The last days were filled with packing, so much stuff, saying goodbye, walking through the neighborhood on familiar routes and having one last cappuccino at Emilio and Rosella’s Sandy Bar. Saturday, December 31 we are having our last cappuccino and Rosella tells us that Mirella came by and she is treating us to our drinks. Coyla says she thinks it is Rosella paying, I go to the counter to check with my now “functional Italian” and in fact it is Mirella. We are asking ourselves, how did she know we would come? Rosella tells me she came by earlier and said she was treating us. We are moved. There are lots of people coming in and out of the bar. I hear Rosella telling them we are Americans, we’ve been there three months and we are leaving tomorrow. She then looks at us and says that we have made them happy. We are moved again. Coyla asks Mary what she has enjoyed about her time in Tuscany? Mary says the people and then starts to cry. That is enough for me and I start to cry. All the people are looking at us. We are taking everyone’s photo and people we know and don’t know are coming to great us and wish us boun viaggie, good journey. That Saturday is like no other New Year’s eve….my dream of living for three months in Tuscany is coming to an end and we all realize it is more than we could have asked for or imagined.

We celebrated New Year’s eve at La Limonaia with our friends Mary, John and Penny. We gathered for cocktails and hors d’ouvres to begin the evening. As we began, a knock at the door. It was Rosella and Enzo (her husband) with a bottle of champagne and wishes of happy new year. They were on their way to a big party. How special for them to come by, one last time hugs and kisses and beautiful champagne for our celebration. And lots of photos. Lara and Flavio who own the vineyard near Pienza gave us a 2009 magnum of their super Tuscan for the evening. So we were set. These are the most gracious people I have ever known, open and friendly to two people who are just there for a short time, and all wanting us to return and asking when that will be.

Since we were leaving, we asked Mirella, the neighbor across the street to cook us a typical Tuscan dinner. We ordered the same menu we had when we were invited to her home for a family dinner. Rabbit, duck, potatoes, fried bread, a typical antipasti plate of garlic and spinach, pomodoro and pate all served on small bread slices with a side of asparagus. It was all delicious. Mirella and Alviero showed up with the food about 30 minutes early. Lots of hugs and kisses on both cheeks as well as “buon anno” (happy new year) and thank yous. We took several photos of Mirella and Alviero in his hunting fatigues. He goes hunting almost every day it seems. I realized once again how fond I am of the two of them as they stood proudly in the kitchen delivering our dinner. Alviero most likely hunted the duck and Mirella “prepared” both the rabbit and the duck, we are spared this reality of hunting for our food with easy access at the supermarket.

John and Penny left before midnight, I headed for bed too until I heard the fireworks. I leapt up and out we went to look at some great displays of fireworks. Three different locations that we could see from the house. It was exciting and we brought in 2012, our last night in Tuscany. The Italians know how to celebrate.

The next morning, Sunday we stayed to go to our church one more Sunday at 11 a.m. Mass. It was a very special Eucharistic celebration and we were able to sing all the songs. Adeste fidelis, Low How a Rose er Blooming, a song I hummed along with in Italian and Salve Regina at the end. We hung around to say our goodbyes to the priest to the people and most specially to Cecilia and Claudia. Unfortunately, Maria Grazia was home sick. After some chit chat, Cecilia and Claudia took us out to their car, one more present from Maria Grazia, according to Cecilia, “chocolate for us to eat in America and remember our Toscano friends.” Coyla snapped lots of pictures, leaving was difficult. We want Claudia and Cecilia to come to America. Cecilia keeps saying it is impossible, we have offered plane tickets. Talking with Carlos, (the priest) I say nothing is impossible with God and he supports this as he repeats it again to Cecilia in lovely Italian. We get the “Cecilia look.” That look where the chin goes up and she looks right at you, with a message that this is just too difficult and we do not get it. Coyla and I are on a mission, they simply must come. And one day they will – hold the vision and it will happen. I have learned this over and over again. Things do not always happen in my time, but they do happen.

Out in the parking lot I am crying, Cecilia is crying, we are all teary and this leaving and emotion is overwhelming. We say the final goodbye and Coyla, Mary and I exit the Church grounds to walk down the street home for the last time. We turn around and Cecilia is standing, watching us. We go about 300 meters and we hear a shout, Ciao! We yell Ciao back tears streaming down my face. These Italians, hospitable and emotional, connected for ever.