A night at the lake

A new, bigger airport for Milan for which tickets were on offer for less had to be tried, so we made plans to go for Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's. There was a huge amount of publicity and controversy over the location, an hour from the city. We were also acquainted with one of the architects, responsible for some of the interior design, who worked on it. It turned out to be in the middle of the woods, not where you’d expect to find an international airport. It is new, so there is not the usual collection of one-night airport hotels. This is a long-time summer holiday place for the cities of Milan and Turin. Hotels that would normally close for the winter now stay open for the airport. Because we are far from home, we book hotel, which requires many phone calls to find, for the night before we leave. We will be late be cause we leave home after five. This is an indication that this hotel may not be a place so close to the airport, although on the phone they assured us it is.

Our adventure begins as we search for the hotel. It is a dark night in November, there are few street lights, but we find there is a driveway leading to a three-story building. After checking the address, we venture up the driveway to find stairs leading to a single door, not a typical hotel entrance. We knock. For a moment I am reminded of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, when we are greeted by an older woman with long, gray hair accompanied by a very large white dog. After checking that it is really a hotel and we will actually be able to spend the night, we venture inside.

It is comforting to find a normal-looking hotel lobby and tables for breakfast. We are given a room on the third floor. We are very tired and have to leave from the new Malpensa airport the following morning. The big white dog wants to join us in the elevator, but it is easily chased away. So up we go to our room. We try to get our bearings by peering out the window in the dark. It is the third floor, so we make out a tall tree and maybe a bit of lake. This seems to be a family room for a summer swim in the lake. Being quite tired we get in our beds and fall asleep.

The following morning, the son of the woman who let us in appears and makes breakfast. It turns out he is a real chef, well-known locally. So we opt to stay for lunch, skipping an airport lunch, usually rather bad. The lake is quite lovely, but small. Perfect for an afternoon swim with the grandchildren. We see it is quite a nice summer vacation place. It becomes obvious it was a political decision to put a big airport here in the woods by a lake or two, where things were fine without it. C’est la vie. After a great lunch, made by a very good chef, I have to concentrate on how to make an exceptional turkey dinner.

Some things are standard and must be included, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, for example. But there are complicated ways to do it from scratch, or one can buy the pumpkin pie mix in a can. Since I was to be a ‘guest’ at my sister’s I could only hope she would use the same things I would. Before I switched continents, I would plan ahead and put pumpkin puree in the freezer at the end of October. I like to cook and would start early for Thanksgiving dinner, the only occasion most Americans really cook. I liked to try things like gratin of four onions instead of the usual peas and tiny onions.

Alas, my sister had two small children and was also studying at college. Pumpkin puree was not a priority. Therefore ease and practicality won out instead of true blue pumpkin puree. This brought to light the basic difference between the old continent and the new. Foodstuff in Italy is very fresh and rather seasonal. In the U.S. everything was available all the time, vegetables either frozen or canned. In addition there are fast food places in abundance making home cooking optional. However, Thanksgiving dinner is a tradition not to be overlooked. Families regroup, airplanes and car rentals are reserved in advance. Very busy. But coming from Europe it is simpler. Therefore I thought it would always be available, but times change faster than you would like. The political differences overwhelmed the once easy movement between continents..

A night at the lake was the first indication that changes were coming. A lovely little lake resort was being overcome by a huge airport. The lake resort may survive, but there is a lotof new construction, roads, etc. happening.

After celebrating Thanksgiving with my sisters family, who didn’t want any sophisticated recepies. We had sweet potatoes with orange juice and mini marshmallows instead of something with nuts. I knew I was on my own from now on. This meant finding my way in an environment I don’t really know, as I moved to Italy from the U.S.

I started in the kitchen, where Italy is superb. I also take swimming lessons, from someone with patience. I DIDN'T LEARN AS A child. The lessons are also progressing. Unfortunately, so is my multiple scleroses. I have always hoped for a good treatment or a cure, but nothing for me yet.

Now I am an ex-pat, who is not sure about current politics. That leaves me wondering what to do next. Italy is not the best place for new treatments or cures. Naturally, I keep an eye on what’s new.

As my life draws to a close, I am taking swimming lessons from some one with great patience and attempting a few final voyages. Being a Sagittarius, I have always liked traveling.