The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. – Jung

First of all – I tried to find a good quote about people meeting other people and I ran across sooo many great little quotes. Just like that I want to be a better person. I am not sure I chose the best one for my topic, but it will do…

On the surface it may look like our trip through Italy and beyond is perhaps a bit boring due to the fact that we are not participating in the traditional tourist activities. This could not be farther from the truth. I have loved the countryside and the villages along the way. I have loved the food. I have loved time in the car chatting with Stacey and all of the fun little situations that have transpired. For the immediate past we have been in northern Italy and Italian Switzerland. The rain has continued to accompany us and most of our views are simply of clouds.

At this point in our vacation I am thinking more of the people with whom we have interacted than anything that we have seen. The past couple days have been particularly busy with meetings, most of which end with a lunch or a coffee (hot chocolate) in a cafe. These people are all accomplished in and obsessed with music so I spend much of my time just listening, taking notes and sitting quietly. Even with this their personalities come through, but I prefer when they begin to speak of their families and other interests.

I particularly enjoyed our conversation with Father Mario, the priest in a mid-sized town. He was very interested in the choir and joined us for our tour of venues as well as lunch. As the music talk ended we learned more about his “call” to the priesthood which he felt began at age seven. He wanted to do this all of his life but initially worked as a mechanical engineer. Later we learned that he was a twin but his twin sister died after just a few days. I wondered if she had anything to do with his early spirituality? During lunch he shared many concerns of individuals leaving their faith and wandering without God. We talked to him about our faith’s “ministering” system in which we all watch over one another (ideally) and he was touched and impressed, and I believe rather envious.

I will mention Riva Del Garda because it was such a stunning little place. During the evening the clouds lifted higher on the mountain so that we could see the lake. Our host here took us to three venues and for some reason these stone floors just resonated with me. One design was at the threshold of the cathedral and he said he knew it was significant but didn’t know why. I counted and saw that it was an eight pointed star so I was able to share that I had just ordered my husband’s headstone on which I had included an eight pointed star which symbolizes rebirth through Christ. There is more to it but I thought this explanation covered everything. Over their coffee and our hot chocolate he learned that we both had six children and lamented that he had only two but had always wanted a large family with perhaps eight children. He is not the first person that expressed concern that their countrymen are not having large families. The Greeks expressed this worry as well.

We visited later with another man who was very pleasant. They have all been so pleasant – both with us and with everyone we pass in hallways or on the street. This man was the director of the conservatory in Trento but his leadership was all about doing what was best for the students, the professors, the town and of course, the music.

Our final stop last night was in a charming little town with two very kind men. One thing I have enjoyed at all of these stops in being in cathedrals alone with people who have access to things like playing the organ, walking up behind the pulpit, turning on and off the lights, etc. No one but us in these beautiful buildings. At the final cathedral I heard the most exquisite acoustics. Amazing. Again we ended our meeting with some hot chocolate which was much more like pudding – I had to use a spoon for the entire cup. But the flavors of the chocolate here are always excellent. When I got up from the table to use the WC the waitress ran over to give me the key.The first door I opened took me outside – (it was past dark), then I found a door which took me into a small, dark building. I finally found a light and then around the corner to the toilette. I include this because finding a WC is often an adventure in itself.

When this final host heard that we were staying in a neighboring town, he insisted that he would drive there and we would follow him. We thought that this was completely unnecessary but he would not rescind the offer. Of course he knew best. He found us a parking lot and then helped us with luggage up four escalators, three of which were extremely long and steep. We would not have figured this one out! I say he helped with luggage but that means he took Stacey’s while I was still unloading mine. I managed to barely keep up. This probably sounds silly but to me it was a reminder that I am on my own without my man to help me. I think it is time to lift some weights!

I don’t know if it was the luggage that brought on some melancholy or if it came on its own. Walking the dark streets of this medieval town brought me more sorrow than any other moment these past weeks! This is what Mark and I loved to do! We often stayed in small towns like these and loved heading out through crooked, cobblestone streets trying to find some food. I missed holding his hand. I did not feel like crying, it was more of a sadness in my stomach. A true mourning for times past. I do love and miss that man!

When Mark and I met there was definitely a chemical reaction and our personalities were transformed. On this trip I’ve encountered personalities – people that I will never see again… I cannot even recall most of their names.

Still – though I was not transformed, the encounter had an effect on me. I wonder what effect I have on others? I guess it depends on who they are because it takes two… Chemistry is cool!