Italia: My List of Favorites Part Two (or three? four? I lost count)

You guys.  It's hitting me like a ton of bricks that we have to leave here soon.  We're starting to use moving language.  That's how you know it's really happening.  I'm in the beginning stages of going through the house and cleaning out things we no longer need.  I'm looking for new houses and apartments online.  Didn't we move here, like, yesterday?  How did three years happen that fast?

I'm on an emotional roller coaster.

And what better thing is there to do when you're emotionally unstable than blog, right?  Kidding.  Kind of.

In all this craziness, I find myself getting super excited about the idea of all things new (and not so new).  A yard for the puppy, Mexican food, and Trader Joe's.  Target.  Super Target.  The fact that I'll have three full years of (almost) uninterrupted time with my husband just sounds insanely awesome.  However, in all my excitement I always end up shedding a tear or two (or sobbing) because this crazy place has become our home and I don't want to leave it behind.  It has been more amazing than I could have ever in a million years imagined.  It's going to be very hard to go.

So, here is my next list of favorites.  It's short, but it's what I've really been thinking a lot about lately.

• Our neighborhood people.  In the morning we say hello to all of the city sanitation workers, but our favorite is our street sweeper who adoringly calls Darby "Whiskey".  Not sure where he got that name from, but he has loved that little pup since the first day we got her, so I don't have the heart to correct him.  She loves him equally as much.  Then we have Simon at our café.  He knows our drink order.  He steams milk for Darby and gives her cookies.  He always laughs that our Italian isn't getting any better.  There is the school crossing guard we visit in the afternoon on the way to the park.  He literally stops traffic while he takes a minute to play with Darby in the middle of the street.  At the park, we have all of The Cool Dog People.  It's a happy little group and we love each other and our dogs.  Lastly, we have our next door neighbors.  They always know when I'm home and when I'm away and I love that I have them to look out for me.  These people are Our People.  I'm going to miss them.  

• The coffee.  I'm going to try hard not to be a coffee snob when I move back, but I can't make any promises.  Italians know how to make awesome coffee.  It's just better here.  End of story. 

• Uniquely European Stuff.  Like wearing socks, shoes, jeans, a belt, and a collared shirt to the pool, undressing by the lounge chair, and then when they're ready to leave, putting the socks, shoes, jeans, belt, and collared shirt back on.  And they look at my flip flops like I've lost my mind.  There is also the refusing to serve you the flavor combination you request at the gelato store because "they just don't go together."  It doesn't matter if you want lemon and coffee flavors.  If it doesn't make sense to them, you're not going to get it.  I have learned to really enjoy and laugh at the tipici ways of their world.  

Why does the Atlantic Ocean have to be so big?  I'm not ready to leave.