First Impressions

Stepping off the bus in Spoleto I immediately noticed a freshness in the air. The air tasted sweeter, more pure.  I became aware of certain muscles in my face that seemed stuck in a smile.  The architecture taught me volumes about a subject that I used to be considered an expert in.  For years I have been distressing painted surfaces to mimic age and character.  All of a sudden I was confronted with the real thing.  My feeble attempts at creating ancient texture were revealed for the forgeries that they were. 

 

My senses were enhanced in general perhaps due to the traveling, perhaps due to the sweetness of the air, perhaps due to the realization that all the months of planning had culminated in my actually being present in Italy of all places.  At dinner, the rat race flowed off my back and I felt a tingling in my extremities as the knots compressing my neck muscles began to relax.  As I hydrated and relished the savory, fresh cuisine, my being rejoiced in the simple pleasure of good food and good company.  Each colorful dish that was placed before me to savory nourished me with a calm, pleasant glow that made me want to linger even though I was exhausted and dehydrated.  Lingering over a good meal and relishing camaraderie invigorated me and left me with a sense of peace and contentment which has led to gratefulness.