Apples, green tart apples, not the oranges I expected to see. Before, when I was last here, every street and corner seemed to be lined with orange trees, orange groves and always the sweet fragrant flowers blooming. Circular roundabouts always prove to be a challenge when I first return. Despite having been gone for over a year, I still feel that rush of warmth telling me that I made a good choice in returning.

Expectance of things to remain the same is often a mistake. Fast, quick and impatience are words to be left behind when returning home. Gypsy’s, entire families including household goods and pets fill rickety wooden carts being pulled down the two lane road by an old unkempt horse slowly plodding along. Hours later, so it seems, the Gypsy family finally pulls over into their chosen encampment for the evening allowing the long patient stream of cars idling behind to pick up speed. I knew to expect this slower pace of life, but had simply forgotten. Just to firmly jolt my memory back into the European life style, a shepard is heard off in the distance singing boldly to his flock of wooly sheep. Kids are frequently seen kicking their scuffed up soccer ball, scuttling out of the way of cars on this rutted out country road.

Lately, prior to my arrival home to this country, my stress level had been increasing again. Minutes after my arrival, my headache eased, stomach stopped churning and the constant tiredness eased. Needless to say, my return was well over due. Over just a few months ago, I had realized my desparate need to go home. People ask why, why leave the country I was born in, why leave friends and family? Questioning my logic at every luncheon, dinner or simply at a family gathering became a favorite past time. Recently, my favorite story to quote in an attempt to explain is: security. Security has become an obsession with all forms of electronic devices; door cameras, alarms, phone warnings, etc. The old ladies in their house dresses leaning out windows, grey hair bundled up, arms firmly folded across their chests is security here. Until someone gives me a solid reason to leave this slow paced, secure and affordable nation, I am here to stay. Vitally important to me is my health, and this calm way of living heals me in heart, body and mind. What will come next in my life, I don’t really know, but I feel I am ready for anything. Xing out any expectations will go far towards accepting what life has in store for me. Youth is gone, age is creeping in along with an unexplained excitement. Zest for life is what keeps me young in heart and spirit.