Dee's final day at the Institute

Friday I woke up after a tough night. I actually had over 3 hours without congestion right after I went to bed, but then I woke up after only two hours and couldn't get back so to sleep!  It was so frustrating to miss that golden opportunity for some good sleep. When I did my saline nasal rinse in the morning, there was a lot of blood in it. Gross,  yeah, but not surprising after going through a ton of Kleenex.  

After showering and shaving, I got ready to go to the Institute, but just couldn't make it.  Ugo stepped in to take over my lessons, and Dee went to the market for some Gatorade (to keep my fluids up) and yogurt (to overcome the antibiotic course in my gut as the course comes to an end). It was a real bummer not to be there for Dee's final day at the campus, but I just wasn't up to it. My nose was still completely clogged and I had little energy. I was actually able to take a number of good naps during the day, which was a nice change over recent days. 

In the afternoon I switched from steroid spray to steroid tablets, which is what Dr. Baccini recommended if the spray wasn't working. Then I took my antibiotic, and within an hour or two my nose had cleared up and stayed that way for the rest of the evening!  It was a very strange feeling after all this time. That was the wonderful news, but I was still very sleepy and weak, and thus glad to be home. I was able to stay awake until 8pm, just barely.

Ugo taught my Seminary class, which had 11 students who all were happy to eat a one final treat from my wife and give her hugs. Barbara and Mariela Rondinelli came by to give her gifts, and she had some US measuring cups as gifts which delighted them (they do stuff here by weight, not volume).

Ugo taught my Institute lesson. Dee said that the place was quite full, including President Rondinelli and his wife who also came to see her off. Dee prepared her pesto chicken spinach tortellini, which everyone loved. Ugo demanded the recipe! The Balzottis were there the whole time, quietly just helping out. At the end of the lesson, they invited Dee into the classroom, where Jomar and the Ganziani sang a song with rap lyrics that they added for us. Jomar couldn't look at my wife or he would start crying, so he had a difficult time. It was a lovely thought. Here is the video, and here are the lyrics:

See You Again (Jomar and the Ganziani Version)

It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

Dang, there's this guy I know

His name is Anz Whiting, he’s got hair like snow

He’s funny, he’s cool, he’s kind and he’s smart

You can always count on him cause he’s got a big heart

Talk about a guy that really loves people

He’s the world’s most greatest GANS institute teacher

So Anziano Whiting, we wanna let you know

We're grateful, we love you, and we're sad you have to go

How could we not talk about family when family's all that we got?

Everything I went through you were standing there by my side

And now you gonna be with me for the last ride

It's been a long day without you, my friendAnd

I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

There’s activities every day, and the food is always bomb

But the greatest parts been seeing you when we get to GANS

You’re the closest thing that all of us have to a second Mom

On the real, when it comes to loving people Sorella never pretends

So God be with you till we meet again, yeah,

you'll always be our friend, no this surely ain't the end...

How could we not talk about family when family's all that we got?

Everything I went through you were standing there by my side

nd now you gonna be with me for the last ride

So let the light guide your way hold every memory as you go

And every road you take will always lead you home

It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again...

Dee in the class, sitting next to President Rondinelli

During and after dinner, everyone wanted to hug and talk with Dee. There were lots of laughs and lots of tears. Chris Campos, our nonmember from California, is an awesome guy; he told my wife that we had become his family, which was really important for him when he first arrived here alone in 2017. It was hard for Dee to get out of there. The Balzottis were very patient. They departed for home about 10:30pm.

Half way home, Dee remembered that she had left Barbara's laptop at the campus for me to look at. So Anziano Balzotti quietly turned around and went back. As she entered the Institute to get the laptop, she saw Linda and offered her a ride home (her apartment is in a sketchy area nearby). When the two of them came out together, the Balzottis again took directions on how to drop Linda off, getting lost a few times along the way -- it isn't an easy route. Despite the late hour, never so much as an eye roll, much less any complaint, from the Balzottis. After leaving Linda at her door, Anziano Balzotti turns to Dee and says, "That is a bad area! You know why forgot the laptop, right? Linda needed a ride home." We love the Balzottis! Soon after 11pm, I woke up after more than three hours of good sleep, with sinuses still clear, to find her not home yet at that late hour, so I messaged her. She was just arriving and we got to chat for a while. She was just glowing. We are both so glad that she was able to come back for this final week to get some closure here.