What I learned from a Stranger

C Gatti

You never can predict when another person will teach you a lesson. In this case, I was on a mission to relax, not to ponder life and its meanderings. So it’s no surprise that one dinner turned to be quite memorable and challenging. At a Florence restaurant, poorly lit, a man sat next to us. He was alone, casting a shadow with the candle light drinking a glass of merlot. White haired stranger was in his 70s, fit and was treated like a king by management. He was retired, splitting his time between Italy and Florida every year since his wife died. That’s when he decided to embrace the life, learn everything he could about Florence, attend social events, and yes, find a star in the midst of personal loss.