friend/life-guard Giovanna. 
 It is common for houses to be surrounded by huge walls here, like a little compound. 
She unlocked the electric gate and we took her adorable little car to Montesilvano...

 a random pretty wall there ... 

 This is the town center of Montesilvano with a great view of the sea far below.

This is a lovely restaurant called "Nini"...
isn't that the coolest ceiling ever!

Giovanna introduced me to her hairdresser, Sabia and she invited me
to come along with her and her friend Raffella to enjoy typical Abruzzo food.
(Once again, I see that the Italians are quite interested in Americans and our culture :)

Raffella is Italian and a teacher. She is of similar age and experience as me and she wants to "get out" of Italy and move to America.
That was very interesting because I used to think it would be very glamorous to live in Italy...and here I am listening to an Italian who wants to move to America...

... I think perhaps there is an illusion...
That where we live will make us happy.  I think now, it's how we live.  How we love...
 ...our state of mind and of heart...
the people we love.

But having said that, I do feel blessed to live in America...

Many of my friends thought I would never 

return to the USA...
Let me tell you...
I love Italy and I feel very at home here, 
I am honored to have built many friendships and connections here...

But my Italian friends suffer from government they feel is only interested in power and money and not in their well being.  The taxes are extremely high.
 I realize now that we enjoy a very good economy compared
to many other countries.  We are still the home of the 
American dream and we have much more leisure time that
out hard-working Italian friends...

I have dreamt of bringing small groups of American travelers 
here for years and now I am more determined than ever so
that I can help my wonderful Italian friends with their
businesses.  Please take a look at 
Friends of the King Travel

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-King-Travel-Girl-Travel-on-a-Budget/276813385073

For the most part in America, we "live large" with our cars, houses and entertainment.  Yes, many of us work hard, 
but its usually for bigger, better, newer and shinier...
not the necessities.

This contrast has opened my eyes... I want to live more modestly, responsibly and more gratefully...
Seizing the beauty of each moment instead of being
blinded by always wanting more.
And after experiencing the generousity of the Italians, 
I want to give more too...

And so...

After a week of the surprising healing that comes with generous friendship,
 I decide to go to language school for a week in Florence...

Florence.  Yes famous Florence...
I know I made all this talk about un-famous places, but Florence really is magical...

Thank you for following me on this journey!  
It is all the richer since I get to share it with you!

Please comment, or click the 'follow' button!
I promise, nothing bad will happen!
Nawww Praahblum!
You will just get a little email notice when I have written a new post.  That's all :)

Ciao tutti!  Buonagiornata!