Spring seems finally to have reached Panicale, therefore I'm greatly honoured by her arrival and I stop my hectic running to nowhere and pause to see her majesty. The wisteria has gently rested its velvety grape-coloured petals on the stone walls of the town and the almond trees have burst in snow-like cascades. The swallows compete against the many other birds in their singing contests, filling in the emptiness Winter left this year and celebrating, what appears to be, a true Enhancement for Life.
It seems to me that even all the words (and how many useless words were said!) are drowning in the melody and tempering into a soft music of its own. This morning there is a sparkling breeze in the air and the shy sun rays are gently caressing the square, slowly dragging its gold hue across the stones and spot lighting the magnificent fountain (when will water spurt from it again?) and the imposing church of S. Michele, which powerfully dominates the Piazza.
Three tables outside the bar today: the first sign of outdoor Summer zeal. Now I feel the bar calling me (maybe it's the need of caffeine) but I wait for Pasquale so that we may give a start to our day with our usual joyful coffee with Aldo and Daniela.
The bizarre people of Panicale (what joy in eccentricity!) have always had that special gift of knowing how to take it easy, of philosophizing when things don't work out, of saying the right word at the right moment (and the wrong word at the wrong moment) – of finding that wonderful balance between what needs to be given and what needs taking, a lesson that many of us “from outside” still have to learn. I therefore speak to these “us” and to all those who still haven't had the pleasure of visiting this lovely little town: let's let the panic energy (yes, from God Pan who so loved this town) run its frenzied flow for us, and let us take a moment to get out of our fish bowl and appreciate just how beautiful life is and live it (even if just for a little while) with a deep sense of Wonder.