Dec. 29, 2025 - I’M LEAVING…ON A JET PLANE
Leaving my grandchildren behind will be difficult, but I will talk to them on a weekly basis…. especially Rocco John, who seems to be channeling me. When I look into his eyes, it’s like looking back in time.
My daughter, Rose and her little family are going to meet up with me in the Netherlands at the end of March…just in time for tulip season!
Until then, I’ll be practicing my language!
We have reserved a table at a restaurant near our apartment…Ci Vulia. The ha a special New Year’s dinner and this is the menu…roughly translated.
I’M LEAVING…ON A JET PLANE
December 29th, 2025
Good mornings folks,
….and I don’t know when I’ll be back again…as the song goes. This Tuesday Julie and I head to the island of Sicily, the center of the ancient world. It is the birthplace of my ancestors and I seem to have a strong connection to this place. People have said that I must really like to travel…but the fact is I hate traveling. I don’t like packing and unpacking, and I hate flying….but this is not a vacation, it is an experience, and I have to keep reminding myself that I’m a "tough old bird" and I can do whatever I set my mind to.
Julie will be with me for two weeks and then I will be on my own until at least the end of March. The business will be in the trusty hands of Sam Snyder and Ryan Yarmel with Julie writing the checks. I will be in touch with them on a daily basis. I know they have the same passion that I have had over the years. But now it’s my time to take a bit of break. As I enter my 79th year, I feel I have laid the foundation for a great business and I appreciate the fact that it can give me time to garner new experiences, to continue that perpetual quest. The plan is to locate once again in the city of Trapani. I’ve been there quite a few times and I am very familiar with the terrain. It’s easy for me to get around on my mobility scooter and I’ve met quite a few people. So I intend to do a lot of reading and writing, practicing language, cooking skills and just living life as a foreigner in a different world. This is something my brain is telling me to do and I’ve been trying to figure out why my entire life. Perhaps it is just wanderlust, but I need to get out of America for a little while.
So, to the point, I am inviting anyone who would like to travel and visit me in this ancient part of the world. I won’t be able to house anyone but I can cook you a nice dinner, show you around the town and buy you a Campari. I’ve had a few friends who’ve been contemplating coming and I think my daughter Grace is going to visit. I will welcome you with open arms and a nice plate of fresh Sicilian food. My telephone number and other ways of contacting will be the same, so let me know if you’d like to experience this most western point of Sicily….the land of the Odyssey, I look forward to hearing from you…
With Peace
John Bernunzio
I shall miss the beautiful countryside of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, but I’ll be back when everything is in bloom
But I will not miss this part of living in New York State… the extreme cold has started to affect my bones…
…. I will miss the anniversary of store that I started 20 years ago this coming February…. it’s been a noble occupation….and I will miss this space.