I know I mentioned Rosario on here earlier, but he is our 83 year old Italian neighbor. His wife died about 5 months before we moved in and he is such a nice man who is excited for any company! He comes by at least once a week to bring us plates of spaghetti, local Italian fruits, treats, or anything else he happens to be cooking! He had us over for dinner a few months ago and he came over to our house a couple weeks ago and brought pizza he picked up in town. I try to go by to visit him once a week or so, because he LOVES company. He gives lots of kisses and hugs and is like a grandpa :)
I went by to visit him this past week for a little while and I had mentioned that Taylor would be out of town this weekend, skiing with his friends. So on Sunday (today) afternoon he comes knocking on my door to invite me over for spaghetti for lunch since Taylor was gone!! How sweet is that?
I woke up late today, around 10am, and ate 2 pieces of banana bread for breakfast around 11. Rosario came knocking on my door at 11:30 and asked if I could come over in 20 minutes. So I was a bit full from breakfast, but of course I went over there! And the Italians eat such large meals with lots of courses! So he had bruschetta on the table when I got there (which was all set with napkins in the glasses and all) and poured me a glass of red wine. Then we had delicious spaghetti with meat sauce (carne, in Italian). I was SOO stuffed. Then he pulled out the bread and a vegetable dish with carrots, onions, eggplant, zuchini, potatoes, sausage...so I had to have a little of that, because I feel awful saying no, but I didn't think the food was going to fit in my stomach...in fact I'm not sure it did...I think it barely made it past my throat!! And then he pulled out the salami (a special kind from Spain) and cut me a few pieces and told me to eat it with bread....and I needed more wine with the salami! I about burst!
He's so funny though...he knows pretty decent English...I'd say I understand about 80% of what he says. But he forgets words sometimes and says his head is too full with information because he is old and he can't remember the right words! He always talks about how everyone is moving to Italy and taking jobs. He says there are way too many people moving here...and crazy people who kill. Although when he talks in his broken English, with a thick accent, and hand motions, it makes it a bit funny. And today he was telling me about having to go to the eye doctor to get his eyes checked so he can keep driving. He said he used to go every 10 years, then every 5 years, and now every 3 years (or maybe every year now). But he said he doesn't like wearing his glasses when he drives because he has one good eye and one bad eye. So he said the doctor is his friend and he took it off his license that he had to wear his glasses, he was excited about that!! He says he drives better without them...I'm not so convinced of that! Although I rarely see him driving, he has 3 boys that live in the area and they come and visit and pick him up to do a lot of stuff. But I know he still likes having his license!
Anyway, we had a nice lunch and he filled me to the brim...but I have a hard time telling him no. Like the other day he offered me some type of local Italian something or other...it seemed like a mix between a nut and a dried fruit...but I REALLY wasn't a fan. So I tried one and then he gave me another one...I had to hide it in my pocket when he got up to get something because I couldn't swallow another one...but I just don't have the heart to say no! But we're lucky to have such a nice neighbor!
Just thought I'd share! Taylor is having a blast skiing. When I talked to him last night it sounds like they had a fun adventure...he got stuck and frustrated in the snow and had one big wipeout, but he's having fun! He'll be home tomorrow. I kept him updated on the UT fiasco with text messages until they finally made a final decision with Dooley. We'll see how that pans out...hope it was a good move. I don't know enough about any of that to make an educated statement, so I'll leave it with; I hope for the best.
Ciao.
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