I have committed the ultimate act of stupidity in Italy...... and I have survived!  I left my purse in my car parked outside the gates overnight.  It was in error, but the type of error one should know better than to make here.  We were coming back from dinner at the grandparent's and had arms full of donated lettuce and other goodies.  We were borrowing their car as we still have only the one, and grandfather's car gets parked in the garage because God forbid anything happened to it.  This is the man who checks his tire pressure and oil levels every time he drives.  I parked our car outside the gates in the parking lot and gathered up everything except the bag that matched the color of the car's carpet.  Every time we leave a car out we cross our fingers and hope for the best as the first night we slept in this place 20+ years ago, we left GP's new Saab out only to wake and find it missing.  It was tracked down a few days later minus the battery.  Anyhow, my bag was safe and sound where I had left it which is a huge relief.  Just thinking about all the paperwork and lines and visits to official buildings I would have to make to replace my documents makes my head spin.  Plus I had Grace's American passport in my bag as we are going up to Milan (the American consulate) tomorrow to renew it.  I think spring may finally have arrived.  The Romanian leaf blowers are out in force in the restaurant's gardens behind us.  When we arrived last fall these guys were out blowing leaves around everyday for two months.  I don't think they ever pick them up, just blow them from one corner of the garden to the other.  It's very loud and gets pretty tiresome.  But it is a sign that the restaurant plans to be opening their outside seating soon so that's good.   I'm off to buy train tickets for Milan tomorrow and then to a staff meeting at the school.  xxoo me