Torno; Ritornero

Well, it's my last day here in Urbino. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, real early, to head to Venice. I'll spend three days there and then take a night train to Rome in order to catch my ten hour plane ride to Toronto, and then my 4 hour ride from there to Edmonton.

Since I last talked to you, I've talken a trip to the South! I stayed in Sorrento for four nights, and it was great! I took a day trip to Pompeii, one to Naples and one to Amalfi. I also met a whackload of Canadians, which was just awesome. I met some Italians, too, and they took us out on the town, and also two lovely ladies from New York who said I could go visit them anytime I wanted. Who's up for a trip to the Big Apple?

Then I headed up North to Civitanova Marche, where Andy's parents live, and we had a really fun night for his birthday! Dinner with friends at the house, then drinks out.

Anyways, after getting back, I had one more week of work. It was a weird week. Doing lots of things for the last time. Nerone, the wonderful man who throws the concerts at his farmhouse,. threw me a going away party with just a few friends. It was really wonderful to see everyone out there one last time. Then, Sunday night I had a dinner with Giorgia and Lucia, and we ate gelato under the stars. Monday night was dinner with Val and Andy and Agata. Probably with worst dinner I've had there, considering it was the last. (Don't get me wrong; the food was delicious.) Last night I went out with Eliska for a last bottle of wine at Caffe del Sole, and tonight I'll be at the house, for a last dinner here with the kids and Ales.

I wish I could sit here and type to you for hours about all the details and stories from these trips and outings, but it being my last day, I need to make sure everything is packed, and this includes my computer.

Considering how slow my first months seemed to doddle by, my last half really snuck past me, and I'm quite sad to leave. People have very rarely said goodbye to be, but just "See you when you come back!"

As I kissed Sarah goodnight last night, she hugged me around the neck and said, You aren't allowed to get up. She had a pretty good hold on me and kept me imprisoned for a good five minutes. She said, You can't leave, and gave me lots of kisses. Before I started to cry I told her the other kids needed good night kisses too, and she hesitantly let me go.

A lot has changed, and I really feel at home here. I know I can always come back, and I will always have friends and a family here, but, for now, I'm leaving on a jet plane, and I don't know when I'll be back again.

It's been the most amazing journey, I've seen so many amazing things and met the greatest people. But it's time for me to come home, to see all the amazing people I left in Canada nine months ago, and get started on the next part of my life. I'm really, really excited at the thought of landing, seeing everyone over the course of the Summer and lots of Welcome Home hugs!

So, as my trip seems to have been, I have split emotions, one from each extreme.

I do plan on finishing this blog over the Summer, adding pictures from all of my trips, and telling the stories along with them. It's just that this last month was full of very precious time that I think I used rather wisely. I want to thank all of you so much for the support and following and can't wait to see all your shining faces!

This is my last post from Italy. See you in Canada!

Ciao for now.