Living with the Doors Open
This morning the final leg of the journey to Capitignano began. I woke up at 7:00 am and enjoyed a
long, hot bubble bath in the Four Seasons’ extra large porcelain and granite
bathtub…thinking to myself…a lover of long, leisurely, fragrant, and very hot
baths…that this might be my last bath for awhile. A day must begin with a nourishing and tasteful breakfast so
after getting ready I sauntered downstairs and out to the restaurant patio
where I indulged in homemade bread with fresh butter and peach jam, an omelet
with fresh mozzarella cheese and grilled vegetables and two cups of delicious
coffee. I again felt my soul being
nourished by the lush green gardens that had surrounded me the previous evening
for dinner. The gardens are
adorned with curved and fluid sculpture and beautiful flowers. I could smell honeysuckle and petunia’s
so fragrant one thought it surely must be perfume. The chorus of birds was there again. Birds of so many
melodies that the whole sky seemed to sing. Swallows dipped and soared all above the tree canopy
expressing their love of this beautiful garden. I closed my eyes and inhaled the air’s sweet perfume and listened
to the harmony in the sky…and said…let it be well with my soul. Thankful for the opportunity that lay
in front of me, around me, and thanking God for his blessings.
A driver took me to the airport.
His name was Alessandro. I
met the group at the airport and also Mark, the program director and one of the
professors, who was there to pick us up.
We drove a beautiful, no….breath-taking, scenic drive to Borgo San
Lorenzo. The drive was lined with
rolling hills, olive trees, vineyards, wildflowers, Tuscan villas with their
earthy clay tile roofs, and farms.
We even saw a deer! The foliage was so green and lush. Quaint farms….a mostly agrarian society
north of Florence in the hills. And, everywhere, beautiful flowers…on porches,
in windows boxes…everywhere. We
stopped at a grocery store, the Coop, and I bought a hair dryer, a fan, an
iron, some crackers, and some flawless and perfect blueberries, strawberries,
raspberries, and apricots…which I feasted on later in the afternoon. The produce here is so fresh and grown
locally and looks almost too
perfect to be real. We stopped at a little yogurt shop in Borgo which Mark’s
friend owns and I bought a bottled strawberry juice… I really wasn’t sure
completely what is was. But…it was
literally strawberry juice! It was as if someone had mashed some strawberries,
sieved the juice, and bottled it! Divine! (I think the brand name was Yogo.)
We then went to the train station and picked up Sophie. She is a delightful 20-ish year old
girl from China. She is a student
at BU and has been in Italy for awhile visiting a friend and traveling
around. Her father is an art
teacher in China. Her personality
is infectiously loving and happy! Also with us are Ashley from Maine, Alex from
Massachusetts, and Victoria from Texas (St. Edwards University, Austin). A
couple more arrive tonight. The girls
are all precious, all in their early 20’s, and I can tell I am already
everyone’s “mother hen.” But, they are graciously looking out for me-helping me
carry a few things as my knee has had a bit of an overload lately.
The drive into Capitignano reminded me of the movie Gladiator when
Russell Crowe remembers his house (villa) and farm. The driveway was lined with tall evergreen trees, Cyprus
trees I think, and a vineyard. It felt like driving into the Garden of
Eden. Where I sit now and write on
the patio overlooking the Mugello Valley and Borgo San Lorenzo way down deep in
the valley definitely feels like Eden.
Birds are singing to me from everywhere and the breeze gently
blows. I am surrounded by the prettiest
shades of green that can possibly exist.
I walked Capitignano earlier, taking it’s beauty, and taking
pictures. There is no way that
photos can capture the serenity and beauty here. It’s as if you are living in a painting. They will serve as
a reminder, but to fully grasp the beauty one must use all the senses-hear the
breeze and the birds, smell the flowers, taste the fresh apricots and pasta,
touch the 600 year old walls in the house, and see, really see, the depth of
this place. What a PERFECT place
for an artist to paint.
Lunch was served al fresco (on the
patio) and was a delicious fresh pasta in fresh tomato and pecorino cheese
sauce, a mozzarella and tomato salad, and a green salad, fresh apricots, and
coffee for dessert.
My walking journey around Capitignano included a visit to the rabbit
house (yes we will be eating them), photographing a small army of fowl-ducks,
chickens, and turkeys (yes, we will be eating them, too), walking through the
olive orchard, and admiring the ages old architecture. We also walked around with Mark who showed
us the classroom and the painting studio.
After that I settled into my tiny little room-home for the next seven
weeks and then found myself wandering out to the patio where I now sit writing. I find myself thinking…how can this
be…how is it that I am here…those questions have long, complicated answers…but
I hear a voice….the voice says, “Let it be.” So here I shall be…for many
weeks…a place that leaves the doors purposefully open on all the houses and
buildings…as if to say…come in…you are welcome. Francis Mayes said in Under the Tuscan Sun, “ Five tender apricots in a blue bowl, a
brief and exact promise of things to come.” I did that today too.
I found a blue and white bowl in our 600 year old farmhouse that is home
for the next few weeks, I took it outside, and photographed it with fresh
apricots (which are everywhere) sitting in it. And…I said to myself…I’m not
sure what this journey will look like exactly…but let it be. I know I will be a different person,
artist, and teacher when it is finished. I know my own art making will grow in
ways I can’t even begin to foresee and I know my students will benefit from
this experience in exponential ways.
Let it be…..and let it be in a place where the doors are wide open.
