We live on a very touristy street two blocks from St. Peter’s.  I want to introduce you to some of the people I have become friend with over the year.  First, there is an older gentleman who runs a stationery shop.  He had a sweet grey tabby cat named Tigre…Italian for Tiger.  She was old, also and slept most of the time on the counter.  We stopped in the shop every time we passed to give Tigre a few rubs..which she greatly enjoyed.  In August, the shop was closed for renovations and when it reopened, I went in to see Tigre…and knew by the look on the old gentleman’s face that Tigre was no long with us.  We cried a bit together and I made a donation at Torre Argentina in Tigre’s memory.  She was about 18 and a joy to his life.

Then there is Ted and the Pizza Man.  The Pizza Man feeds a seagull named Ted every day.  Usually, Ted sits on a car in front of the pizza shop and Pizza Man throws pieces of fresh pizza to him.  One day, I asked about Ted and the Pizza Man point upward.  I keep looking out at the buildings and sky, but no,Ted. The man keep pointing upward…and finally I saw two little webbed feet thru the awning in front of the shop.  Ted was on top of the awning.  Pizza Man calls me Mama when we greet each other.  

Then there is Crazy Lady.  She has the best grilled chicken and toasted bread in town.  Andy discovered her one Wednesday when I was at Quilting.  Being two blocks from the Vatican and in a high tourist area one would assume they take credit cards.  Andy’s dinner came to 25 euros and she only had a credit card and no cash!  Crazy Lady had a fit and finally sent her cook to escort Andy home so she could get the cash. He kept telling Andy, ‘She’s crazy, she’s crazy’.  Another time we went together and she brought out a salad that was on a platter…enough for six people and stood there hounding us to eat it.  She wears the dirtiest tee shirt…looks like she wipes her hands on it while cooking all day….except she doesn’t do the cooking.  We do love her Rosemary chicken and the bread.  To make the bread…cut thick slices of crusty bread.  Olive oil, crushed garlic (lots of it), oregano and salt.  Toast under broiler.    That’s all for today.