We've moved from Baltimore, Maryland USA to Venice, Italy in pursuit of living our dream!



Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Buon compleanno, Mom

Today we're celebrating my mother's 89th birthday. She lives at the New Jersey shore, and she (knock  on wood) is healthy as a horse. We're hoping we're still doing birthday celebrations for her when she turns 100.  Happy Birthday, Mom!!

This blog post is in response to Natalie Sisson's 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 4.  My challenge today is to identify 2-3 things I am good at, things Natalie calls my "Super Powers".  She says not to be humble about it.

I had to really struggle with this one. My first thought was to just chuck the whole thing. I don't have super powers. I don't even have any sort-of powers, let alone super ones.  I got the challenge email this morning, while I was at the beach, enjoying my last day of the season.  As I mulled over today's assignment, I was reminded of one of my Cabana-mates, Luca.  (Everyone rents a cabana for the season. I share one with about 18 other people). I promise this is all going somewhere. Just give me a minute.

 Luca is the 4 yr old son of one of the 18.  One morning as I was just arriving at our cabana, Luca and his family had already arrived. We said our hellos, and I went inside to change and gather up my stuff.  On my way out of the cabana, Luca stopped me. He opened his little mouth and started singing a song at the top of his lungs. His mother explained he was singing me a favorite song he had learned at his nursery school. She went on to further explain that he went to a Catholic school, thus all the references to God in the song, just in case I needed that information.  At the end of his song, he stood there with the biggest smile on his face.  Squeaky little 4 yr old voice and all, he stood and belted out that song for me, and then asked me to please wait one minute, he had something to show me. He ran into the cabana. One minute later he reappeared, dressed from head to toe in a Spiderman suit. It isn't Halloween. It's August. And Luca has transformed into "Speeder-Maan" (the correct pronunciation if you are speaking Italian).


These little huts are cabanas



Now back to my task for today's Blog Challenge.  Luca actually believed he was Spiderman. Once in that costume, he wasn't just little Luca anymore. He was a superhero.

I'm thinking I need a costume. If it works for Luca, maybe it will work for me.

I've tossed this around all day. Honestly, I don't possess any super powers. I have a couple of things I'm pretty good at, but I'm not setting the world on fire over here.

So here's what I'm good at. 1) I'm a good teacher, and 2) I'm not a quitter.

Now I better go make myself a costume.

                                     http://thefreedomplan.rocks/ten













6 comments:

Kaye said...

You are a good blogger as well 😉

Rob C said...


You're a great communicator, and I've been told you're a passionate advocate for Venice too (plus a great guide/personal shopper). Did I miss anything?

karen said...

Kaye- Grazie mille for that! I didn't expect anyone would make comments about other super-powers! I may have to modify the super hero costume, or at least add a special badge to it.

K

karen said...

Rob- OMG, you are making me blush! This is very embarrassing actually. But, seriously, Grazie Mille. You've made my day.

Hope you and Nat are well. Looking forward to seeing you back in Venice!

K

Rob C said...

Yep, back. On Dec 23rd, staying near Arsenale too.
You'll see a lot less of us as I've just had an MGB and have lost 17kg already :-)

karen said...

Rob, that's fantastic! I know how difficult it is to lose weight. You must be so proud, and feeling better too. Can't wait to meet the new Rob!