I watched a reality show on Friday called, "My Big Italian Adventure," starring American actress, Lorraine Bracco who bought a 200 year old home in Italy for about $1.00....and she renovated it, with the help of an architect and contractor. There will be three more episodes. She bought the $1.00 house and the house next door to create a larger Sicilian home for her family, as a vacation home. Small towns throughout Italy have been selling dilapidated homes for about $1.00 in an effort to get people to invest in their towns and beautify them. It's an interesting idea and there are plenty of people willing to buy a home for a $1.00, put down a $5,000 deposit and agree to finish the renovation within three years (or you lose the house and deposit).
Italy is a special place and I hope to return one day. I've made two trips there as an adult and there is no place quite like it. My grandfather came to the U.S. from Italy in 1925, and since my roots are there, there is a certain pull towards Italy.
Unfortunately, Italians are going through a great trial, another great trial, as the coronavirus is once again surging in Italy. Italians are not happy. Like most of us, they have pandemic and lockdown fatigue. We are all sick of it, this virus from Hell. You can't blame them, however some people are resorting to violent protests. In Naples, Italy, protesters set garbage cans on fire and protested because some cities are imposing restrictions and curfews again. Tourism is devastated and people are losing their jobs and incomes at alarming rates. Restaurants are suffering. Who can live like this? So tragic. As one restaurant owner was quoted as saying, "The money is gone."
Everyday I pray for an end to this pandemic and a safe, effective vaccine as soon as possible, like millions of others are doing. During this pandemic I have tried to be more charitable and have been doing more to help, "the poorest of the poor." That has given me focus and something constructive to do. We are all dealing with this unthinkable situation in our own way. But there is some hope. Fewer people are dying from the coronavirus, as doctors do have more therapeutics and medicines to give. There is a glimmer of hope that this will soon be behind us.
"Hope is not an option for a Christian but essential to our faith." Whoever said that was a wise Christian!
NJA
