My last workout in the gym, then the last Zentangle. We go with Food and Drink and there’s been lots of both.

Clean up, then I tackle packing. Once again, I find the packing cubes do their job well. All that’s left is what I’ll wear for dinner, then for the flight home.

When I come down, Lauren is moving stuff into the villa. The boathouse was invaded by spiders the night before. And a couple BIG ones. No sleeping down there tonight! So into the villa for them for the final night.

I have to get in some last basking, and others a last swim and splash. Snacks, lounging, packing in various orders.

And why not a last game of Oh Hell since it hit well?

Time to dress for dinner. We’re looking good, and set up our traditional vacation pano shot. Stand here, there, Jason pans, then Kat hustles up, takes the camera as we move locations. And so on until done.

Now we’re discussing who drives with whom when a couple of guys show up. It turns out we miscued the dates for the car pick up, and they’re here to get them. Okay then, Plan B is call a couple Ubers.

One on the way, and the other headed to some other Via Roma, so Marlo—just back from getting stock for the next villa visitors—will drive the second group.

And here we are, at the same long table with those gorgeous views. A fine meal on a balmy evening, and I absolutely save room for the sundae. Ubers on the way, one group takes the first while Kat, Colt, Logan and Lauren wait for the second.

BW and I are down on the patio when we hear them coming back. And hear Kat call down for someone to come up and help.

Lauren’s heel caught on a cobblestone, and down on those stairs she went. Ankle’s swollen, a couple of scrapes. Onto a couch, and I dig out my Amish balm and wrap. Ice first. Elevate, ice, balm, Kat wraps. Off to bed with orders not to lift anything, and to keep that ankle on a pillow.

Up early to finish organizing before our pick-up at 9:30. I see Kayla and JR’s bags already lined up, and add mine. Downstairs to gather up whatever needs to be gathered, then out for another little while with the view.

Spot a big paddle of ducks on the lake. More than two dozen before some split off, head for the shore by the boat house where Kayla and I watch those waddle of half-fly to shore to meet up with a bunch more. And there’s a very big bird just standing on one of the buoys. And I see a water skier for the first time.

Back in, more Mom checks, and here’s Lauren. Ankle’s not nearly as swollen, so that’s good. But no hauling luggage or bags. And strong suggestions (more like orders) from both me and Kat to go to the ER for a check when we’re home again. More balm, re-wrap.

Bags are piling up, and the vans are early. Marlo is taking bags to the luggage lift. Check, check, triple check. And we’re saying goodbye to the villa, the lake, to Marlo and Irene. It’s been absolutely wonderful.

There’s the drive back to Milan, to the airport. Then the massive unloading of two vans of luggage and ten people. We’re taken to a little lounge to wait where they have Cokes, coffee, some crackers, some little cookies. The gang is like vultures on the kill there.

I take care of my tax back, and that’s pretty easy, too.

Out again to line up for passport checks, and out and onto the plane. Some Advil for Lauren as the ankle’s hurting some. Settle in for the long flight.

I’ve got a book to distract me, and Griffin has a lot to say which always makes that takeoff a little less stressful for me. Talk some, read some, sort of sleep some. Eat a little, drink a little, read some more. Need to stand up for a bit. Talk to BW, check on Lauren, listen to Kayla, JR and Colt talk Pokemon—show on Sunday.

After what seems like the rest of our lives, we land in Maryland. Now there’s the unloading, the loading into cars, the hugs. Then it’s just me and BW driving home. We both agree it’s been one of the best trips ever. We packed a lot in, but still had plenty of time to just sit by the lake and enjoy.

Home again, and I’m ridiculously pleased to see the deer didn’t wipe my gardens out. And here come the dogs, insanely happy to see us. Milo cries with joy, and both he and Atticus wag whole bodies.

A sweet homecoming. Take a breath, take one more, then unpack.

So many memories banked, so many sights seen. A few people have commented how nice it is we—ten of us—can get along so well for a couple of weeks in one place. It is, very nice. We love each other, but it’s incredibly lucky we also really like each other.

There isn’t a better group I’d want to adventure with, wherever we go.

Nora

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