Life is far too delicate to be unaware of its intricacies. Breathe it all in – a.a malee

Delicate has so many different meanings: Exquisite, Fragile, Subtle, Elegant and as art.

My initial reaction was thoughts of our delicate landscapes. Have you ever thought of the soil as a living organism, teeming with life and potential? Always deserving our respect, we tread lightly near the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone above.

In the desert we are careful not to tread on what we see as a foundation of life…the soil.

And what of the ocean? I know sometimes it roars, and crashes into our rocky shorelines. Set that aside. Will you also agree it is calm, focused and consistent, all in an effort to maintain a delicate balance with its shorelines?

Life.

And we understand that delicate balance to holding on and letting go.

But as I type this I am also looking at photos from our last four days in Rome, Italy. It is not our first visit and will not be our last. It is not because we want to see its iconic sites or enjoy its nice weather. It is because Italians are fully aware of the intricacies I spoke of. Love life feels like their mantra (unless of course you are sitting in traffic).

Italy knows very well how to breathe it all in. It is an archeological wonder with windows to the past, and I think of every stone an ancient newspaper to be read and reread.

And pasta? This is Italy.

Delicate you ask? At Riccardo’s Cooking School we learn to make pasta, and how it must be handled with delicate hands as you would a baby. In fact to fold it, you must learn to use the back of your hand. Very much an art, there is a secret ingredient that goes in all homemade pasta, it is called love.

I repeat…

Life is far too delicate to be unaware of its intricacies. Breathe it all in.

Wind Kisses, Donna