Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Domani...

As I walked down the heart of San Francisco, and saw star-struck tourists snapping pictures left and right, I smiled and remembered one thing: they have probably seen more of the bay than I have because they know they wont be here to see it tomorrow, so they go see it today.

When I lived in Siena, I lived only a block from the Piazza del Campo. Tourists flocked the main square and would scale the tower. Yet, since I lived just a block away, and I could enjoy the breathtaking sight any time, I took the privilege for granted, and I never did get around to it.

Likewise, in life, we sometimes live life in tourist mode and soak up what ever we can because we know we might not have a chance tomorrow.

Other people are so sure they'll have tomorrow, and the next, that they never get around to following their dreams. For them, tomorrow never comes.

We all have a yearning within our hearts. A dream, maybe. A goal. It can be something small. Domani! Tomorrow!... it waits.

Tomorrow. Like the horizon. You keep walking towards it, but it never comes.

I prefer to live life like a visitor. Soak up what ever I can. Experience as much as I can. No more waiting because all I have is today, and I'm done with waiting for that elusive tomorrow...

Day before Kennedy's Assasination:



Day before the atomic bombing of Hiroshima:



Day before 9-11:

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ciao Farfallina,
I was wondering if you ever downloaded the e-booklet you mentioned down below in a previous comment.
Ecco my email address:
cdesimone1@hotmail.com

Ciao Carole,
Of course! Though I don’t see your email address, but I’d be happy to help.
I’ll upload that e-booklet on my blog so those fluent in Italian can get started on freelance translations that might make things easier…

Roam2Rome said...

Ciao Carole!

Guilty! I'm still proof reading it, and I must admit I've been very busy with work, which is a good thing in the end.

I'll send you a private email right now :)

Carol said...

I used to live on 7th Street in Santa Monica, just a few blocks from the beach. We only went to that beach a few times in the span of two years -- one of them was when my husband proposed to me.

And I grew up in the Bay Area (Berkeley and Atherton), well aware that the City was always available to me. Somehow knowing that was usually enough!

Carol

dharmabum said...

thats such a beautiful thought - living like a visitor. soaking up in the today. am all smiles, thanks!

Annika said...

I came to the same conclusion after a near-death experience. We might not be here tomorrow, so we can't wait, can't postpone everything to a future that we don't know if we will have.

Great post. Now tell us, did you get those plane tickets to Rome? ;)

Anonymous said...

Domani, is the thief of time... This was a great little post a good reminder of the power of today!
Ps. l loved those Christmas photos in the other post. It would be so nice to have a white christmas:)

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Very beautiful post. It's interesting to me that sometimes the thought of "domani" is restrictive and sometimes hopeful...depends on "oggi" I suppose ;)

La delirante said...

Hi! Very interesting pictures. I loved the one of the geisha.

Anonymous said...

I'm still KICKING myself because I never went to Alcatraz during my five years living in SF! Argh. It was one of those, "I'll do it someday" type things. Now I live in the midwest!

qualcosa di bello said...

these words & photos...what a *POWERFUL* motivation. you are such a champion of dream pursuit, rippling out to us all :)

Anonymous said...

Words that couldn't be more true. Brava tu!

Devil Mood said...

Wonderful post :)

Jessica said...

yeah.. I still haven't been to the Sistine chapel! Don't tell anyone it is my dirty secret!

Anonymous said...

Farfallina,
Your post gave me the chills as I looked at the photos and captions. A very good message here. Thank you :)

ryssee said...

Great post. I've learned that distance makes me appreciate where I'm from. Whenever I go back I appraise it and try to appreciate it like a tourist would. But still have the security to know that I'll always get back and not see everything.
Still haven't seen it all, and have things on my list, but I love to show off what I know to my friends who ever make it there with me.

Eryn said...

wow great post, those pics are heartbreaking!

thanks for reminding us to soak up everything........TUTTI!!!!!!

ManinVietnam said...

Terrific post! I put a link on my blog I liked it so much.

http://lifeinhanoi.blogspot.com/

And I have lived in Hanoi for a year, am leaving next week and have never been to Sapa, a beautiful mountainous area just a day away by train.

Tui Snider @mentalmosaic said...

Wow... Gives me chills! Those are beautiful photographs, and such timing...

Pixie said...

Great post, heartbreaking to view photos.

NancyQ said...

loved the pictures!

Anonymous said...

Ciao Farfallina! When are you making the big move here or has it already happened? I am in Rome often and would love to meet up at some point!

Very, very good blog - M:)

said...

You have a extremely interesting blog.

x said...

what a beautiful thought to live like a visitor. We are visitors after all aren't we? And those pictures are so amazing. Thank you. :)

Nina Timm said...

Your "day before" pictures inspired me so much to "seize every day" as if it is my last.
Thank you

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Diana Strinati Baur said...

What a wonderful and timely post. I loved reading it and taking in the three very moving photos. We really do only have this moment, don't we.

shanna said...

What a thought-provoking post. I love that you posted these photos--really makes you think about life-changing events with a fresh perspective.

Unknown said...

Very thoughtful photos!

ruthibel said...

Wow. Lovely, poignant, timely reminder. I heart this post :)

Om reem said...

my dear I am very happy to know you and I hope you happy forever.

SNAKE HUNTERS said...

Om reem,

It was 65 years ago that I was in Italia, from Napoli to the Swiss border, Yugoslavia, France.

When I see the Twin Towers standing
I think of those innocent people working in those two buildings... and their families at home.

Holy War is such a waste; I know about war - such an Ugly Thing! In Russia alone, 26 million died in WWII from the Nazi Invasion; one million were Russian Soldiers, the rest civilians. Did you know about that, Dolce lady? Ciao!

Domani never arrives for some.

reb
__________________________________

Mark said...

Really nice pictures. All the pictures were take day before the mishap.

This Time Now said...

A powerful post with powerful images.
Today, now, is all that we have. From the richest man to the poorest woman. Life is what you make it and yes, we're all just visiting.
I love being a guest in this life, hopefully a charming, respectful, and generous guest.

joe said...


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Joe Pinzone
Casting Producer
P: 212-231-7716
Skype: Joefromnyc