Parting Shots and Final Thoughts

I've been home for two weeks now and fully re-integrated into the life I was living before I ventured afar on what was an extraordinary journey.

My grand girls Bella and Sofie.

It almost seems like a dream I had, which is another benefit of having kept a journal, this blog, to preserve the memories. I've been trying to summarize in my mind what the best moments were and what I will miss most...beyond the obvious answer, "my grandchildren!" I captured nearly 2,000 images showing tender and funny moments with family,

A huge example of Singapore's affinity for public art. This 7 ton
painted bronze and steel floating baby by Marc Quinn is called
The Planet and is at the Gardens by the Bay.

beautiful and awe-inspiring images of nature and of mankind's creations, both small and immense. I'm using this post to include some images I haven't shown before. How lucky for me that my three month stint began and ended with relaxing beach vacation days on island resorts. First, there was Bintan Island, Indonesia, at Club Med in April;

Bintan or Maui? Could be either island paradise,
but it is the beach at Mama's Fish House, Maui.

then Hawaii's island of Maui on the way home in late June/early July. Most of my tour of duty took place in Singapore, an island, a city, and an independent nation on the tip of the Malaysian peninsula. It is possibly the most beautiful modern city I've experienced. There are many things about it that I will miss: its clean, tidy efficiency; Its well-deserved reputation for safety and civility (owing to strict public nuisance laws and strong enforcement); its mass rapid transit system, the MRT and city buses

The many colors of Little India section of Singapore.

that quickly get you to shopping centers and services in all quadrants of the island; its population of diverse ethnicities (Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Anglo, and more) living peacefully, respectfully among one another; its beautiful cityscape of towering skyscrapers amid historic colonial gems surrounding the river and marina bay; its beautiful parks and public spaces adorned with sculpture including, of course, its signature icon, the Merlion fountain statue overlooking the bay.

This 121-foot merlion is on Sentosa Island,
Singapore's family amusement resort.

I won't miss the fierce, unrelenting sun on cloudless days and am grateful for the days of overcast or billowy clouds and the mitigating breezes. I won't miss the disorienting sight of traffic moving along on the wrong side of the road. (As I adjusted to seeing this backwards flow, I worried I would feel disoriented upon return to the States. Worry for nothing; no problem.) I missed having access, especially in the early weeks, to familiar food cooked to my specification. It got better especially in May when we had our own kitchen and could buy and fix whatever food we wanted. But I also expanded my repetoire of foods I could comfortably eat and enjoy. I took advantage of my situation and kicked my addiction to sugar, I'm happy to say, and seeing/feeling the benefits of that. I won't miss the week that Hapny, Sofie and I camped out in a single cramped hotel room at the Value Hotel the week of April 20, before the financing through Aron's company could be arranged that enabled us to move to the luxury and convenience of Orchard-Scotts

Our building/home at Orchard-Scotts.

Residences. Oh yeah, put these on the "things I will miss" list: the six-days per week cleaning service for our apartment, the Monday through Friday free breakfasts with our building neighbors and the cheerful service provided by the staff of breakfast ladies, and the wonderful, family-friendly pools we splashed around in almost daily. While I missed my own kitties at home, I looked forward to seeing on our walks to the MRT station the collection of feral cats (10 altogether) that were lovingly tended with food offerings by the cat lady I met only once.

Two of my feral cat friends.

I learned she owned a dozen or so other cats that lived with her. She was just a compassionate soul and I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of her. My favorite moments, no surprise, are many I shared with Sofie and Hapny. I'm so glad I had that much time to really know them both so well. Hapny was always so sweet and agreeable and a pleasure to be with. Sofie was charming and funny and lively and a real diva. She loved having an audience to perform the many songs she created. It will be interesting to see if Bella will choose to compete with her big sister who loves the limelight.

Standing at their bedroom window, Hapny and
Sofie help Bella soak up some rays
 of morning sunshine.

I can't wait to see them both in December for the Christmas holidays...and Aron and Hapny too, of course. The year 2010 was the last time we spent Christmas here all together. The Singapore adventure was quite an undertaking, necessitated by the circumstances of Bella's impending birth, which was not feasible where Aron and family live in Tembagapura, Papua, Indonesia. Cairns, Australia, had been their first choice for the birth, but the Australian government's requirements for Hapny's visa were impractical. Singapore was the next best option. In retrospect, I think it was good fortune that it worked out that way. It's a great place, a wonderful destination for tourists or serious shoppers. Thanks for the memories, Singapore! I hope to see you again someday! You never know!

Sweet little Bella at one month, taken since my return home. 

Home at Long Last!

With Carol at the Hula Grill, west Maui.

It is Sunday, July 6, and I am home safe and sound. I arrived Thursday evening, the 3rd, and must apologize for giving higher priority to unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and re-establishing order in my household instead of blogging. It feels good to be getting normal life back again. I went to church and sang in the choir this morning. People actually remembered me after my long absence--twelve weeks and two days, to be exact. <smile>

Spook & Angel keep
Watchful eyes on me.

I most looked forward to seeing my Nashville family again: Spook and Angel. They did not disappoint me, but have granted their affection and presence wherever I am. At this moment. Spook's affectionate head bumps are creating a challenge as I type. When last I blogged, Carol and I had just traveled across 8 time zones, including the International Dateline, from Singapore to Honolulu (with an eight hour layover in Japan). In doing so, we gained a day. We left Singapore at 6 am on Friday, June 27, and arrived in Honolulu at 9 am on the same date!

Waiting for the Honolulu airport shuttle.

We took a commuter flight from Oahu to Maui, rented a car, and checked into a modest inn on the bay nearby for one night to allow ourselves time to rest and reorient (or de-orient, if you catch my meaning) before driving from Kahului to Maui's west coast beaches for four more nights. Aron had made all the arrangements as a special thanks for my time with Hapny, Sofie, and of course, baby Bella. No thanks was necessary, but it certainly was a very nice way to unwind and re-familiarize myself with the American way of life. I was seriously laid back and told Carol I was completely agreeable to any plan she might suggest of things to do and places to go.

View from our balcony at Valley Isle Resort, west Maui.

This was my first trip ever to Hawaii and the first to Maui for us both. We picked up as many different brochures and maps as we could, but she did most of the research. "Sounds good to me" was my stock response to any suggestion she made.

A Stein Mart bag kept the rain off Carol during
A hike to the Iao Needle in the background.

Other than drive the Altima from the rental lot the few blocks to the Maui Seaside Hotel, I gladly relinquished the keys to Carol and played navigator with the maps. What a team we make! She does all the hard work and I go along for the ride smiling and happy the whole way! Our final destination was the Valley Isle Resort near Kahana, north of Lahaina. Our room on the 9th floor had two balconies and overlooked the beach and ocean with the nearby island of Molokai in our sights. There was no air conditioning, but none was needed. With the sea breeze and overhead fans, we enjoyed optimal temperature and were lulled by the sound of the surf below us.

Carol's chicken enjoyed the beach, as did we.

On Saturday, when we made the 30 mile drive across the island, we took a side excursion to see the Iao Needle at the Iao Valley State Park. It is a pinnacle of volcanic matter (as is all the island, of course) wedged between mountainous peaks of what we knew to be a cloud forest, thanks to our recent visit to the Cloud Forest Dome at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The park was basically a parking lot with a paved trail leading up to a covered shelter on a peak offering a close view of the Iao Needle. It was a short fifteen minute drive from Kahului, but the ascent into the clouds meant it was raining in the park off and on.

Hawaiian dance is story telling
with hands and body.

We weren't properly equipped for a rainy hike, so we improvised by covering our heads and shoulders with brimmed hats and plastic shopping bags. Not fashionable, but functional. That beat standing on the edge of the path seeking shelter from rain under the large leaves of a banana tree, which we did for a few minutes before coming up with the better plan employing the plastic bags! We applauded our ingenuity and gave credit to our respective experiences of yore as Girl Scouts. That caused me to wax nostalgic in memory of my mother, Ollierae, who was the best troop leader ever! Thanks, Mom! I won't torture you with details of our five days on Maui. That would be cruel really....all the beautiful sunsets, the great meals we ate, the Hawaiian music we enjoyed constantly on our car radio, my internet radio, and, of course, live at several venues where we also watched the Hula and other island style dancing.

Snorkel diva checks her equipment.

Snorkel chicken.

We loved snorkeling at Kapalua Bay and drove as far as we could (within the scope of our car rental agreement) to see the cliffs at Nakalele Point on the northern tip of the west half of Maui. On our final day Wednesday, July 2nd, we explored some of the east side of the island and watched the surfers and wind surfers at Hookipa Beach Park. Our final meal at the famous and highly regarded Mama's Fish House was the perfect conclusion to our visit. We drove part way up the Haleakala Volcano where we could see a large amount of the island and both the north and south shoreline.

Sunset on our resort beach.

All in all, a really great vacation we enjoyed before making the return trip to Honolulu and our flight to Seattle, where I said goodbye to Carol who was stopping there to visit friends for a few days. I flew back to Nashville via Atlanta and my dear friend Beverly, who had kept the kitties fed, the litter boxes maintained, and the plants watered, picked me up at the airport. I give thanks to the Almighty for protecting me and mine always and for seeing me home safely. I am truly blessed!

A rainbow graced us the morning of our departure.

I think I will write one more blog entry to offer some final observations, update the Vaughn saga, and mention the high points of this extraordinary journey. There will be more travel blogs in my future! Whether you read that as a promise or a threat, I do appreciate all the many kind comments and words of encouragement. I never felt far from home knowing that so many of my friends and family were following along! Thanks!

Chicken travels well.

The Last Hoorah in Singapore

This past week is a blur. As I write this, I am sitting in the airport at Narita, Japan, on a layover headed back to the States, but not directly to Tennessee just yet. I knew my last week in Singapore would be a whirlwind with little or no time to blog, so I will summarize a few highlights.

Carol chats with Sofie as she holds her world traveling no name
 chicken and wears the craft necklace Sofie designed for her.

My dear friend and regular travel companion, Carol W., arrived in the wee hours of Sunday, June 22nd, to spend the last days of my Asian tour of duty with me visiting my new granddaughter Bella and her big sister Sofie, with whom she is well acquainted. Carol's arrival gave Sofie someone new, but familiar and fun to engage. That freed me to hold and rock and cuddle sweet little Bella, who is an absolute darling.

Bella holds my finger... And my heart!

Plus, Carol provided much needed distraction that allowed me to indulge my other passion, which was listening to my Vanderbilt Commodores compete in the NCAA Baseball College World Series. Many of the games started at 8am Singapore time and lasted through the morning. I never expected the team would play so late in June, but they did and I wanted to listen to every pitch. Oh and by the way, they won the series and the national championship title! Carol's visit also signaled a return to tourist adventures and I looked forward to showing her some of my favorite parts of Singapore and accompanying her to tour some sights that were not practical to visit with a pregnant daughter-in-law or a five year old.

Carol and I logged many miles on foot including the huge
complex at the Gardens by the Bay shown here.

The sights Carol and I visited involved a lot of walking and much of it outdoors. Carol took to the MRT transportation convenience as willingly as I have. On Sunday, Carol and I toured the awe-inspiring Gardens by the Bay, a huge complex of trees and literally all kinds of vegetation both outdoors and within two huge domed climate controlled structures called the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.

The immense Cloud Forest dome featured a spiral walkway
around a faux mountain of forest greenery and a waterfall.

From there we walked through the distinctive Marina Bay Sands Hotel to the underground complex of shops, casino, theaters, and restaurants. We took the bumboat water tour of the bay and Singapore River, viewed the Merlion up close, then walked to the elegant Fullerton Hotel and beyond to the boat quay where we dined at one of the outdoor cafes along the river. It was a treat to be out for once socializing after dark. Singapore's cityscape is magnificent at night.

The Marina Bay Sands looms large outside the
Massive Flower Dome of the Gardens by the Bay.

The Marina Bay Sands had a laser light show emanating from it's surfboard rooftop.
On Monday, we devoted ourselves to Sofie's enjoyment and accompanied her to the Singapore Zoo River Safari, which included a walk past numerous tanks filled with large and small aquatic life. We took the boat ride down a manmade canal showcasing various mammals on either side: monkeys, tapirs, water buffalo, jaguars, etc. We also were entertained by the two large panda bears showcased at the zoo.

Sofie and Carol on the River Safari with tapirs in the background.

On Tuesday, Carol and I (without Sofie) toured the $5 million art collection of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, which itself is an architectural work of art.

Dale Chilhuly glass installations were featured at each end of this
domed atrium at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. 

The conceirge staff provided a detailed booklet and iPod Shuffle audio tour of the collection that includes art of some of the greatest artists of the past half century. From there we took the MRT to Chinatown where we toured intricately ornate Hindu and Buddhist Temples.

At the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, I was
given a shawl to cover my sleeveless shoulders.

We did a little shopping and enjoyed a delicious dinner there as well.
Wednesday, we took the MRT to Little India and meandered the colorful streets and shops there. We enjoyed a delicious Indian lunch at the Andhra Restaurant, an obvious favorite of the locals. I enjoyed curried basmati rice with chicken and shared that with Carol who ordered a spinach dish with large curd cheese on white rice.  The two dishes complimented each other nicely. We also passed by a mosque, but did not venture inside since photography is not allowed there. We returned to our apartment and took Sofie for a refreshing swim in the late afternoon as we did on several other days as well.

Carol and I outside a Hindu temple in Little India.

Then, that evening Carol and I took the MRT to the Harborfront and rode the cable car high overhead at night to Sentosa Island. That gave us another beautiful view of a different part of Singapore at night bathed in a rainbow of colored lights. Wednesday evening also marked the return of Aron who had completed his work in Papua for the summer. He and family were committed to appointments at the US Embassy on Thursday morning and a doctor visit in the afternoon. Aron is in need of a cornea transplant to repair damage from an infection suffered some years ago when he was living in Thailand. So, on Thursday Carol and I took the MRT west to visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Carol enjoyed the Botanic Garden.

Being an afficionado of herbs and flowering plants, Carol really enjoyed our walk through this park with its picturesque lake and themed gardens for herbs used in cooking and the healing arts. From there, we took a taxi to Fort Canning, an historic site from Singapore's earliest history to its use during the colonial era as a cemetary and through WWII, during the city's occupation by Japan.

Entry to Ft. Canning cemetary.

At the top of its hill is a city resevoir along with an archeological dig site, a sculpture garden, and a large 19th century colonial structure presently undergoing renovation. After that we walked the four or so blocks to the old Raffles Hotel. While we waited for Aron, Hapny, and the grands to join us, Carol and I rested and cooled down at the hotel's classy courtyard bar sipping the original Singapore Sling made famous there.

Raffles Hotel's famous
Singapore Sling costs
$30 apiece.

Are you ready for this? Two drinks apiece (4 total) and the bar tab came to.... $130!! Granted, that's Singapore dollars, but the cost in USD was well over a hundred dollars! The drinks were good, but really?! What the heck! It was our last night in Singapore, so extravagance seemed appropriate. When Aron and family arrived, we moved upstairs to the famous (and air conditioned) Long Bar for another round of drinks and hors d'oevres on Aron's dime. I got the virgin sling this go 'round, which cost half as much as the Tanqueray version, which is still pricey for a fruity drink. The bar had an English pub atmosphere and was noisy, but smoke free.

Sofie enjoyed her Virgin S'pore Sling
with her dad at the Raffles' Long Bar.

Sofie does very well in such environments and her penchant for belting out faux show tunes wasn't the least bit disturbing to those around us. Sweet little Bella slept soundly snuggled in cotton blanket on the couch between her mama and sister. It was a joyful and celebratory occasion on this last night of revelry before my and Carol's departure set for early Friday, the 27th.

Hapny and sleeping Bella at Raffles.

Carol and I rode the MRT home one last time and spent the rest of the evening packing and preparing to leave. We arranged for a taxi to pick us up at 3:30 am to get us to Changi Airport for the 6am Delta flight to Narita. Long after Carol finished packing, I was still busy trying to fit everything into two big suitcases I had brought over. I managed to get everything in, but one suitcase is over the 50 pound allowance and the other is very close to it. I've added a number of clothing purchases and gift items that increased the bulk. Finally, around 1:00am, I got it all done and lay down to rest for an hour or so. The alarm went off on schedule at 2:30am. So, here we are at Narita on a 6 hour layover. Next stop: Hawaii! Aron is giving me a 5 day vacation on Maui before I fly home to my cats and life in Nashville. More on that in the next blog post! Sayonara....and aloha!

The New Normal

Sofie up close and personal with baby sister Bella.

It's Tuesday evening, June 17, and with Aron gone once again to Papua to finish up his work assignments before the six week summer break, we are now FOUR babes living the good life in Singapore! Soon, we will be FIVE babes, with the arrival this Saturday of a special visitor from the U.S. I'll keep you in suspense a while longer until she is here. In the meantime, here's what we've been up to.

Bella's first outing on the quay.

The weekend with Aron here was very enjoyable. How perfect that it also was Father's Day weekend! He couldn't get the flights he needed to leave here Sunday, so we got to celebrate with him that special day, which included our first outing together as family with our sweet Bella. We took a taxi to the boat quay and enjoyed strolling the riverwalk in the early evening and deciding which of the inviting riverside cafes we preferred for dinner. Obviously, it was Aron's choice on Father's Day and he picked a restaurant touting Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian dishes. We shared lemon chicken, nasi goreng (rice with vegetables and fried egg), and a curry chicken soup, all of which was delicious and satisfying.

My Singapore Sling.

Aron asked if I wanted a margarita. No way! I'm in Singapore! I'm having a Singapore Sling, of course! Also, very delicious. It was a perfect evening really and the first time I had seen the cityscape at dusk with all the lights reflecting off the river and the bumboats of tourists occasionally gliding by with their silent electric motors (the boats, not the tourists...). Bella was perfect as well, mostly sleeping all swaddled and tied close to her mother. Sofie was her usual chatty and squirmy self. She is starting to take notice that she is no longer a solo act.

Our view of the cityscape at dusk.

After dinner we strolled back to the bridge to catch a taxi home, but impatience led us to cross the bridge for a better vantage point. Several available taxis zoomed past us, which was curious. We were standing in front of the Parliament building with it's grand entrance and manicured lawn. At Hapny's suggestion, I walked over to the guardhouse and asked about catching a taxi. One of the three uniformed guards politely told me we would have to go to the taxi stand on the next block. So that's what we did. When we finally got a cab, the driver explained that taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers near the front of the Parliament building for security reasons. I guess we'll know next time!

Breakfast at Orchard Scotts.

I was glad that Aron had to stay over Sunday night because it meant he would be with all of us for the first time for the communal breakfast in our building. I was happy to get one of the lovely serving ladies who take of us to take our photo all together for once. As the family documentarian, I do my best to pester and cajole at various and inconvient times my family members to pose and pose again until I'm happy with the shot. They will thank me one day, I keep telling them. If nothing else, I have a strong sense of purpose here in that role and at all our family gatherings. After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Aron, who will return to Singapore a day or so before I leave on the 27th.

Mt. Alvernia Hospital and Clinic.

Hapny, Sofie and I left the building soon after him to take Bella to her first appointment with the pediatrician who had examined her in the hospital. Dr. Ong had diagnosed Bella's jaundice and ordered the extra day in hospital to receive the light therapy. His clinic was located at Mt. Alvernia Hospital, a new location for us but not too far from Novena area. We took a taxi and found our way to the clinic area and Dr. Ong's second floor suite. It was crowded with babies and toddlers, their parents, and some grandparents. We were lucky to find a seat.

Bella and her Mama wait to see the pediatrician.

Hapny got Bella properly checked in and weighed. She has gained a few ounces since birth, which was reason to smile. Sofie entertained herself with the cartoons on tv. After a short wait, Bella's number came up and we were ushered into a separate office/exam room. We weren't there long before we were shown into Dr. Ong's office/exam room.

Dr. Ong examines Bella.

This was my first encounter with him. As Hapny had told me, he was very kind and seemed thorough both in his examination and his explanation to her about Bella. She was having a bit of discharge in one eye, which he explained was probably the result of a clogged tearduct. Not an uncommon occurrence in newborns and he told her how to treat it and provided a special powder to use on the umbilical stump. Lastly, he wanted to get another blood sample to check Bella's bilirubin count. He sent us to the outpatient lab, which we found after asking directions a couple of times. That didn't take too long, but it sure made Bella unhappy when they took a vial and a half of blood from her!

Hapny exposes Bella to warm sunshine.

We were told it would take less than an hour to process and that Dr. Ong would receive the results. We could go back to his clinic at that time to get them. The wait time was a perfect opportunity for us to have lunch in the restaurant of the hospital. As we finished, Hapny's phone rang and it was Dr. Ong's office. We paid and returned to the still crowded clinic waiting room, but it didn't take long to get the results. Bella's number was well within the normal range! Still, Hapny was advised to continue exposing Bella's skin to the sunlight for 10 minutes on each side in the early morning or late afternoon. Hapny has been dutifully following this advice. The morning sun shines into our windows and she opens the window and Bella soaks in the warm rays. Later in the day Monday, I took the MRT to our Novena grocery. I had Sofie's pink backpack with the luggage wheels and extending handle, plus two strong bags in which to load as much as I could roll and carry on the train. That's the new normal for now, which is fine. I'm quite comfortable managing this on my own. I expect to make return trips to the store on Wednesday and Friday.

Cuddling Bella is my favorite pasttime.

On Tuesday, it was Hapny's turn for a check up by her obstetrician, Dr. Chan. She's doing fine, of course, and will need to return in a month. Aron will be here then to take her. Bella is due to be checked again for the bilirubin number in two weeks, and will go for a follow up check up later in July before they are due to leave Singapore for good. They will travel to Hapny's home village of Tuk-tuk on Lake Toba, Sumatra for several weeks with her parents and relatives.

Sofie gets in on this cuddly action.

I'm just grateful I've got the time with Bella now that I do....and with Sofie too, of course. I missed being with Sofie when she was first born. She was nearly 7 months old before I got to meet her. At least I can look forward to having all of them "Home" with me for Christmas. But for now, I'm just living in the moment and documenting the experience so I can enjoy and relive the memories for a long time.

Blossom Clover Gives Way to Our Beautiful Light

The Vaughns and their camouflaged bundle of joy.

I thought it would be difficult to let go of Blossom Clover when the time came to embrace the name chosen by the parents of our darling baby girl. I think they did well in their selection. Meet Bella Ciana (pronounced "Chee-ana"), a fitting name that means Beautiful Light!

Baby Bella, 3 days old.

I love it! We call her Bella. I do wonder, however, if on some subliminal level the name choice was influenced a bit by Blossom Clover....initials "B.C" remain the same! That's great....I won't have to sell the monogrammed baby gifts on Craigslist! ;)
Sweet Bella came home to Orchard Scotts Residences this Friday morning with her entourage of Mama, Daddy and big sister Sofie. They spent the required extra night at the hospital together while Bella basked in the glow of ultraviolet light to mitigate the slight jaundice she had from an above normal bilirubin blood count. This is not unusual for a preterm newborn. Otherwise, she has been and is perfect!

Cherished moment!

I got five minutes notice of the family's arrival here and scurried to meet them outside to assist with the baggage. Glad I remembered just in time to grab the camera! You only get one chance to preserve these special moments for all time! After a photo session in our apartment, Sofie wrote and performed a special welcome song for her baby sister. I recorded it. Sofie asked my help to score the music, which was flattering since I have zero experience songwriting. Yeah, I know....I'm a poor representative of Music City USA.... Anyway, Sofie seemed to be pleased with it and that's all that matters.

Bella's song by Sofie with Mumu's score. 

I made good ol' American spaghetti for lunch and we'll have salmon fillets with baked potatoes and vegetables and salad for dinner. We're on our own for breakfast on the weekends, so we splurged and bought imported Oscar Meyer BACON to cook with eggs in the morning! Restaurants over here do not know how to cook bacon, so....I haven't had any to speak of in quite a while. This is really for Aron, not just me.

Bella awake and unswaddled with sister Sofie

While the entire Vaughn family was camping at Mt. Elizabeth Novena Hospital last night, I luxuriated in this rare evening off by enjoying a hot soak in the tub with a glass of wine listening to my favorite relaxation music. The tub is in the master suite, so this was a special treat. Now we will enjoy our family time together until Aron must jet off again Sunday back to Papua to finish up the school term. Since he will have taken his 5 days of leave for the birth, it likely means he won't be able to return to Singapore until the 25th. Oh well....
In the meantime, I look forward to many pleasant hours holding and gazing at our sweet Bella Ciana and playing with my best girl Sofie, of course, before I leave Singapore on the 27th. When Bella Ciana is old enough and if she desires, I will pay for lessons for her to learn to speak Italian! Ciao, Bella! Sofie will get dance lessons from Mumu. The future looks bright and I want to be around to watch these girls grow up.
Life is Good!

Two more weeks of this! Happy times....