Three Years in my Life

(After you read this post, please read the following one. I am seeking your input and advice!)

My parents have done many great things

for my brother and I in our lifetimes.

But, I think the most life altering thing they did

was move our family to Milan, Italy when I was about nine.

For three years, we had the distinct privilege 

of growing up in another country,

immersed in another language and culture.

We got to visit other countries from there

and see things that many people will only 

dream of seeing or see pictures of in books.

My brother and I both suffer from poor memories--

for whatever reason we both have spotty recollections

of our youth.

For me, however, my clearest recollections of my youth

are from this time in Italy-- clearly one of my 

greatest times of personal growth and development.

Some of my favorite memories:

Chasing pigeons outside of the Duomo

in Piazza del Duomo,

then going shopping in the Galleria

and then stopping off for some incredible

Panzerotti.

If you ever get to Milan, you must, MUST find this little back alley, hole in the wall panzerotto shop.

For years after leaving Milan, I dreamed of these.

I can still conjure up the smells and tastes of this crowded

little shop. YUUUUUUUMMMMMM.

We lived in a two story apartment at the top

of a building on Via San Filelfo. 

We lived on floors nine and ten.

On the ninth floor was a long balcony

that ran the length of the back of the apartment.

On a clear day from that balcony, you could see the Swiss Alps.

We attended "ASM"- the American School of Milan.

That was an education in many, many ways.

Let's just say that the community at large there was

"free-er" than we had been brought up to be. 

::::smirk::::

One of the great things about my school was the 

huge array of countries represented.

Just in my class alone I remember students from

Russia, Turkey, Nigeria, Norway, Germany, England and America.

I'm sure there were many more than I am remembering 

just now.

My classmates had names like Sven, Murat, Aljosha, Luca, Alessandro, Paolo and Valeria. 

Again, it was an education that had nothing to do 

with books and teaching but life.

Finally, I have the honor of saying that I sustained

an injury in Milan by very special means:

I was hit by a police car (Carabinieri) crossing the street

in front of La Scala!

Yep, I was hobbled right there in front of the famous 

Opera House.

I was whisked away by ambulance and fitted with a cast.

In my mind, I was now officially a celebrity!

Yep, my friends, those were wonderful days and now treasured memories!