I thought I was in the for night, but I needed water. As I left this tiny street I saw that the lady who is renting outfits for the 4 day festival was still open. The sign on the door said she closed at 19,00.
"I'll just go look" I heard someone say and off I went.
The shop was full of mothers and daughters. It is a tiny temporary store with 2 rooms full of racks of outfits, mostly colorful dresses.
The shop owner looks harried. There is a mother there who is kind to me. She shows me a dress after I smile and say "grande". It is golden dress. I am not sure if there is a fitting room anywhere. I go into the back room and try it on over my clothes. I can squeeze into it, but I can't make it fit over my bosom. (sounds better than boobs) :)
The nice lady smiles and I show her I can't get out of it. I am sweating and wondering how the hell I got into this mess. She helps me out of the dress. The owner comes over and hands me a peasant grey wool skirt. It fits. The dress was so much nicer! The she comes over with a white peasant blouse. It fits and the nice woman comes over to show me how to wear it.
There are some hats, I try a few on. When I pick one I like, I go show the 2 ladies. The owner just looks and wags her head to side, she is not thrilled. The nice lady smiles again and tells me to use a 'scarfa'. I am not sure the hat goes. I say "bene?". They seem agree it is fine.
Inner dialog: "What do they care how I look, I can't even speak their language. They must be wondering what I am doing here?' (That is the PG version)
I feel like an idiot. What am I doing? I have no idea what made me come in here. What the hell do I know about this celebration anyway?
The kind young woman who I have spoken to twice (she's been working outside the house preparing for the taverna set up) told me to rent something and join in. I guess I figured I was going to be here anyway and how many times will I be in Italy dressed up?
So for 20 euro, I rented the skirt, blouse and hat with a flower on it. I have been saving money by buying food locally, so I can do it within my budget.
It is done. I am not sure what kind of scarf I will use but Anna (my friend and the owner of this house) told me there is material in a wicker trunk I can use if I like.
It is 8:30 and I am agitated with myself. I don't see why. Perhaps it is my catholic upbringing (mild by the way, but potent for someone like me) because I always get a sense I am being watched and judged. I refer to my religious youth because I vividly remember feeling uncomfortable knowing God was always watching me. I used to look out the windows of my house and wonder if I would catch him watching me. A heavy burden for a child, wouldn't you say? I feel that same sense tonight, except I am watching and judging. Oh my, does that mean I have a God-complex? Okay some humor, I am not as bad off tonight as I thought.
I was going to write about some other things, this unbelievable journey that brought me to Italy and to writing this blog, but not tonight.
It is an interesting story but I want to be in a more grounded place.
It's been a long day, so I'll leave it at that for now.
Sweet dreams!
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