Summer Vacay, 2021. Day 5

Pretty sure it’s not my imagination.

Boobs

August 2, 2021

There are boobs everywhere. I don’t know what the deal is but they are inescapable. Maybe it’s the heat. Maybe it’s the Italians. But try as I might, I cannot keep my eyes off of them. I have a bit of sympathy for 15 year old boys.

We have arrived in Lucca to 90 degree heat and, well, boobs. I’m usually aware of the line between “other” and “local” because of the clothing worn by each group. But now a new line looms large. The distinction between fashion and function. Fashion is most notably seen on the young women who are wearing beautiful clothing that highlights their “assets,” while I have aged out into functional wear.

I feel frumpy and I stink. I cannot remember the last time I was so odiferous. Maybe it’s the crazy amount of coffee I’m drinking, and ops my bad I left my deodorant at home. But the new stuff I bought here was supposed to fix that, AND IT DIDN’T! Looking for another fix, I bought a bunch of fast fashion, laser cut tanks tops so I can switch out my shirts during the day, and I bought them at a teenager underwear store. So wink wink! Two birds with one stone!

I just about jumped outta my pants when I saw this statue.

I am surrounded by cellos, an instrument I played 35 years ago. As part of my music degree I learned six other instruments besides the piano, my major area of performance. It sounds like a big deal but once you know how to read music, that’s half the battle.

I had an affinity for the cello, and looking back, way more talent than I did for the piano. Too bad I didn’t recognize that then because a cello is much easier to cart around than a piano. I took lessons from a symphony member well after I had passed my competency exams. But I had to choose, time being what it is, and my eventual understanding was that it was dance, not music at all, that was my way.

It crossed my mind a few months ago that I might like to return to the cello. I have been mulling it over as I consider the options in front of Sandy and I, and I thought why not consider a return to music? I even went as far as looking online for instrument rentals.

I have a rule that if something randomly pops up in my life three times, I should probably pay attention. I’m so far beyond the rule of three with cellos here in Lucca that it’s fair to say I’m down right being hounded. They are strapped onto backs, they are packed on bikes. They are in white cases, blue cases, green cases. Their sound comes from the windows of the Lucca Conservatory, from the busker on the street, and they’re even depicted in statues.

Is it a sign? Or, maybe, it’s just we’re in Puccini’s home town.

©Theresa Elliott, All Rights Reserved

Now this is literally a sign, seen a few days earlier, which is speaking figuratively to Summer Vacay, 2021, Day # 2