Almost at the top...

Our latest accomplishment in getting ready to go to Italy was making the appointments at the Italian consulate in order to apply for our visas. I'd have to say that of all the steps and processes so far in preparing for our journey, this one felt the most final. There was almost a wave of panic after we made the appointments, sort of "wait, are we really doing this??" In a good way, if that makes sense. It's exciting, but certainly bittersweet, as we are definitely sad to leave New York. We've touched on that subject here before, so it's not new territory, but it's getting harder to imagine not living here.

Tonight Lucia and I were talking about our anxiety, and whether or not we were doing the right thing in leaving New York, discussing plans we needed to be making, etc., when a metaphor for our situation came to me out of the blue. Right now, we're in the last ten seconds of the climb up the first hill of a rollercoaster. In those ten seconds, a small panic attack hits you, as you're as high up as you can get on the ride, and you start to wonder, "Why am I on this ride? Why did I agree to this? Get me DOWN!" It's not long until you're hurtling down the hill, exhilarated, thrilled, and happy that you decided to get on the ride. I can definitely say that we're both very ready to hit the crest of the hill and start our wild ride.

Arrividerci!

Ricardo