If you can read this bus schedule you are: a) work for ATL b) from Livorno c) a genius & need to come live with me ;)
When I arrived in Italy I didn’t know one street from another. Via Grande going towards the sea or away from the sea was all the same to me. It was February (Febbraio) the skies were gray (grigio) and NOTHING was in English. It was a daily game of Find Waldo but for survival.
Luckily, my friend Francesca gave us a tour of the buses.
The #1 going towards the sea goes to my house, she advised & the #1 going away from the sea goes to the station. The #1 you can catch in front of The Duomo but it will not bring you as close to my house as the 8. The 8n will bring you to my house the 8r will take you home but it will drop you off across the way not in front of The Duomo, on the side street. She printed schedules for us. Seems someway simple when you read this … yes?
Here is where PERSPECTIVE kicks in … ALL the buses LOOK alike yellowish in color & the bus drivers speak Italian AS THEY SHOULD in their country. Not knowing the stops, we missed them a couple of times but what a great tour of the city. Right? Again, perspective! Then one night, we decided to take the #8 bus (autobus) home. NOW, was it 8n or 8r? And HOW far down the street did we exactly have to go to catch it? Perspective in the dark of HOW far one has to walk is very interesting. As the #8 bus we needed started to pass us, in desperation LuccaBella waved her arms & started yelling. The kind bus driver stopped in the middle of the street & let us in. We weren’t close to a bus stop (fermata dell'autobus) but he took pity on us.
Just 3 days ago a bus passed me, in fact a #8 bus & I started to laugh out loud. Now I know where that bus is headed. However, when buses 2-3-4 …. 14 go pass me I have NO idea but because of my experiences even the simplest of buses missed & bus confusion it’s easier to embrace an uncertain future.
There are 4 things that come to mind about “perspective” that I have learned living my SOMEDAY … TODAY!
Luckily, my friend Francesca gave us a tour of the buses.
The #1 going towards the sea goes to my house, she advised & the #1 going away from the sea goes to the station. The #1 you can catch in front of The Duomo but it will not bring you as close to my house as the 8. The 8n will bring you to my house the 8r will take you home but it will drop you off across the way not in front of The Duomo, on the side street. She printed schedules for us. Seems someway simple when you read this … yes?
Here is where PERSPECTIVE kicks in … ALL the buses LOOK alike yellowish in color & the bus drivers speak Italian AS THEY SHOULD in their country. Not knowing the stops, we missed them a couple of times but what a great tour of the city. Right? Again, perspective! Then one night, we decided to take the #8 bus (autobus) home. NOW, was it 8n or 8r? And HOW far down the street did we exactly have to go to catch it? Perspective in the dark of HOW far one has to walk is very interesting. As the #8 bus we needed started to pass us, in desperation LuccaBella waved her arms & started yelling. The kind bus driver stopped in the middle of the street & let us in. We weren’t close to a bus stop (fermata dell'autobus) but he took pity on us.
Just 3 days ago a bus passed me, in fact a #8 bus & I started to laugh out loud. Now I know where that bus is headed. However, when buses 2-3-4 …. 14 go pass me I have NO idea but because of my experiences even the simplest of buses missed & bus confusion it’s easier to embrace an uncertain future.
There are 4 things that come to mind about “perspective” that I have learned living my SOMEDAY … TODAY!
- There are no guarantees & when you think you have it all figured out. Think again! The unexpected events help us create the magic & the moments in our lives.
- You don’t need things. All the STUFF will never fill you up. It’s nice to have BUT the beauty of the sun setting on the sea, walking your child to school or a glass of vine with a friend are the greatest gifts of all.
- People say I am so strong. I do not feel strong AT ALL but what I think they see is that I accept now maybe for the 1st time in my life that nothing will ever be perfect & that is OK. Life is a process & your perspective on the process of where you are in it changes as you do. So you embrace every moment!
- Maybe the most important. Gratitude daily for what I had yesterday, today & hopefully tomorrow. My health, my body, my family & my friends both near & far.
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