I can grow old here. I can be old here! "The Old Woman, her body becoming the tortured ruin of a lifetime, is the true goddess of travel. Her knowledge and experience now have no material purpose except reflection. Travel is where we truly meet ourselves. The goddess's physical beauty lies only in her eyes. Her allure is the life of the mind." I will become her, but not yet. Not yet.

On Thursday, April 28th, I started my engine in the parking lot at Fiumicino at exactly 9:58 a.m. and via the Aurelia, then through Canino to Aquapendente, then up the Cassia, I arrived at Chiusure at exactly 12:58 p.m. My friends took me in, pampered me, and whisked me off to the Siena questura first thing Friday morning.

The officer at the desk in the questura said the next appointment for applying for a permesso di soggiorno would be on August 2. But then he looked at me and said (and he was mad cute), "Oh, but I see you have all of your documents with you! Sit down. I will do it now!" When asked my civil status, the reply was nubile (single) to which he replied, "Then we all have a chance." Not just a PdS (miracle of miracles!), but a touch of chivalry. Off to a great start! We went to dinner in Buonconvento at I Poggioli to celebrate and be welcomed into my new status as an Italian resident.

On Saturday, Z and I went for lunch at the Cantina della Rocca at Castiglione and then opened my house to air it out. This was the moment: did I do the right thing? Oh, yes. Yes!

On Sunday, I moved in and was called on by my friends, C & E, in town who welcomed me warmly. After going down to see P's new land and his donkeys behind Monticchiello and garnering more warm welcomes from friends there, I went back to spend the night at Il Loggino. Sono a casa!

First thing Monday, I drove up the road to the great hardware store and purchased a commodious mailbox to affix to the front of my house. I stopped in at the P.O. to tell our postmistress to let the deliveries begin! I dropped off laundry at the two day a week service and the geometra and his assistant walked every inch of the house with me again so we could prepare the permit papers and hope to start construction in three weeks.

My brother-in-law had sent his best childhood mate my way and we had a great afternoon in the house and garden before I saw them off to Montalcino. G and Z came just before they left so G got to meet another couple of Aussies. Mad progress was made on the garden. Of course, the shady bar owner from down the way stopped by to warn us of vipere. It seems someone was bitten while picking wild asparagus up at the Rocca just the day before but do we believe him or figure he's just messing with us again? P also called to tell me I would have phone and internet service within two weeks! I went back to Chiusure for a New Orleans style meal that G & Z whipped up. Yummy!

Tuesday was Sinalunga market day and paying my slightly overdue home insurance and then a speed shop at the COOP . Then I went home to Castiglione and ran into another friend there, S. More warm hugs. I then took a long nap, made a little dinner, went to bed early. The weather has been spectacular. Blossoms everywhere. And so green. There was a little sprinkle during the night, but Wednesday dawned glorious again.

I went to my local MPS to change my address and take some cash, hung out with friends in the main piazza for a bit and then returned to Chiusure for dinner and computer tasks.

So everything is everything here. And I'm so glad I came.

posted by Joanna @ 5/05/2005 04:47:00 PM