Italy

How funny is this: when I visited the Royal Jordanian Airlines' website, the site is actually a complaint site about how bad the airline is. OMG, that is my airline as I went to check seats and schedules!

All is good, I arrived and went straight to the beach (The Med!!!) for a swim. So how is winter in Oz?

This 3000 year old monument city stands for so much greatness on many levels in the world, and always makes me feel so small. My friend Mark sent me this reflection and it is very applicable I think as I start this part of my journey. Indulge me while I share with you. It is titled 'Life Journey' and I surround it with some pics from my early days in Rome, most from the Basilica of Maria degli Angeli. The dome is amazing - stained glass at its modern best in an ancient basilica. Yes, I asked could I photo the kids. They were great in the heat.

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT .

DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE” .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH.

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:

“TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE”.

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED: WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT' .

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE!

This page is dedicated to all who have gained much and lost much.