Hi, my friends.

Ray and I just returned from two weeks in Southern Italy after leading a tour with 27 intrepid travelers. The group included people from all over the US, with roughly one third coming from Story Circle Network, the women’s nonprofit that I work with and love; one third from St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, our Episcopal church; and one third from my son-in-law’s family, mainly his mom, Cindy Betty, her sister, brother-in-law, niece and her daughter, plus two friends thrown in just for fun.

Our niece-by-marriage, Karri, joined us from Salt Lake City, where she lives with my nephew, Jim, and one of the SCN members brought along her sister, brother-in-law, and their two darling daughters in their early twenties. So, quite a diverse and compatible crowd, all open and ready for adventure.

Oh, and I conducted a one-hour writing workshop each day for anyone who wished to participate. On our best day, about half the group joined in—a joy in itself. Lots of laughter and tears in that group, I might add, which made it even better.

Ray and I went a few days early and had the treat of meeting up with one of our besties: Jan O’Neill from Wales, who is the sister-in-law of our priest at St. Thomas the Apostle. Unfortunately, her husband, Rich, couldn’t join us, but we had a wonderful time with Jan, laughing, talking endlessly, and traversing wild, gritty Napoli on foot and on the city’s impressive subway system. We ate a lot too, which is critical, of course, when going to Italy.

During the official trip, we visited the Amalfi Coast, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii, Napoli (our guide said Naples was in Florida), and any number of local Sorrento enterprises. These included a farm where they made fresh mozzarella, a little lemon grove where they made and had us sample their signature limoncello, and a cooking school where we made ravioli and eggplant Parmigiana.

Which brings us back to lots of eating, which may account for the three extra pounds I seem to have gained even while walking endlessly over cobblestone streets. Not that I care at the moment. Time to return to my lower-the-blood-sugar “eating program” soon enough.

We spent a few days in Rome to decompress, which was also wonderful in its own way. Another trip to the Vatican Museums and an hour in the Sistine Chapel. Yes, it was crowded but not nearly what it would have been only a week or two earlier, which made it especially nice.

Family, friends, and writing, all in the gorgeous surrounds of Southern Italy—what is there not to love?

My heart is full. And now I get to come home to my little grandkids, who, despite all the allure of the trip, remain the absolute lights of my life, along with my kids and their spouses, of course. I love them all with all of my heart.

Ray’s been up since 4 a.m., and I climbed out of bed at 5. Back to the real world with deadlines and bills and the usual worries that occupy a life.

But when I am old and lying in bed thinking of happy times, this will be one of them, I am sure. So full of love, laughter, and connection.

I am grateful indeed, and also very, very happy to be back home.