A day of Yin and Yang
Early this morning I went to get my ID at the City Hall of San Giuliano Terme. A cold and humid day, which it meant I was wearing all the usual items such as a hat, gloves, and a scarf. We got there, got our number, and waited for a short time. We were help by a very nice lady. She explained to us where to get everything I need it in order to go to the doctor, etc. Once done with my ID, we leave, get in the car, drive off, and then I realized I forgot my gloves! Marco says to me, tomorrow when you go to get your health ID number, stop there, and ask about your gloves. We get to Pisa; I go to run the errands for the day. My first stop is at the pharmacy. Today I am searching for a homeopathic spray to clear my sinuses. I have not slept the whole night because of a banging headache that felt as if I had the "Cossack dancers" performing inside my head. Then I go to the toy store where I let my childish side of me go wild. I see the twister game; I think what a good game to play with Marco! I see the Lego White House, I think inside myself, I want it, I want it. In between the two stops, I go to a coffee bar to have two cappuccinos with two croissants. While there, I go to the bathroom to do my first inhalation of my medicine. I have my treat, and sketch some ideas for my new paintings. Marco calls me to ask me how is my morning going. I say I am breathing and the Russians are gone! He has no idea as to what I am referring to. I am done with my errands. It is almost one in the afternoon. I return to the University to meet Marco for lunch. He asks me what did I get for my sinusitis. I know that what I am about to tell him, he is not going to agree with me as his background screams chemistry in pharmacology. He says, when this stuff does not work, can you give a try to one of my suggestions. We go for lunch close by the university. It is a simple place of homemade dishes. I order onion soup Tuscan style, a perfect choice for a day like this. Marco's choices are Italian cold cuts and cheese. While waiting for my soup, I notice the stand of Whittington teas. Wow, look at that goody, I say to Marco! I go directly to the stand, and dwell over the many flavors, and kinds of teas. I am not sure if I want a pepperoncino tea or winter tea. I get number 61! Then I ask the lady how much does it cost by bag. She says 2.50, I think, wow expensive. I ask her if she sells the box. She says yes. I ask her the price for the box. She tells me, I have to see how many there are in the box to do the math. I know that usually in a box there are from 20 to 28 tea bags. Hello, like I am going to pay over 40. Euros for a box of tea? Does she think I am the queen of Colombland, or a foreigner with mad money, to go down the drain? Right away inside me the green, yellow, and red light starts blinking at once. She is pulling a fast one on you says the other me. I say to the lady I am not interested to purchase the box. Then I say to Marco, wow she was tricky with the price of the tea. I do not want to have coffee here, lets go to this place that I always pass by to have coffee. We go there, and they also sell the same brand name of teas. I ask the lady for the price of each tea bag. She says 1 Euro or 1.50 if you have the tea here. My eyes are talking to Marco telling him, wow you see, the other place was tricky, and you were finding ways to excuse them. Not only here is cheaper but also she told me how to get it directly. While I am having my coffee with my huge marzipan apple, my phone, with its robotic tone says to me, una chiamata da Roberto Scarselli. I tried to answer but not fast enough. I call him back but his line is busy. At that moment Marco's phone rings. It is Roberto. He has called me to tell me, that the lady that helped me this morning at the Comune or City Hall has called him to let him know that I forgot my gloves. After I left, She saw that I have left my gloves in her counter. She looked for the name of my husband, and realizing that probably he was the brother of Roberto called him to let me know that she had my gloves. I was amazed that she took her time to find out whom I was to return them. I say to Marco, what a day of contrasts it has been today. Wow, beautiful! Tomorrow I will stop by the Comune with one of my cakes!