circa 1977.

Circa 1977: UF Homecoming Parade

Over 30 years ago, 2 people met for the first time at the Country Village pool in the muggy heat (as we all know) of a Gainesville summer.  My mom, exhibit A, looked stunning in a lime green bathing suit en route to law school & my dad, exhibit B, was a handsome nerd planning on attending medical school in the near future.  Even if the "spark" wasn't immediate, they instantly liked each other & (I'm going to get real cliche here & tell you...) the rest is history.

My parents were just kids at the time... to be exact they were about my age (scary I know... I always forget that my parents had a life before me.  I guess it just wasn't a good life yet) attending UF, just like me.  Well anyway, they met, went on a few dates... blah blah blah, a few years went by... blah blah blah & then they got married in 1980; had a few kids, moved to Florida, lived their lives, became world travelers, discovered the cure for cancer, & fell in love with Colorado.  You know, the usual.

It is amazing how time flies by.  33 years later & my parents are still best friends.  I know because I can see it in their banter.  They make fun of each other... the proof of a great relationship is being able to laugh at yourself.  My mom asks stupid questions (i.e. "Where are the SWISS Family Robinson from?" or "I wonder what state the Colonel who started KFC (everyone & their mom, except mine apparently, knows what that stands for!!) is from?") & my dad says sub-par jokes & puns about EVERYTHING, but in the end it's all about compatibility.  And sure, it wasn't always easy, but that's just life & the way it is, & it's more important to look back at those hard moments & know they just made you stronger & a little bit closer.

I always make the analogy, but I think it works here as well: when watching a soccer game & you look back at the goalie's performance, you always remember that shot he or she missed, & you ignore the amazing saves that were made.  Why when we look back do we always remember the bad stuff?  It doesn't make any sense because behind every bad(ish) thing that happens there are 4748657634 good things screaming for attention:

Like the time Daniel made an actual funny joke about "fins to the left, fins to the right" when there was scuba equipment in the trunk, or the time Scott just "didn't know when he was almost done," or when Suki was a surprise for Hanukkah, or when we had a family flan fight in the kitchen just because, or when we went to almost every European country in a span of 10 years, or when just spending 1 night in an RV in an Alaskan parking lot was "the best vacation ever," or when we went to 47486 soccer games across the state, or when we celebrated Christmas in the snow, or when we had snowball fights in the Steamboat hot tubs, or when we saw dad's face in the skydiving video, or when I signed all my cards with 008 INC. because I am a super spy who loves the number 8, or when you sent the Thanksgiving menu & included graphically where the goat cheese came from, or when mom started painting again, or that time in Africa when everyone knew who "DEBBIE" was, or when we bought our Snowmass condo & turned it into our haven, or when we were all together again this summer for the first time in years, or when you won the lottery (just kidding... I was just seeing if you were paying attention), or when you just lived this amazing life with the best set of 5 people there is.

When you think about all that life above, you know that you created something special: a family.  Just 2 kids who met sometime in 1977 grew up & formed this incredible family with incredible aspirations & futures.  If it weren't for that lime green bathing suit or my dad's guts, this post would not be happening right now... which means I wouldn't be happening right now & neither would Daniel nor Scott.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is this: thank you for meeting, getting a cheese plate at the Mad Monk's Inn, marrying, staying together, loving each other every day & us kids, looking at each other as if not a single day has gone by since 1977, being involved in our lives, taking us with you when you became world travelers, making room for all 3 of us in your busy & professional lives, giving us EVERYTHING we ever wanted, giving up single life & work for our futures, being the best parents that ever existed, & sending me to UF, where hopefully I can wash, rinse, & repeat.

Here's to the best couple & their UF alumni status (even though my mom is wearing garnet... oops!) & all the things/years in between!  

Parents weekend: 2011

LOVE,
Rachele (008 INC.)

biggest moments.

Big/Little reveal Round 3: I am not quite the biggest, but I am far from the littlest.  I am a grandbig with an infinite legacy above me & a growing legacy below me.  It is interesting to think that I could have a great-great-great... great-grandbig dating all the way back to Kappa Kappa Gamma's founding year here at Florida in 1978.  Isn't that strange to think about... that there are members of your sorority chain out there & you don't even know it?  Can you imagine how many Gs they must have?  One of Kappa's finest mottos is, "It's not just 4 years, it's for life," & seeing my own great-grandbig return with 4Gs on her hat makes me so happy & makes that statement true.

With each passing year I raise higher & higher on the totem & my number of Gs on my hat goes up & up.  This year marks my first G.  & it only goes up from there.  Don't worry, I'm not reminiscing in the past because I know we are "living in the moment," but when did I get so old?  I'm almost a real person... oops!

Well anyway, big/little reveal is always one of my favorite events because all the families dress up & show off their individualistic & amazing personalities through a family theme, but most importantly, they make hats.  In our family, the hats are different every year to match our theme, & some families fall to tradition & wear the same hats every year!  The hats draw the littlest ones to her rightful owners in a way that says, you are now one of us... Welcome to the HOT MESS Family!  Yep, we are an eclectic bunch & we wear tacky tourist clothes on Thursdays... you can't sit with us!  

Aren't we cool?

I feel like you are in a "state of limbo" before you get your big because you don't really have any real/personal direction yet, but once you join a family, you have so many mentors that truly treat you like family.  It is an unconditional love.  For me, it wasn't until big/little reveal when I was reunited with my big, Danielle, & my twin, Alex, when I felt at home at Kappa.  They all made me feel so special & so loved that I couldn't imagine any other experience. 



And then of course, getting your own little just makes you even more connected because now you are a role model for someone else; a friend & family.  Alyssa is my perfect little & now it is her turn to be the perfect big! 

"It's the LITTLE moments in life that make the BIG difference."

I'm going to get cheesy now (I know Danielle wouldn't mind ;)), but "once you go Kappa, you can't go backa."

Ciao

american.

What's the most perfect way to act festive & American on the eve of July 4th? 

Hike up to 11,000 feet to: 

AMERICAN LAKE

Well... I guess scarfing down ice cream afterward is pretty American too... 

which we did...

Anyway, today we got ready for the parallel universe to Cathedral Lake, which we did last week.  American Lake runs along the opposite valley as Cathedral & is completely beautiful in a different way.  The trail began with about a billion rather steep switchbacks through fields of the whitest aspen trees, quivering in the wind, & wild flowers growing up in the pockets of sunlight between the trees.   

My aunt calls it Oz, but I call it Home. 

      

The steep switchbacks eventually gave way to a pine forest that smelled like Christmas (the best holiday... I can say that because I am Jew-"ISH," emphasis on the -ish).  Nature smells so good in Colorado.  It might not smell that good on me after a 5 hour hike, but it sure does smell better than the Floridian nature... if you can call it nature.  Another great aspect of the Colorado nature is how much pride people take in it.  Wilderness & National parks are used everyday & people are outside staying fit everywhere.  Like I said the other day, hiking Aspen Mountain is a morning exercise for the locals.  The Floridian morning exercise is just walking outside & sweating.  Somehow all that fresh mountain air & lack of humidity truly make a difference.  You just want to be outside here; respecting & taking advantage of nature at its finest.

Allora, the pine forest curled up higher into the alpine, where a giant scree field emerged overlooking the entire valley.  Pine trees as far as the eye can see spread into the other mountains & right up to American Lake.  American Lake is a beautiful crystal turquoise clear body of water that reaches out to the base of a mountain face.

Although Cathedral also ended at a beautiful mountain lake, American Lake was just mesmerizing.  The wind danced over the water, the sky hovered protectively around its mountains, & the trees raced up their rocky faces.  There was a totally different ambiance at American Lake.  Is it because the 4th of July is tomorrow & I'm just feeling patriotic?  Or is it because I just love America so much?  Or... I will never know, it was just perfect.

After the trek back down, the sun receded behind the clouds & it provided a perfect cool down.  We were all pretty exhausted, so we resorted to ice cream.  We have 0 shame... we hiked this morning & we our proud of it.  Plus, we were celebrating our American roots!

Have a great evening everyone!  And Happy 4th of July Eve!  Ciao!

local.

GIORNO VENTIDUE

We are dorks for life.

Last night, Christina, Danielle, and I met up with all the Benefields at Kikuya for a bit because all the girls insisted that the special 10% alcohol beer called a Dragoon must be tasted.  Personally, all beer tastes the same and all beer is gross.  But hey, whatever floats your boat, right?  After her parents left, Claudio and Stefano, our Italian friends, arrived to take us to a new place.  In the United States, every night has something going on, but not in Italy.  It is just a different culture, one that is very different from the bar atmosphere in a college town like Gainesville.  I could get used to an atmosphere like this... calm, chill, and easy going.  Eventually we ended up at this night cafe where Brie (Tarah and Savannah's younger sister) and I were stuck in the corner, unable to get out of our seats... "nobody puts babies in the corner."  Us youngest children gotta stick together!  We bonded over how being the youngest is the hardest until only child, Christina, decided she wanted to go home... OCS.  I'm just kidding!

Anyway, I went to sleep and woke up this morning for class. Boo!  I made some breakfast and Christina and I walked to Cafe Chiaroscuro for the usual, a vanilla cappuccino.  Never disappoints me!  We hung out there for a while... feeling like locals, sipping our coffees and enjoying the peace in a quiet down to earth little place.    

Walking through Firenze has become a bit of an obstacle over the past couple of days... I can tell high schools have finally been let out for the summer and Italy is starting to get crowded!  I can't even tell you how many random pictures I am probably in just walking through Piazza Signorina near the fake David.  Everyone is always clogging up that pathway and all those attractions have become "same old same."  Sounds snooty, but we already did the touristy thing, now we just want to get to Cafe Chiaroscuro for some coffee before class!  Also, the new study abroad students arrived over the weekend and sadly we all look at them staring at their maps like seniors stare at "fresh-meat."  That was us three weeks ago!  I can't even imagine how people were looking at us!  But hey, we have earned our place in the city and we have blended and made it our home.  No more maps!

During class we continued studying the imperative form and what will be on the quiz on Thursday.  After class, Carrie and I headed to wine when I ran into the waitress from Kikuya.  She recognized me!!  So I have become a regular at a bar and I was recognized on the busy streets of Firenze near il Duomo... does that make me a local?  I don't know, but it was kinda cool not gonna lie!

Wine class was even more boring than usual and it didn't help that I was so hungry!  I had barely eaten anything all day and we didn't even do a wine tasting... we just watched a video on the production of wine, comparing different countries and their major producers.  I could have done without it... I just wanted dinner!!  After class Carrie and I bolted for some grub.  I chose this pizzeria that served these flatbreads with a little ham and cheese in it.  It was cheap and perfect and I could eat it while I walked!

Back at Tintori, I decided it was a good idea to go for a run.  It is getting hotter here by the minute (ironic seeing I just bought my leather jacket...).  My run was good though, and I found a new path east along the Arno that went through a park all covered in trees.  It was a nice break from the constant concrete buildings, uneven sidewalks, and dirty streets!  It was peaceful and I liked it!  I probably went a little over three miles before I returned to shower.

Everyone is sick here.  I don't know why, but a bug is flying around and it seems like it is running rampant through my apartment... it hasn't reached me yet. Knock on wood, or as Italian say, touch metal (iron).  I usually don't get sick easily, so i am hoping it skips me because this weekend is Rome and I am so excited for some Vatican City, some Colosseum, and the
Trevi Fountain!  Maybe even my Italian teacher from Gainesville will meet up with us all from class because she lives outside Rome!  I guess we shall see!  in the mean time, I should probably lay low away from all these sick people!

Since Tarah and Savannah have been staying at their parent's condo over the past couple of days, it has pretty much just been Christina, Danielle, and I... maybe we will take it easy tonight and watch a movie!  It was a long weekend anyway and we've got another one ahead of us.  Sometimes it is nice to take a break from everything, but it is hard because it is all so much fun and we want to see it all!  I just LOVE ITALY!

Buonasera!       

getting my bearings straight.

DAY THREE

The view right outside my front door!

Let's just start off by saying last night I slept GREAT!  I am pretty sure the importance of a good blanket has been underestimated, but I now appreciate them a lot more.  I woke up around eight ready for a nice jog around the city with Danielle.  We set off and did a loop around some of the city that I had not yet seen, eventually making our way into more of the city center.  It was the first time I actually took the opportunity to explore beyond my comfort square of Firenze and truly get my bearings straight.  Running has always seemed to help me with directions.  Even in Gainesville, I discovered nooks and crannies that I would never have found if I hadn't been aimlessly running and getting lost.  Firenze has officially been programmed.

So... now that I know how to get around better, I am now working on being brave with my Italian words.  I definitely know enough to get by, but I need to talk in Italian to my new favorite bread guy instead of my go-to "Italish," which seems to dominate my speech.  Carrie and I attempt to talk in Italian whenever possible and we have noticed a few patterns about the Italian language.  1. When something is a supposed to be really really tiny, you just ALWAYS add -ini to the end of the word, just like -ito in Spanish.  It works every time.  2. When something is VERY delicious and you want to emphasize this notion, you take your index finger to your cheek, twisting it back and forth, and say "buuooonno!"  Just saying "buono" won't do it justice...  3. When you need a filler word because you are drawing a blank, just say "allora."  It will make sense, just as the word "like" fits anywhere and everywhere in the American English dialect.  You now know enough Italian to survive three whole days in Firenze!

All jokes aside about the certain linguistic differences, I truly love the Italian language, and I find myself beginning to respond in simple Italian phrases to people all around me.  The difference between studying Spanish and Italian, at least for me, is that I actually want to learn this language and my desire to speak and understand is all there.  Being passionate and dedicated are the most important parts of learning another language.  And what better to keep me motivated than to put me in social situations where I am forced to speak Italian in order to get food?  This is the best form of bribery because if I can't speak, I won't get fed, and that won't work!  Alllora, I learn the Italian language!

I am absolutely loving my new backyard.  I love the uneven sidewalks that barely fit a full-sized human, I love the smell of fresh bread from the bakeries on every corner, I love that the streets barely make it half a block before changing names, I love the small old ladies and how they speak to their puppies, and I love all the everyday surprises, such as...  

What's on the wall over there?

Paper?

No... MONEY!

...I have always known money doesn't grow on trees because money grows on walls.  And when the season is right and the money is ripe, you can even pick them!  This here is a dollar wall and they only grow in Toscana.

Anyway, on this slightly overcast Wednesday, I had a wonderful time going to my second day of classes.  My Italian class is starting to review what we have already forgotten from Spring semester, and my wine culture class is proving itself to be a bit more challenging than originally expected!  No jokes here!  Two days into the class and I already have a hand cramp.  Who knew the history of wine and the process of production could be so in depth and detailed!  I always thought that I had a pretty decent sense of smell, but when it comes to wine I only smell grapes.  Apparently today in the Riesling there was a hint of bananas... at a time like this, I just nod my head and agree because there were absolutely no bananas in sight in my glass of Riesling!  Who knew wine testing could be so complicated?  Despite my weak nose, I thoroughly enjoy learning the appropriate motions of "tasting" rather than simply "drinking" wines.  It is nice to actually know what I am doing... eventually.

Carrie and I have made it our mission to get our rather stiff, and possibly nervous wine teacher to crack at least one smile during each class period.  We succeeded today!  She smiled a new record of two times today!  She likes it when people attempt to speak in Italian, which me and Carrie often do (her better than me).  She is a very nice lady and she has a great passion for wine.  My favorite part was listening to her speak English knowing how hard she was trying to get every word right and sounding out every letter.  It was so cute!  I know if I had been attempting to speak Italian it would probably not be good AT ALL.  Props to her!     

Posting up at the Duomo. Unimpressed.

Next Wednesday we are off from school, and I plan on hiking to the top of Il Duomo that day with my roommates!  I see it every day on my route to and from class, and I am still so astounded at its actual size.  It is SO BIG that it almost doesn't seem real.  I have never come across a building that makes me feel so incredibly small and that just seems to tower over me.  Along with "The Church on Spilled Blood" in St. Petersburg, Russia, it might be one of the most impressive structures I have seen (twice).  Apparently, again circa 1999, I visited Firenze with my family over the summer and I was surely unimpressed with Il Duomo and its sum 400 plus steps to the top.  This time, however, I will be more than impressed at the incredible view across a city that I have now already grown to love.  I hope when I am at Il Duomo I can re-enact this pose!  I was always a really cool kid.

After class today, Carrie and I walked back to the apartment.  We stopped along the way at my "regular" bread guy and I bought a delicious looking pizza with prosciutto and mozzarella.  I cooked it up in the oven when I got back to the apartment.  It was awesome! I love me some pizza and some Italia!  Ci vediamo domani!