This month marks the two year anniversary of Ciao Amalfi. I’ve been looking back over the past two years and thinking about how this blog has been such an important part of my life here in Italy. It’s been with me through many of the challenges and joys of learning to live on the Amalfi Coast. By nature I tend to be a forward thinking person, but I know it’s also important to make time for reflecting on who we are and how our stories lead us along on this journey through life. Which chapters were important and which ones will we flip through hastily? Who are the characters we’ll never forget, what are the moments that changed us forever?
These thoughts were running through my mind when I saw Michelle’s 2010 Year End meme on Bleeding Espresso, and then again with Annika’s at dove mi porta il cuore. I’ve never done a meme before, but this one seems like the perfect way to start of 2011. So here goes my First Annual Year End Meme!
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before? Last year started out wonderfully with my first trip to Paris. I was on a podcast for the first time thanks to the lovely ladies at Eye on Italy. I drove a manual transmission car on the Amalfi Coast. (Only once… and hopefully never again!) Began writing the novel that I’m working on with my Mom – my favorite co-author and collaborator! Went to Florence for the first time and met two dear friends, one from graduate school and Katie Greenaway from Olio di Olive e Sogni di Vino. Made gnocchi from the recipe in my friend Chiara Lima’s lovely cookbook Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine. (Thanks for being brave with me, Mom!) Launched www.ciaoamalfi.com with it’s own domain name. (Still a lot of work to be done there, but it’s a start!)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, at least not in any concrete terms. I did achieve some of the goals I set out for myself with my freelance writing … and some I didn’t even know I had until I ran right smack into them. I’m working on my goals for 2011 now!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? One of my dearest friends gave birth to a beautiful son, and I can’t wait to meet him in Minnesota this spring!
4. Did anyone close to you die? Very gratefully, I can say no.
5. What countries did you visit? I visited Paris, France last January and Nebraska, USA from February-March.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A complete first draft of the novel I’m writing with my mother.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Apparently, I’m not very good at remembering dates. Must pay closer attention!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Becoming more organized and productive with my freelance writing career, and finding enough regular writing projects to cover my minimum living expenses. Onward and upward, baby!
9. What was your biggest failure? Not working hard enough to improve my spoken Italian. Sigh.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Worst cold of my life just before I left Nebraska in March. Discovered that the reason I was short of breath, had heart palpitations and an annoyingly long low grade fever was caused by inflammation in my bronchial tubes. (Likely due to aforementioned worst cold of my life…) A strange infection in my left thumb came back again in September, exactly one year after it happened for the first time. If you know me, then you already know that only rather bizarre things happen to me. This one is still causing me pain and is still a mystery. I know, too much information. But the meme asked me.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I don’t have much extra income to spend now, but the best thing I bought was a stack of books to plan my second trip to Paris coming up soon!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mother … who worked extra hard and arranged to spend five wonderful weeks on the Amalfi Coast this past autumn!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I really can’t say. (And, by that I mean I could say, but that I’m choosing not to!)
14. Where did most of your money go? Paying my student loans.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going to Paris last January with my boyfriend!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010? “Pick Yourself Up” from the movie Swingtime with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It always makes me smile, even during the moments when I don’t think it’s possible.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? (a) Happier, most of the time. (b) Either thinner or the same. (c) When you make as little money as I do, what’s the difference?
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Relax.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying. (Are you sensing a pattern here? I am.)
20. How did you spend Christmas? A quiet and lovely Christmas with my boyfriend’s family here in Italy.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010? With my boyfriend … again and again!
22. What was your favorite TV program? I don’t watch TV much, but this I did discover Castle. (Writers are cool, too!) This year my Italian comprehension has also improved to the point that I enjoy watching Italian TV, and I occasionally caught an episode of Ma Come Ti Vesti? where I learned valuable words like “inguardabile.” (Literally: “unlookable.”)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don’t think I know hate. Disappointment, yes, but not hate.
24. What was the best book you read? A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi. (Thanks, Mom!) Her writing is always an inspiration!
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Toquinho! I’ve enjoyed the music of Vinicius de Moraes for years, but never fully appreciated the talents of Toquinho, one of his collaborators and close friends. This summer I was fortunate to see him perform a concert in honor of Vinicius at the Ravello Festival.
26. What did you want and get? A new Nikon point and shoot camera. (Thanks, sweet!)
27. What did you want and not get? A car with an automatic transmission.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Remember #22 when I said that I don’t watch TV much? That goes for movies, too. While maybe not my favorite, I did see Natale in Casa Cupiello, a film classic by Eduardo de Filippo, just before Christmas. Now I finally get all the jokes people make about the presepe here for the holidays! “Te piace ‘o presepe?” (If you laughed then you’ve spent time in the Naples area!)
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I celebrated my 30th birthday by hiking to the Torre dello Ziro and having a picnic overlooking Amalfi and Atrani, and then having a quiet dinner by the sea in Marina di Praia.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Security.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Dealing with what I have until my budget affords more shopping.
32. What kept you sane? My love, my mother and a ridiculous amount of walking.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I’m really pleased with the career success of Colin Firth and look forward to seeing The King’s Speech.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? If you know me, you’re laughing right now at how utterly inappropriate this question is. Must pay more attention …
35. Who did you miss? My family and my good friends in Minnesota and around the United States.
36. Who was the best new person you met? My dear friend Chiara Lima from the Mamma Agata Cooking School on the Amalfi Coast. My heart is happy knowing I’ve found a lifelong friend!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. There is never an end to patience.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “Nothing’s impossible I have found, for when my chin is on the ground, I pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again. Don’t loose your confidence if you slip. Be grateful for a pleasant trip, and pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again.” – Ginger Rogers in Swingtime.
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I’ll add the same note as Michelle at Bleeding Espresso … Please feel free to create your own end of year meme and post the link in the comments!
Oh Laura, your 2010 sounds freakishly similar to my 2006 (and funny enough, I also turned 30 that year). Onward and upward is right! You’ve put everything in place, and I’m sure you have a fabulous 2011 ahead of you 🙂
Ciao Michelle! I’ve just gone gone back and read your 2006 meme…. you’re right! Thank you very much for what you wrote. You have been – and continue every day – to be a true inspiration to me. I am so grateful for the advice you provided on your blog two years ago during your Freelance Writing Week … it was instrumental! And when I see how successful you have been, it gives me hope that the hard work I do every day and the long hours behind the computer are actually building up to something to better. Thank you for everything!! A wonderful 2011 to you, too!
Hi Laura a great meme… What a fantastic year you have had .. and also TWO years Blogiversary for Ciao Amalfi.. Well done and keep up the super work you are doing.. Look forward to another fantastic year with lots to read and see 🙂 xoxo
Ciao Laura,
I finished my QP at StTh and have graduated! I footnoted you since I worked on two post-emancipation synagogues in Turin! I’m glad and sad to finish…it will be good to see what my next project becomes.
Hope to see you some day again, in Minnesota or Italy.
Yours,
Sarah Henrich
Congratulations Sarah!!!!!! Thank you for stopping by and sharing your good news. I thought back to that class with Victoria this past spring when I saw the striped synagogue in Florence with Heather Pollock. Fun memories! 🙂 I’ll be back in Minnesota for the opening of the UST “The Vision Changes – The Eye Remembers” exhibit on March 4th. Will I see you there? Hope to catch up in person soon! Warm wishes from the Amalfi Coast!!
Ciao Laura! You nudged me to jump in and do the meme. I knew we had a lot in common, but now I see even more similarities. Buon anno! I’m sure it will be happy and productive for you.
Ciao Valerie! I’m heading over now to check out your meme for 2010. Basilicata is close … but I wish it were even closer! 🙂 Happy wishes to you and Bryan for a wonderful 2011!