January 12th, 2026

Good mornings folks,

     Very early this morning, 3:30 AM Trapani time, Julie took a cab to the Palermo airport where she will fly to Rome, then Munich and finally back to Toronto where she will still have to drive home to Rochester. She’s been with me for nearly two weeks here in Trapani and it has been absolutely a wonderful time of doing just about nothing. Of course, she took care of all the crucial details for getting me settled in the apartment and stocked up about an important things that I’ll need for my long term stay. To say that I will miss her is an understatement. Will I be lost without her? That goes without saying….but, of course, I’ve been "lost" for most of my life! We have spent 42 years together pretty much side-by-side working together, raising our kids together, traveling, restoring houses and running a business. I do feel somewhat like a burden at times because I can’t get around, but she has been absolutely wonderful putting up with my disabilities. We did lots of "parading" around the entire peninsula, me with my scooter and Julie with her strong gait. The weather has been sunshine and 60°F, but very cold with a strong wind coming from the north so we’ve had to stay bundled up.

   Last year I did this because I could…this year, I’m doing this because I must …it is a retreat, it is a monastic life in a medieval city, that is what I will be living….away from the troubles of the "New World". I will spend time, writing, to clear my head and reading, to increase my knowledge, listening to music to calm my nerves and studying language, to reduce my stupidity for never mastering another language. Will I be lonely? Well,  of course I will……………at least until my daughter, Grace, comes here the first week of February!

  Meanwhile, at the store, the guys continue to make sure that everything is in good order…they have been buying collections and will be listing some great stuff soon.

With Peace

John Bernunzio