"Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again." John Denver's lyrics waft through my mind as I return to Gather for an intense day of reading and commenting, only to say goodbye again.
On Sunday of this week, my husband and I are leaving for Italy. Almost a full month of travel through Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, Umbria, the Italian Riviera, the Italian Alps and lake country.
This trip has been an on again, off again affair for the past six months as we reserve and then cancel flights and lodging reservations due to unforseen emergencies. The most recent emergency the hospitalization of my husband Bill last week, when I had to rush him to the hospital at three a.m. He was diagnosed as suffering from acute pancreatitis, taken off all food -- even his diabetes medication and hospitalized until the swelling went down and the pancreas was functioning again.
Anything pancreatic triggers terror within me. It launches memories of my deceased husband Vittorio's death from pancreatic cancer. CAT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds, revealed that Bill's agony had not been triggered by a tumor but by a gallstone. This morning we received the good news that the stone had passed, and that we were free to go to Italy as planned. But get this. Bill must abstain from alcohol and is to eat “no fats” while we are there! Imagine? Perhaps the scenery will compensate for the gastronomic delights that country offers.
Talking about scenery, while on the way home from the hospital we drove through one of the most beautiful fall color scenery I’ve ever experienced up here. Let me share some photos with you to give you a hint of the flavor of a day already seasoned with the joy of release.
We are not taking our computers with us as we plan to spend all our time savoring Italy's joys. At least I will though Bill's experience will be a bit limited -- food playing such an important role there. It will be a while before I connect back here on Gather but I hope you won't forget me in the interim. I certainly will be thinking of all of you.
© Beryl Singleton Bissell 2008
The Minneapolis Star Tribune named Beryl as a "Best of 2006 Minnesota Authors." Her book The Scent of God was a “Notable” Book Sense selection for April 2006. She is a columnist for the Cook County News Herald and has been published in anthologies and periodicals nationwide. See Road Writer for her travel blog and Finding Time for God for her blog on living a contemplative life in a busy world.
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Comments: 32
Please post this to All About Autumn
You can also check the group when you get home, to see the beautiful autumn photos!
Have a wonderful trip.
10 4 u
I took photos yesterday as well, but nothing to match these. wonderful.
I hoep you have a great trip to italy- I am quite envious actually.
I hope that you and Bill have a wonderful time - you'll have to drink both your shares of the wine and eat both helpings of the salami.
The pictures are glorious! They are like a Robert Frost poem in their splendid colours and composition. Thanks so much for sharing
I send blessings and good wishes for your trip to Italy--and may all your surprises there be joyous ones.
My sister in the Philippines was just in the hospital with gallstones a couple of weeks ago too. After surgery, her pains just got worse and they had to take her back in. They found tumors in her lymph glands. So, I might be leaving in a jet plane soon, too...
You and Bill have a great trip, Beryl!!!
I am so glad your husband Bill is well, having only suffered a gallstone. That must have been such a nightmare with your deceased husband, Vittorio; I hope my own beloved wife never has to go through that with me. All the more reason to work out, diet, pray, and keep a positive attitude so I will not relapse.
My prayers and blessings are with you, even if you don´t have a computer and shan´t read this.
I used to live in Milano. maybe you saw the Duomo???
ciao!
you are a WONDER!
such beauty in the face of that worry.
hope it works out well.