March 25th, 2024

Good morning friends,

     Of course, as Robert Burns said, "even the best laid plans of mice and men often go asunder". And so it happened when some employee decided not to load my mobility scooter onto the connecting flight to Sicily. It was missing for two days and I attempted to use my legs and walk around and now I am paying the price. These legs are no longer made for walking. After two days we were finally able to retrieve the scooter and it is trashed so I it seemed as I would have no mobility at the moment and things were not looking good. What was going through my heart was how do I take this situation and turn it around? How do I take the advice that I have given to my children over the years? "Keep positive. Look for the silver lining. Be adaptable." It’s hard advice to swallow when you’re in the middle of the situation. I had been methodically preparing for this trip for six months. Every single day was planned out. Every move was meticulously vetted. I had spent hours on Google Maps plotting walks for each day. It is very discouraging. My partner in life has been so supportive and creative. When the going gets tough, Julie starts cooking. I, on the other hand, burrow in…. I close up like an old clam and shut down. I went to bed early and did not wake up until 12:30 Sunday the next day…. I awoke to the exclamation of Julie shouting it’s working! She had been tinkering with it all morning and somehow got it to work. It must have a short in the system and we don’t know how long it will last but at least we were able to take a beautiful walk Sunday afternoon to one of my favorite parks, Villa Margherita and also along the sea wall. Things are looking up, I had a glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and we’ve got some adventures planned for the next few days. See, kids, there is light at the end of the tunnel….you just have to look very hard….and have a guardian angel. We will post some more pictures on Facebook this week.

With peace,

John Bernunzio

They have a great fish market in Trapani, with with the locals selling their catch

Fresh fish!

San Vito lo Capo…

Sicilian landscape 

Old town Trapani…. this guy has what will cure you.