closing the door, and looking toward the open one

These last few weeks before leaving Milan have been interesting and wonderful! Many memories and sweet acts of kindness coming to my memory from the years lived here; now that we prepare to leave many more new and beautiful experiences have happened. So many friends lovingly offer to help pack & clean the house, while others have offered to help with the kids & making sure our tummies are full! It has really been bittersweet to say goodbye to such a fantastic place to live, but with the feeling that it is time to move on to another place for new memories! Funny thing is I keep meeting new Americans in the area! From church, to the park & even the grocery store! All with children close in age to mine. All somewhat beginning their own journey in Milan! My heart has been torn and a little confused why in all these years of so many friends moving from Italy to other countries WHY am I meeting these families the very LAST week I am in Milan? Maybe so they can know they too will be OK, maybe so I can pass along info of some of the best people in the area to help show them around.... and maybe because I will need someone to be a friend to me when I am the "newly arrived". "When one door closes another one opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which open for us". ~Alexander Graham Bell

Closing the Chapter of Milan, Italy

There has been a whole lot going on around here lately! Although I have felt mostly tired and overwhelmed, I have been feeling a desire to get back to the blogging world and write my feelings and experiences. I really don't know if there is a place for the innermost things of my heart and mind in the vast internet world, but maybe just maybe there is. It is with this thought in mind that I write. Yesterday our lives here in Milan, Italy were packed into boxes and carried away to a storage unit where they will stay for the next 6- 8 weeks, or more. This is a REALLY big deal for us! You see Giovanni and I arrived 9.5 years ago for a job offered to Gio, working with the Mayor of Milan, doing international public relations to secure the bid for the 2015 world EXPO. This ride of the bid took him travelling to many fun & beautiful places, occasionally with me in tow (3 months in PARIS)! Milan won the bid and for 8 Years He prepared and worked really hard to see the actual Event happen! It was an intense-fully rewarding EXPO and a Great success for all! Especially for Giovanni who really worked through so many challenges! With the organisation of any big event, let alone a world wide one there were obstacles to overcome and creative solutions to be found! There were many changes in government, a few promotions, additions to our family, much travel to visit family members, enjoying visitors to our place, anniversaries, birthdays, making friends and saying goodbye to them. Personal and family growth through it all! How grateful we are for these experiences! We are now preparing to do it all again, in Dubai, UAE!

Duabi will be the host city for EXPO 2020 Stay Tuned for more on our adventure, travelling through our lives.......