Have you ever wondered if there was a connection between Rome, Hilary Clinton and bagels? I hadn’t until today. A very nice friend shared the name and contact information for the “New York Bagels in Rome” , a small business run by one woman. Of course, I quickly put in an order, which she kindly let me know could be picked up at FAO on Friday at the front entrance.
So, Friday comes along, and the whole family is looking forward to a weekend filled with bagels. In fact, we’ve promised the kids bagels and eggs for dinner. While my Friday morning had become hectic, I didn’t loose sight of the 10:30am time to pick up our bagels. At 10:15 I was in my car, on the way to FAO to pick up the bagels. Parking was difficult, strange on a Friday, and as the helicopters flew overhead, a fleeting thought crossed my mind……what the heck is going on? Another strike? Someone important must be traveling around these parts today….
My mind focuses on the task at hand, finding parking. Finally, I find a legal spot, not to far from FAO. I run down the hill, into the building (another fleeting thought as I ran through the empty parking lot…..where is everyone today?), get some cash to pay for the bagels, and straight into the line of FAO security – blocking me from going out the front entrance, where I was supposed to meet the bagel lady in one minute. Naïve soul......you would think having been here over a year would teach me to be worried about time!
I slink away from the FAO security, again wondering who might be in the building as that entrance is closed periodically for ministers and other VIPs. I run out the same entrance I came in….and staring at Carbineri and snipers on the building in front of FAO I realize my fleeting thoughts should not have fleeted so fast! Oh dear…..I walk up the sidewalk amongst heavily armed Polizia Nazionale, Carbineri and plain clothes cops….as I hadn’t been turned away, I didn’t turn around. I kept walking, noting the traffic being diverted, the helicopters above, and was finally turned away by someone wearing a secret service pin. That should have been a hint….but, no….not for me (even after being through RSO training, and living in DC for 8 years….). I turn around, walk back towards the entrance I had just came out….thinking….now what? I want bagels! I probably looked like I was stalking the place, as I soon snapped out of my thoughts to two Carbineri asking me for identification…..eeek!
I hand them my FAO badge, and my Italian residency card…they review it and ask me where I was going, and why I was walking past more than once….I had no idea how to explain in Italian that I was looking for the bagel lady! I was laughing so hard at how ridiculous I must’ve seen, they took pitty on me, and let me go.
So, by this point I decide to go into my office, and get the woman’s number. I storm into my office, surprising my office mate, asking who was visiting…..with a big smile she says “Hilary Clinton”! So, I guess I wouldn’t be getting bagels?
I get the woman’s name and number and give her a call. She tells me she is running late (really?) and would be there in 20 minutes (really?). I try to explain that she wouldn’t make it to the entrance, and suggest another….though she seems flustered, and therefore doesn’t quite get it….even after I say “Hilary Clinton is at FAO”! Instead, she said she’ll call when closer….about 20 minutes later I get a call….Sarah, I can’t get to the front entrance, so can we meet on the side? The best part about her, though, is she’s laughing at herself, saying “I now understand what you were saying!”….I like her already.
I walk down to meet her….and out of the back of her car (which is full of hundreds of bagels in buckets!) I buy 12 plain and 12 cinnamon raisin! I give her a big tip, and we laugh about the delivery…and in true Italian fashion, I get a hug and kiss as if we are old friends!!!
On the way home, the 10 minute trip turns into a one hour ordeal….but, for the first time since being in Rome, I don’t care! I have a full tank of gas, good music, 4 hours until I have to pick up the kids….and the best of all 24 bagels to eat!!!!
5/06/2011
1/03/2011
New Years
In light of our new location, and exciting new life (read with a bit of sarcasm) Richard and I decided to break our tradition of sleeping through new year's eve. Instead, we took some new friends up on their invitation to join them and others at their house for dinner and drinks. Luckily, all of the couples have kids, all of whom our kids know from school. Alex, who has proclaimed her love and devotion for Ethan, decided at 4 they should be married. She described in detail the wedding, which included Izzy as the "girl with rose petals". Jonah, an almost 3 year old younger brother not attending school quite yet, followed Ethan around all night, learning new tricks of being a boy to annoy mom (sorry Cory!).
After running around the house screaming, finding the bucket of balls that had been hidden, riding the contraband tricycle around the crowded apartment, the 10 kids (all under 6) sat down for chicken nuggets, carrots and popcorn for a new years eve dinner:) And how many parents does it take to feed these kids? Oh...all ten! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for this circus, but needless to say, it was a miracle that any kid ate anything....After the dust had settled and the kids were again "playing" in the other room, adults ate a scrumptious meal of pasta....Richard did not take part in the "Eric's love sauce", a spicy meat/cream sauce that our host had made. All of the events should be put into the context of there being at least 7-8 bottles of wine and/or prosecco being opened and drained at any given moment until the lemoncello and grappa entered. As I wanted to be a good guest, I had been partaking in the wine before dinner and lemoncello after dinner....which led to my public moment of "weak parenting". All moms had set limits with their kids throughout the night....Izzy's being "one cookie only". After shot number two of lemoncello, Izzy asked for another cookie. Looking at her, and looking at the plate, I decided another shot of chocolate wouldn't change the spastic, over-tired (it was 2 hours past bedtime), horrible behavior, so said "which one?". At that moment, I realized, all of the moms and dads were listening and laughing! I heard both "way to stay strong Sarah" as I saw Izzy take the chocolate cookie with a huge grin on her face:)
Shortly after, we decided the evening should be finished at our house instead of having full breakdowns at a new friends. With much reluctance, we said goodbye, wished everyone a happy new year and went out into the world of Rome's NYE. The sound of fireworks was overwhelming....I should have known when the number of places one could purchase fireworks was more than places to purchase Ben10 and Hello Kitty toys that Romans love their fireworks. As we entered the car, Ethan declared "I am not tired", and promptly joined his sister fast asleep, while Richard and I marveled over the sounds (and lack of the firework glow in the sky!). We got home with an hour to spare before midnight, put the kids to bed (Ethan declaring he still wasn't tired), and watched one of our pathetic, yet entertaining, tv shows. The sounds of firecrackers got louder and louder, to the point where we had to turn the tv up! At the height, we could finally see fireworks surrounding our house in the skyline (not from one show, but many private ones in gardens, alleys and piazzas), with kids screaming and laughing in the cacophony of noise! Midnight was upon us, and we hadn't fallen asleep!
To a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011!
After running around the house screaming, finding the bucket of balls that had been hidden, riding the contraband tricycle around the crowded apartment, the 10 kids (all under 6) sat down for chicken nuggets, carrots and popcorn for a new years eve dinner:) And how many parents does it take to feed these kids? Oh...all ten! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for this circus, but needless to say, it was a miracle that any kid ate anything....After the dust had settled and the kids were again "playing" in the other room, adults ate a scrumptious meal of pasta....Richard did not take part in the "Eric's love sauce", a spicy meat/cream sauce that our host had made. All of the events should be put into the context of there being at least 7-8 bottles of wine and/or prosecco being opened and drained at any given moment until the lemoncello and grappa entered. As I wanted to be a good guest, I had been partaking in the wine before dinner and lemoncello after dinner....which led to my public moment of "weak parenting". All moms had set limits with their kids throughout the night....Izzy's being "one cookie only". After shot number two of lemoncello, Izzy asked for another cookie. Looking at her, and looking at the plate, I decided another shot of chocolate wouldn't change the spastic, over-tired (it was 2 hours past bedtime), horrible behavior, so said "which one?". At that moment, I realized, all of the moms and dads were listening and laughing! I heard both "way to stay strong Sarah" as I saw Izzy take the chocolate cookie with a huge grin on her face:)
Shortly after, we decided the evening should be finished at our house instead of having full breakdowns at a new friends. With much reluctance, we said goodbye, wished everyone a happy new year and went out into the world of Rome's NYE. The sound of fireworks was overwhelming....I should have known when the number of places one could purchase fireworks was more than places to purchase Ben10 and Hello Kitty toys that Romans love their fireworks. As we entered the car, Ethan declared "I am not tired", and promptly joined his sister fast asleep, while Richard and I marveled over the sounds (and lack of the firework glow in the sky!). We got home with an hour to spare before midnight, put the kids to bed (Ethan declaring he still wasn't tired), and watched one of our pathetic, yet entertaining, tv shows. The sounds of firecrackers got louder and louder, to the point where we had to turn the tv up! At the height, we could finally see fireworks surrounding our house in the skyline (not from one show, but many private ones in gardens, alleys and piazzas), with kids screaming and laughing in the cacophony of noise! Midnight was upon us, and we hadn't fallen asleep!
To a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011!
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