Chapter 5 - Southern Europe - almost homesick

I tried to call home last night, even though I knew it would be difficult. I first tried the post office, but found out I couldn’t make collect calls on public phones and it was a four hour wait. Then I had a brainwave and asked Franco at his rather upscale hotel. He seemed happy to see me again but rather overwhelmed with a full hotel, directing me to the back where a bank of phones could be used. Joy of joy, I found lots of phones, but my euphoria turned to dismay when it appeared there was now a six hour wait! I decided to bite the bullet and call direct from the post office, reading while I waited.

I got through, cried, laughed and paid through the nose for fifteen minutes. Everyone was there so I was able to hear a few words in their voices and it felt so good. Sidney’s doing fine and looking forward to the baby’s arrival. The nursery’s already decorated and every evening for an hour she presses the radio to her belly, tuned to the classical channel, because she read in one of her books that babies can hear music before they are born and classical music makes them smarter. She didn’t ask me one question about myself but she did tell me to take care of her child’s auntie. Sam has finished her dog training course, said Sidney is impossible to be with for more than five minutes because all she talks about is the baby, and then she told me in depth about her new puppies, how responsive they are, what they eat and how they sleep and how one of them will only sleep on the cushion I had given Sam last year. Despite being virtually a silent partner on the other side of both conversations, I got the feeling my sisters actually missed me – a circumstance I was not expecting at all. Dad told me briefly about this years bean choices (Royal Burgundy and Tenderette for the Bush snaps, Painted Lady and Rattlesnake for the Pole snaps, and Montezuma Red, Appaloosa and Windsor for the Dry choices) and a new kelp fertilizer that promises great things. Mom has bought herself a divining rod because one of her mah jong friends told her she had the gift. All my presents had arrived. Mom and Dad asked me how I was and no one told me what I should be doing. It was the first time in my life that I actually felt like a part of my family. I really hated to say good-bye.