36 Comments
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Gabrielle Schuster's avatar

Again one of your wonderful, enchanting stories !!! I felt like being back in Rome myself.Thanks for sharing your stories.

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Amelia's avatar

Grazie, Sheila! We miss you a lot too!

Amelia & Stefano

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Donata Ortona Lievens's avatar

Molto bello Sheila! Molto commovente. E ricordo bene quei piatti, sono bellissimi!

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Grazie, amica! Questo weekend mangiamo insieme con quei piatti! Non vediamo l'ora di vedervi!

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Brad Hughes's avatar

Didn’t like imagining you ever teary, but otherwise very well done! ;)

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Awww, so sweet, dear Brad. Thanks so much for writing me. Hope all is well.

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Wendy MacLeod's avatar

I want those plates!

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Come back to Rome soon, and I'll feed you dinner off of them!

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Helen Meserve's avatar

This story resonated with me as many of your wonderfully-worded thoughts brought back memories of my 13 years living in Asia when I would so relish a visit from one of my mother's friends from home. It's those treasured friendships that kept me going...as they do you. Lovely and touching.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you, dear Helen. I'm glad it resonated with you. I'm always so happy to see friends from home, especially those who have known me forever. I fondly recall visits I've had here from Margaret and hope to have many more with her in the future! Love to all of you!

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Laura Capuzzi's avatar

Dear Sheila, reading your story is like watching a movie 🍿…. Love the way you describe emotions and facts. Very touching and engaging. Always a pleasure.

Xoxo 😘

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you, dear Laura. Zaby also sends her love to you!

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susanna rossi jost's avatar

bellissima, grazie! profonda e commovente. susanna

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Grazie tante, cara Susanna. Mi fa tanto piacere che mi leggi!

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Bonnie Melielo's avatar

Beautifully written - touching so many hearts.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you, dear Bonnie.

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Lois Mander's avatar

A beautiful piece, Sheila, full of tenderness. Transports me to Rome, wishing I were that woman .

We do miss you!

Lol

Lois

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you, dear Lois. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll visit me here one day soon!

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Joanna Schoff's avatar

I adore this essay for many reasons!!!

The writing, the details, the friendship and Rome.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you so much, much appreciated!

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Amelia's avatar

Wonderful story as always, dear Sheila. It is so rare to have a true friend and share pieces of your life with her. I had a younger true friend that I lost recently so this story brought tears to my eyes.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

I'm sorry for your loss, dear Amelia. Thank you for your kind words about my piece. We miss you! Love to you and Stefano.

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Barbara Kelley's avatar

Beautiful, poignant and so heartfelt. You have a gift to in using special words - look forward to many more missives. Love, Barbara K.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Your support means so much to me. Thank you for always reading and writing me! Miss you! Come back to Rome soon!

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Amanda Niamh Dawson's avatar

I was luxuriating in your storytelling. Such a gift! Knowing it is you writing makes me feel privileged to be inside of your thoughts. You are a very genuine, light-hearted soul. Thank you!

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Oh, Amanda, so kind of you, thank you! I love that we have reconnected and I really hope to see you one day again soon -- either in CA or in Italy! xxS

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aline dobrzensky's avatar

Really enjoyed reading this and it was so moving and so beautifully written too

Wonderful photos of Rome too

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Thank you so much, Aline, for being a loyal reader and writer to me!

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Leah Garchik's avatar

Such a moving story about friendship and loss and growing older ... and treasuring a relationship that will last forever. Long-time married friends are finding themselves alone, and we, the survivors, are here to share the memories and the grief, and at the same time, to encourage life going forward. Thank you, Sheila.

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Sheila Pierce's avatar

Oh, Leah, thanks so much for reading and writing to me. Your words always mean a huge amount to me. I also loved your recent piece about the invisible on the streets of SF -- an extremely poignant and moving piece you wrote, as always. We miss you both!

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