It had been just over 16 months since I was last in Italy. In that time the COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the globe. The day I left Italy, the USA had just prohibited Europeans from entering America and things were heating up. I returned to Italy the first day that Americans were allowed to come without quarantine restrictions. I was lucky to be one of the last to leave, and first to return.
Before I left Italy, almost a year and a half ago, I had dinner with a friends – a multi-generational family. That evening, as I leaned in, the nonna (grandmother) that I had always hugged and kissed (one on each cheek), stopped me. She said no and signaled that we should soccer kick (toe-tap) each other.
On the day I returned to Italy, I was in the kitchen cooking, looking out the window. There was the nonna, her sister and friend walking down the cobblestone street. I rushed out to greet them. When seeing other Italians on this trip we had stayed socially distanced, or a few fist-pumped. This nonna signaled to me that she would have none of that. She opened her arms and drew me in. A big hug, a kiss on each cheek and then, another hug.
My first kiss, from the woman who taught me to kick, was priceless.

Eatalianos never forget their first kiss.

Love it!
Thanks Lee! Like I said… Pizza?