Italy Provokes Random Thoughts…

Italy Provokes Random Thoughts…

I’m sitting here, in our 9 passenger VW van, by the window (the one that doesn’t rattle) watching the Italian countryside fly by. I’m surprised that it’s not a blur, considering who is driving. I’ve got music blaring in my ears, Jars of Clay I think. For me music defines and, later on, causes me to remember a certain time or experience in my life. So for me, something about Jars of Clay ‘s folk/country-ish/alternative rock music and lyrics, in my mind, goes well with these Italian suburbs. And don’t ask me why, they just do…

According to the signs we are approaching Milan. Milan, the fashion capital of the world. Not that I care, but I figured someone might. Ok so I just saw an office building--modern, sleek black glass, brand new, etc…the irony is that it is leaning. And the company’s name wasn’t Pisa. Must be the new trend or something…

And no, I am not making light of this as if this is an everyday experience, this is my first time in Italy. There is so much history here and not enough time to study it! And there is so much soccer here as well…I intentionally don’t make time for Italian “soccer” when it comes to that…Part of me doesn’t know whether to be amazed or not. For all I’ve seen, so far, Italy looks a lot like America. At least more than France does…therefore, they could just have one Coca-Cola plant and be more “American” then France. But yea, Italy has big highways (with the big ramps), lots of traffic, lots of 18-wheelers, same cars as France, lots of businesses (with their respective signs on their respective buildings…simple things like that drive me crazy…) similar gas stations, apartment buildings out the wazoo, etc. etc. They are only missing sky scrapers (something about how they are afraid they will end up leaning or something like that…) & I’ve still to see the big, greasy Italian holding half of a pizza in one hand & yelling “MaMa MiA!!!!” I guess you can’t go by stereotypes for everyone, though it sure does fit their soccer team. Sadly I am only passing thru Italy today en route to Austria. In one sense I’m glad to not be here because the likelihood of me spending my vacation in jail, on charges of overly aggressive body language towards certain Italian soccer players, is very high. And plus aren’t we all just so excited to go to Austria?!?!?! Austria and Switzerland combine to make the Boring Capital of the World. I’ve heard they are worse in regards to food, weather, and things to do, than England. NoW ThAt iS BaD!! And the Swiss, who do they think they are? Richest country in the world, and the reason? Because they love their neighbors and slip money under the table to them as well…hope you like to be paid in gold watches. And the Austrians draw the English crowd. No, not the English-speaking crowd, but the true ‘we-speak-english-properly’ crowd from Great Britian. The reason? Because, like I said earlier, there is no difference between Austria and England, besides the fact that the mountains are twice as high. 5 out of every 8 days in July it rains or snows up on the mountains. It just blares, “Welcome home British!!” It’s a good thing that this doesn’t bother me at all…

Yet I am still excited to go new places and experience new cultures. …If I didn’t I couldn’t converse about and make fun of the many countries here in Europe. And I have a lot of fun doing it as well…I still enjoy it, no matter how drab and boring it seems. In the long run I’ve only got one life, and I don’t want to waste it, and the best way not to waste it is to enjoy one day at a time. Whether it’s in gorgeous Spain, rural Italy, snow-covered France, rainy Austria or England, I still want to enjoy it, cause the likelihood of me coming back is 50-50.

And yes, Italy inspired me with all these spontaneous thoughts…anyone like bunny trail stew?

Ok, so that was bad…sorry.

Enjoy today.