Now, that Sal is going to Sicily in the middle of next month - it tends to activate my curiosity, to wander around my own photos from Sicily. And boy, do I have plenty given that i visited the place 32 times since 2014. Therefore i looked in particularly at the photos made in April 2024, as well Oct 2024... and the memories flow, as do the feelings, the words and memories, the emotions and thoughts, as well the snippets of thoughts long forgotten... and so on.

Even half thought thoughts can emerge. As if having thought or said one part of a sentence, but never finished it. Or never followed it up any further. Then there are the are reminders. Details. And the things I didn't see or thought of back then.

It's been 11 years

My first journey to the main island of Sicily in the town of Catania at the Etna Volcano, was back in October 2014. That's now been 11 years ago. That's also when i stumbled across Sal in a park - who I thought or suspected he was perhaps a hetero guy *LOL*

I wasn't sure, because he didn't really show any signs. (it took a very, very long time). Ultimately back then, we only had a sexual fling in the park, nothing more; no numbers or any contact where exchanged... I only said, that I would come back 8 months later in June. Perhaps he would be in the park again. (Which was the very first thing I did when I arrived... going to the park and see if "the guy" was there). But he wasn't there.

It took 10 days until he showed up on the park bench, on which he usually would sit and smoke his cigarette after work. This was 4 days before i flew back to Stockholm. From that evening on, we started to date. Or in hindsight we would start to date *LOL*

Just image...

Now, we've been together for 10 years, while married for 8 years. Sal has been living and working in Stockholm for almost 4 years. In all this time, I got deeply introduced and connected into the Sicilian life, with friends and people, family and their whereabouts. Like a whole new world been added into my own life. And Sal's family has grown very dear to me, each one of them !!

I mean... just imagine.

Not to forget; all the thunderstorms there. Oh boy, Oh Boy, Oh boy !!!!

I just love thunderstorms. And Mama Etna of course.

Ah, and Vulcano !

And of course, the legendary Stromboli volcano, as well.

Mama Mia.