A Small MomentMarch 21, 2012

I had a glorious moment tonight when I remembered again why I'm here in Venice. 

Because, and I say this with some embarrassment, there are occasional moments when I forget. Like when my feet are tired. Or when I'm lost, and not in the good way (say, if I can't find the apartment while carrying two bottles of wine, and I've had to pee for thirty minutes). Or when I notice that every single damn person in Venice is with someone else. I have lonely little pathetic moments when I remember the times I've been here with loved ones, and how nice it was to have someone to chat with instead of being the perpetual eavesdropper. (And I chose to come alone. This was what I wanted. What I want. So it feels stupid to have these moments. But there it is.) 

Every time I feel this way, I immediately find a cafe and I order either a cafelatte or a spritz, depending on whether it's before or after three pm (the time is arbitrary to my own taste -- I've seen people drinking at nine in the morning). I pull out my knitting or I write in my journal, and the world gets positively radiant. It's amazing. 

Tonight, I couldn't decide what to do. I'd had stunning luck at finding yarn (cashmere at Lellabella!) and bad luck at finding the Hemingway exhibit I read about yesterday (I was a year late). The light was leaving the sky. Should I go home? Find dinner? Have a snack? A drink? Go grocery shopping? I stood on a bridge, confused and tired. Then I saw a tiny old woman in a wheelchair sitting in front of a cafe in Campo Santa Maria Formosa. I sat next to her. Buona sera, I said, and she looked surprised at being addressed by a stranger, but she responded politely if coolly. 

I pulled out my knitting.

She did a double, then a triple take. Then she started grinning at me. I grinned back. At 6:26, the bells started ringing (in eighteen years of coming to Venice, I've never been able to figure out why or when bells ring). I sat in utter, complete joy to be exactly where I was. 

She left shortly thereafter while the bells were still ringing, giving me one last grin and a tiny wave as her daughter pushed her chair away. Sadly, she's not caught by the video below, but in this moment, I had tiny tears of complete and total joy. 

These moments are why I'm here. 

Comments

[Donna]

Hi Rachel,

I am enjoying your Venice postings very much. You are not alone out there. We are traveling with you!

[Beverly]

Ok, I'm blubbering on my deck right now! What a beautiful story...and the sound of the bells...well, that would be enough to make anyone want to return to Venice, over and over and over! xxx

[Colleen]

I love that little video! Ah, the bells ... And your story brought tears to my eyes. In a good way!

I travel solo occasionally, and get what you're saying about "those moments" ... they do come, but your response to them can make all the difference. Your solution is perfect!

[Carmen]

Thank you for sharing your happy moment. Currently, I am sitting at Panera,knitting,and watching your video.
But tomorrow, I'm definitly renewing that passport!

[diane]

Thanks for sharing this joy with us.

[paulah]

Love your pics, but especially today's video. Brought back memories of when my niece & I were sitting almost in the same spot a couple of years ago. And the bells!!I've traveled all over the world, but never alone. I admire you for that. Thanks for the memories.

[Yvonne]

I see that I need to renew my passport. Never know when the opportunity will arise for another trip to Italy. Really enjoying your posts. Thank you

Yvonne

[Sally at Rivendale Farms]

Totally love the Grinning and Knitting. Amazing moment indeed.

[Caroline aka FiberTribe]

Love.Why traveling alone is soooo worth it.

hugs.

[Carol]

Traveling by myself has been exhausting and frightening at times, quite an effort, sometimes best enjoyed in retrospect. I'm glad for your moment. Easy does it.

[Lynn in Tucson]

Adorable.

[toni in florida]

Truly a magic moment! I love those times when I know exactly why I am in a particular place, at a particular time. The results: joy and overwhelming gratitude.

[garret]

Is it weird that my thoughts during the video were "Oh my god, look at all those Italian people."
What beautiful bells, I think that there is something in everyone that loves a bel.

[Afton]

Knitting speaks across language barriers.

[Another Joan]

Grazie, molto grazie.

[Barbara]

I'm guessing the bells toll at noon-ish and 6-ish. That's when Catholics traditionally pray the Angelus which is a devotional, call-and-response prayer, your bells are a call to prayer, like the muezzin from a mosque. Hearing those bells always reminds me of my grandmother who prayed the Angelus with us after a meal when we were all gathered, and I hear her voice in my head intoning the beginning, "The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary..." Thanks for the reminder and the beautiful bells.

[Cindi]

I know right where this video was taken. Such a beautiful square. I may have to try going to Venice alone one day since my husband doesn't want to go back to Italy.

[Lisa in Toronto]

Definitely can't ever get enough of Venice!
An amazing place. Happy to think about my visits there any time.
Thanks for posting!

[Bethany]

You remember my story about the church bells in Dublin, right? How I got to ring them? I bet you twenty bucks someone bribed the right person, and I'll bet you another twenty that you or I will be that person when we go there together...

[Me in Ohio]

Oh, I'm aching with longing for Venice. I stayed at a hostel right off this square for a few nights and enjoyed watching people in the square from a table at the same cafe. There are so many memories I would never have, if I hadn't traveled alone.

[Mai]

I just love your writing. The little details make it so real for me. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[jan]

I am new to your blog and I don't knit but I do feel, like you, that my soul is Veniziana. Thanks for sharing your beautiful moments. I'll be with you on this lovely trip.

[Erin]

Hi, I found my way here thanks to Stash and Burn.... listened to their first podcast and they mentioned your blog.....
I love the voice in your writing, it is as if we are together just chatting, but you also invite us into your interior thoughts, thank you....
I have never visited Italy and have traveled alone only once or twice, but you have inspired me to get a passport and try it.
Your videos are precious, the lone accordian player brought a wistful smile to my face, but my favorite thing is your smile at the end of the clips, you look so contented.