Pino's Lessons

We stopped by Pino and Lina's again last night and ended up talking to Pino and Vita for a long time about love and life.  Pino taught us ''his lessons'' and he said we must come back every night to learn a new lesson. I love him. 

Lesson 1:

Pino told us the story of how him and Lina met at the carnivale many years ago.  He told us she was his other half, "mi ameta mela". He then explained that a perfect person is an apple and Zeus split the apple in half (man and woman) ..with a bolt of lightning and now it is up to each half to find the other.  He found his mi ameta mela in Lina.  I wish I could do this story justice, but it's just one of those things that cannot be properly described on a blog.  His accent and hand gestures..he even drew apples on our paper placemat..bring so much passion to the story.  He then went on to say that his brother Vito has been married 4 times and has yet to find his mi ameta melo but he believes George Clooney is his other half! Haha Pino is a mess!!

Lesson 2:

Lesson 2 is simple.  Jealousy can mean love, but being extremely jealous and possessive does not mean love.  He said this was very important to know and to be careful with jealously.  The man's brilliant. 

Pino also shared his story about his illness.  He has multiple sclerosis and believes that God gave him this disease because he is strong enough to handle it.  He is so optimistic.  He went on to tell us about how much he used to party and drink. "I do not like school. I like beer!"  When he find out he was sick he turned his life around for his family.  He told us he is a happy all the time and when he see's us he smiles.

I know this is hard to comprehend through my awful writing, but this man is so incredibly genuine.  I could sit and listen and learn from him all day.  Before coming to Italy people kept telling me that this trip would change my life.  I kept asking why? and how?  They always responded with .."it just will..you'll see"  Now I understand.  Talking with people like Pino and learning about a completely different culture has taught me more things than I ever expected.  It really is starting to change my life..as outrageous as that sounds.