"Walk Back"

How easily we forget the small miracles.

It was a steamy June in 2009 when my husband and I went to Italy for ten days. We did Rome, Assisi, Florence and Corona, staying in convents along the way.I am sure the side trip to Cortona was inspired by the best seller, "Under the Tuscan Sun."That wonderful book created an undeniable urge to throw things in a bag and go.

Cortona was as lovely as I had hoped. Cobble stoned streets, colorful flags here and there, a Stations of the Cross that went uphill with each new step on the stairs, a station. Living the dream,  we had lunch on the convent patio that overlooked the heat shimmering valley. Cheese, baguette and red wine, with poplars lining the lanes below. Perfect.

Somewhere we had read that there was a 13 century Franciscan monastery outside of Cortona but within walking distance. Even though the town of Cortona is very hilly and our feet were tired we set off for LeCelle, which means the cell, or room where St.Francis had slept when wandering and preaching.

The road was a steep downward path and each step made me anxious thinking about the walk back. When we finally arrived, feet scraeming and bodies wasted, I declared this to my husband :"Dear, you will just have to get us a taxi for the way back.".(When did I become a princess?) He turned around with fists clenched and eyes balzing and said: "Dear, how exactly do you propose I do this?Do you see a phone ?Do I speak Italian?""Well," I said, "you will just have to figure it out because I simply cannot walk back." He stormed off in one direction and I headed for a smalll chapel hoping to pray and find the peace that passes all understanding. 

It was a small, dark chapel and the air was delighfully cool.I knelt down and seconds later heard this: "Walk back." "What," I thought, "don't You know how I feel?" Again: "Walk Back." Nothing could be clearer and I had no choice but to obey. I left the chapel mystified and after my husband and I wandered a bit, I said: " Let's go" and headed for the road. With relief on his face and a slight smile he joined me.We hadn't gone ten feet when a small car pulled up beside us and a smiling grey haired lady asked if we would like a ride. This" Yes" wasn't reluctant at all.