MYSTICAL & MAGICAL, TRAVELOGS & THE X AND O GARDEN

The words Mystical and Magical have always been intriguing to me.  So when I was 20~something and my cousin’s calico cat had a beautiful litter of kittens, my first two kittens became Mystical and Magical. 
I really feel parts of my life have also actually had a Mystical and Magical quality.  Actually life is such a miracle so I am sure most people may see it in their own lives.  So for Father’s Day, I would like to tell a little story regarding the above.  I have to do this. 

The June before my Dad passed away, we were fortunate enough to be able to take him to the original town in Italy where his father had lived before he came to America alone when he was 12. 
It kind of sounds like the story of the “Godfather”.  His name was Richard DeCesare which means “of Caesar”. 

Augustus Caesar Hotel in Capri.
Hotel Caruso in Ravello.
Hotel Caruso Ravello.
The November before my Dad passed away, he started for me what we called our X and O garden (the kiss (&) hug).  The next spring I sprinkled all of his ashes under twelve roses that I planted in the X and (&) O Garden.  Essentially, he unwittingly left us with a kiss and a hug. 

Kiss
and~&~ ampersand;
Hug

It was the kind of man he was ~ very quiet, gentle and unassuming…and also smart with a sense of humor.

I always loved this poster and always felt it meant something in my life but I never understood what until 15 years after I bought it.  It is entitled Wait For Me. 

I loved it so much, I stumbled upon a man who built arbors like this and I faxed a photo of it to him to see if he could build it for us and he actually had the same poster hanging in his office.

This is a photo of our arbor (you can’t see it very well from this side) and this garden Encloses The X and O Garden.  What I believe is Ironic is that when my dad was ill, I said to him WAIT FOR US ~~ in Ravello.  We’ll meet you there one day!!  Thus the title “WAIT FOR ME”.
Ravello was SO beautiful.
I would like to add the poem my son wrote about his PopPop.

Forever
“When I was little
My best buddy was my Pop-pop
I always sat is his truck, right in the middle
He finished his work, I waited a while
And when he found me in his truck
He gave me a big smile
And we went inside to have a sandwich with a root beer
I always went to bed happy
After a day with Pop-pop, full of cheer.
When I was bigger
I helped him finish his gardening
He taught me how to be the best digger
We always had fun
He called me his lil’ rascal
And when we were done
He would say he had to go
But little did I know he really meant
Forever.
For my dad on Father’s Day, the lilacs that he planted for me. 
The Bird of Time has but a little way to flutter ~~~ and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
~~Omar Khayaam
Decerio Swim Club 1957
La Posta Vecchia outside Rome June 2006
P.S.  Happy Father’s Day to my husband who had the generosity to allow me to take my family to Italy and inspires me to plant a garden of love. 

Daria Pew

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  1. Daria, your story is so beautiful and moving. You garden looks magical and mystical. I love the music along with the story…..have a wonderful day. oxoxoxo faye

    Faye Rose

    Reply
    16.06.2010

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