I have to blog about my weekend trip to Verona and my long weekend to Bruges, one of my favorite cities.  Lots of beautiful photos and some nice stories.  Today was my first day back at work after being very sick, so I wasn’t able to get much of anything done.  More soon.  But first, I will begin 30 days of gratitude  . . . because I am so very lucky and want to make sure I appreciate every beautiful moment.

Nov. 1: Grateful that my friends and family survived Superstorm Sandy.

Nov. 2: Grateful for a long 4 day weekend in Bruges, Belgium.  (And for French fries!)

Nov. 3: Grateful for the friends I met in Bruges over 11 years ago while backpacking.  They are now lifelong confidantes – we’ve shared many fun times and memories.

Nov. 4: Grateful for the 250 euro voucher from Lufthansa when I volunteered to fly to Nice instead of Genoa.  They gave me a cab to my door and 250 euros, which I can use for another trip!  It was like getting this trip for free.

Nov. 5: Grateful for gorgeous spring-like weather in the Italian Riviera in November.

Nov. 6: Grateful to have such wonderful and caring coworkers and friends who helped me out while I was extremely sick with an inner ear infection/vertigo.  I couldn’t sit or stand up — my boss said don’t worry about work, he and the HR rep helped me find and English-speaking specialist, and everyone checked in on me.  One friend even came over to make me dinner.  An angel.

Nov. 7: Grateful to wake up for the first day without vertigo.  I was able to take a walk in the fresh air and feel normal again.  Life is so special and beautiful when you are healthy again.

Nov. 8: Grateful for my sweet and caring students who make class an absolute pleasure.  Today, one of my students said, “My mom really likes you.  She says you’re a good teacher.”  Some students thank me at the end of every lesson.  No, dear students, thank you!

to be continued . . .   I really am lucky to be living here in Genoa.  Sometimes I feel like I gave up more than my heart can handle, but good friends and family have reminded me that they are always going to be there and to enjoy this absolutely amazing experience.

“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die discover that I had not lived.”- Thoreau