The day started as most mornings do with coffee talk between my wife and I. My sports savvy wife said to me: “We’re at 30 days till you resign. This is the half-time stretch for you.” “Yes, sweetheart, this is the half-time stretch.” I shared with her my desire to have a part-time job that will keep me feeling like I was contributing income through work while I write. “I wish I could find another job that I could do from home between my writing.” I said. “You will hon,” she said. “You will get everything you want.” We continued with a fun conversation about wanting to travel back to Italy next year.
Our first trip to Italy was in March of 2003. My wife was six months pregnant with our first daughter. We had purchased the tickets months in advance and had picture perfect timing. We were set to leave March 21, 2003. The day arrived accompanied by a massive snow storm in Denver, the beginning of the war in Iraq and the SARS epidemic in full swing. As you know by now, we are no strangers to throwing caution to the wind, so we did not let minor disturbances stand in our way. The airport reopened the day after and Lufthansa called with information about a flight for us heading to Frankfurt in two hours and then to Rome. Our close friend and neighbor quickly helped us put our luggage in her Honda Hatchback and off we went to DIA. My muscles were sore from all the tightening as I feared we would slip and slide down the highway. I have never been a fan of flying on a plane and I thought the worse: “What if there is massive turbulence? What if it gets diverted to Iraq? What if someone with SARS coughs on my wife? I need my mommy. I know, I’ll say the Rosary!”
While in the airport’s men’s room, I ran into another friend who was also traveling to Rome with his wife for a marathon. We had not planned to be on the same flight but with all the cancellations due to the storm, suddenly the trip became less tense for me and more enjoyable for my wife. Our friends owned a coffee shop in our neighborhood and had provided there a venue for Italian lessons which I fully took advantage of. It would be fun to hook up in Italy. We didn’t try to force it though. We did not exchange hotel information. All we said was “See you in Roma!”
A day later, we of course ran into them in front of the Pantheon. We took that as a sign that we should see more of each other. We had Gelato on Piazza Navona and cheered them on while they finished the Rome marathon. These are go-getters and even acquiesced at my request to meet us for dinner at the top of the Spanish Steps a few hours after lactic acid had set in. Sometimes I have no awareness.
Ah Roma. Que bella citta!
We have since traveled to Puerto Rico with the same friends and have become business partners as investors in a Sushi Restaurant for the past five years. The Italian coffee shop that they owned in northwest Denver was my “Cheers bar”. It was the place where many of my dreams were conceived and everyone knew my name. The Italian classes that I took there in preparation for my trip would resurface today in a very synchronistic way. Do you remember my morning coffee talk with my wife? Our dreams to travel back to Italy and my wish to get a part-time job working from home while I write? At 3pm today I received this email from the travel agency responsible for the Italian classes I took six years ago:
“We are looking for 3 experienced sales people to join our marketing manager to sell group tours to Italy.
This person should have some knowledge of Italy and Europe and like to travel, although we will train. Tour destinations include Italy , France , Croatia and Germany . This is a perfect part or full time position for anyone who wants to make their own hours and work from home.
Must have a reliable vehicle, computer with Broadband access and cell phone
Flexible hours
Opportunity to travel to Italy at discounted rates
Must be professional and have 3 years experience in sales and able to meet monthly quotas
Serious candidates only, this is not an opportunity for someone who just wants to travel to Italy
Must be detail oriented, highly motivated, self starter, and creative
Please email your resume to xxx. Resumes accepted through December 8, 2009”
The next 30 days will bring serendipitous events that will prove to us all beyond a shadow of a doubt that once you empty yourself of fear-based baggage and dare to act on your dreams, you can create your own reality. This is when it gets fun!
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