Oct. 14 - Ubuntu

Today Susan and Robert celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in Tuscany with their friends.  The day began with a few last minute preparations like buying gifts, decorating, and getting all dressed up.  Everyone (Milla, Linda, John, Sue, Julie, Pam, Robert, Susan) gathered outside at the villa and witnessed the exchange of vows.  Remember Jim is still in the hospital but doing fine and will be out on Monday.

Susan' words to Robert -

For forty five years, we have danced: some misteps here and there, but most of the time we sway in each others arms in complete harmony. Every so often you step on my toes, but more than likely, I step on yours, sometimes very hard.  For all those times, I ask for your forgiveness. In the years to come, as our bodies grow older, and need more support, our dance steps will become slower and more measured. Our love for each other will just grow stronger. I promise that I wiil always be your dance partner until the music stops. May I please have the next dance?

(Per quaranta cinque anni, abbiamo ballato: alcuni misteps qua e là, ma la maggior parte del tempo abbiamo ondeggiare le braccia in ogni altro in completa armonia. Ogni tanto fate un passo sulle mie dita dei piedi, ma più che probabile, io passo sul tuo, a volte molto duro. Per tutte le volte, chiedo il vostro perdono. Negli anni a venire, come i nostri corpi invecchiano, e hanno bisogno di maggiore sostegno, i nostri passi di danza diventerà più lento e misurato. Il nostro amore per l'altro sarà solo diventare più forti. Prometto che mi wiil sempre essere il vostro partner di ballo fino a quando la musica si ferma. Posso tenere a portata di ballo prossimo?)

Robert's words to Susan -

Robert played two songs for Susan.  The first song is called, "White Bathtub" written by their son, David.  The second song is called, "All My Loving", by the Beatles.  Robert said that the words in these two songs express his love for Susan in the very purest way possible.

Everyone around the table gave their best wishes.

For example ...

From Julie and Jim -

"Two special souls so young at heart

Who always are together.

We see so much love and understanding

That any storm can weather.

You have long known

The basic core of a man's living spirit

Is his passion for adventure.  

The joy of life comes from our encounters

With new experiences.  And hence,

There is no greener joy than having and endlessly changing horizons

For each day to have a new and different sun."

Ubuntu - we may not have it all together but together we have it all (Sue and Julie)

After the vows, we all headed to a remote Tuscan hilltop village for dinner.  The village was called Mazzolla and the restaurant (a local Italian hangout) was called Trattoria Albana).  We ate and drank and talked.  The sirloin steak was 2 pounds.  (no kidding)

From there, we headed for pictures at the "O",  and then took the party to Jim's hospital room.  We were glad to see Jim up and ready and he enjoyed some of that sirloin.  

Being the last evening for Pam, John, Sue, and Milla, we returned to the villa early to play "bugger bridge".  

Linda went to bed early with the beginnings of a cold that she caught from Robert.