There are more people with Marlo outside, clearing up after the storm. And they keep busy while I’m in the gym. While working out, I spot a pair of swans on the lake. So pretty. I hope they come back when I can take a photo.

There’s workout, then Zentangle. It’s a nice way to start the day.

Next phase begins. BW, Kat and Jason want to walk to the bakery. Griffin is given the choice of staying with me or going along. He’ll stay as the pool is here, after all. Kayla’s up and will join for the bakery. Colt, barely out of bed, initially selects the stay option. Then Kat says: There’s a gelatoria. Scratch that, he’s going.

Logan and Lauren also opt in.

This is a short walk, but also has parts along the skinny road where the buildings hug the street. I’m happy to stay back and change into a bathing suit. But first Griffin is drawing on his magic tablet. A stylist or finger draws, and when you’re done, finished, want to move on, you just press a button, and poof. It’s gone.

We get him changed, and both of us sunscreened on every exposed inch. And into the pool. Ahh, lovely. Where I soon discover we’re running a restaurant and must now catch some fish to serve our customers. Fish, swim, serve many customers, cruise around on floaties.

From high above, Kayla shouts hello. The gang’s trooping back from pastries and gelato.

Colt joins us in the pool. Then Kayla. Logan’s stretched out with another Star Wars book.

Out of the pool for me to sit in the shade awhile. Then bask briefly in the sun and discuss books and writing styles with Logan. Lauren’s made a cheese platter, and there’s talk about heading into Como for dinner later at a place Team Car found. Kat will make reservations. And Daddy takes over with Pool Guy.

The day passes with sun, shade, basking and Bellinis. When you vacate, you need to vacate.

We scatter to change for dinner, then begin to slowly gather again.

Marlo is breaking down the outdoor stuff as another storm’s expected some time in the night.

All nine of us finally report, and trek up to the garage. Jason has some sort of app on his phone camera where he can take a shot of the group. Someone takes over the camera, and Jason joins the group—and you have one photo with everyone in it. It’s magic.

Now the drive, and I’m again with Nerves-Of-Steel Kayla. Snaking, skinny roads, stone buildings and oncoming cars with tissue paper space between. And Como, where we realize The GPS has lied to us because here are one-way streets in the wrong direction. But the youngers are confident they know how to get there.

I am, of course, totally lost by now, but Kayla turns here, then there. Navigates, winds, turns. Curses at stupid cars, even more stupid pedestrians, more stupid yet one-way streets. And somehow we’re pulling into the parking garage.

Along the way, we lost the Kat car, but even I remember the way to the restaurant from here.

And there’s BW, and there’s Kat on the street corner. They’re in the same garage, but through a different entrance. Here’s the restaurant where a seat under the big awning and many water bottles are welcome. Refreshed, relieved to be in one place, we peruse the menu. Among the many, many choices, is sea bass in a potato crust. I like sea bass, I like potatoes. This seems a very logical choice for me.

We have a nice breeze, the promise of good food, a handsome, smiling server, and I have a lovely glass of Pinot Griggio. Kayla and I both start with a green salad, and it’s lovely. The gang’s ordered a variety. Fish, meat, pasta, pizza, which is all beautifully presented.

Except my fish still has his head. Kat quickly signals the server to deal with that. He understands immediately. It’s whisked away. The now headless bass is inside a blanket of potatoes shredded like home fries. What a concept—and it’s amazing.

Everyone’s very happy with their meal. However amazing, I can’t finish all this fish. I give some to Colt, to Logan, then to Kat. Apparently Colt’s pacing himself because there’s a gelatoria right next door. Griffin wants in on that, but the rest of us study the dessert menu where we are. Raspberry ice cream cake with whipped cream and berries? Kayla and I say yes to that. There’s tiramisu, chocolate torte, fresh pineapple and more.

Time to waddle back to the car for the drive home in the lowering light.

What do they do when two of these big Uber vans meet on the road? I think one would have to back up, but I seriously doubt anyone does. We’re home before dark, and with the pool, the sun, the drive, the meal, most of us call it.

The storms come during the night. Lighting flashes that light up the mountains. Thunder and wind roaring together. You can barely hear the rain through the roars. When I wake, the lights are still on across the lake, and the clouds hang low. As the sun strengthens, the lights go out, the clouds rise a bit. Now the clock tower’s chiming eight, some clouds still smoke over the peaks. The lake’s steely blue, and the air still.

I think that’s my cue to get to the gym. Plan to work a bit today, and see what my gang has in mind.

Nora

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