Day #4: Lost in and with Alleys
I’m at a loss for my current location. What was meant to be a short stroll has turned into a perplexing loop of the same streets for at least twenty minutes. My cell phone has no signal, and even GPS fails me. Perhaps the towering buildings that hem in these narrow “Vicoli” are to blame.
My “wifey” and kids are likely waiting, probably imagining I’ve wandered off into my own past. Which I did. I grew up here, knowing every alley and corner as intimately as the back of my hand. I remember where my father’s house stood, literally where he was born, where Argo, his loyal dog, would bark joyfully, and where he played as a child.
But now, where is everyone? The streets are deserted, punctuated only by a plethora of “For Sale” signs so faded that the phone numbers have nearly been erased by time and weather.
A red ball suddenly comes bouncing toward me, followed by a little boy, with his grandmother, I suppose, trailing behind. She’s shouting, breathlessly, taking short pauses “Slow down! You’ll trip on a sanpietrino! You’ll hurt yourself! That man will give you the ball. Ask him. Say ‘please.’ Be a good boy!”
I stop the ball and hand it to the polite child, who thanks me and dashes back to his grandmother. She steps closer, scrutinizing my face, almost touching me and asks in our familiar dialect, “A chi sei figlio tu?” It’s a question about lineage, one I was often asked as a boy in these very streets.
I can’t help but smile. Despite the signs of decline, there are still families here, pulsing with life, one generation softly passing the torch to the next through simple acts like chasing after a ball and the hyperactive child.
One day, the meek may inherit this place, or perhaps they will simply become a part of its labyrinthine memory.
Image credits: Edgar at @unsplash
https://unsplash.com/@snapshot_journey
Join My Journey: One Shot, One Story
Each day unfolds with a single random image from Unsplash, sparking the creation of a story.
Why?
This ritual is not merely about storytelling; it’s a pathway to a legacy I’m building for my children, something I wish I received from my parents instead of “stuff” — a book that delves into the intricacies of mistakes, healing, pain, success, and the shifting sands of societal values.
This narrative explores the devaluation of human virtues, the nuances of grift and speculation, addiction, the evolving roles within society, the impact of feminism, leadership, and the vital importance of responsibility and accountability.
Cool, but who for?
It’s a story meant to answer questions that distant relatives, whom I’ve never met or fallen out of touch with, might ponder about our shared lineage and the world that shaped us.
As a devoted father, this endeavour is my beacon, guiding the legacy I wish to leave behind. Writing, in a language that wasn’t my first, presents a unique challenge — one that I tackle with stoic determination. It’s an effort to break barriers, to communicate more profoundly, not just with my immediate family, but with anyone on a journey of self-discovery and growth.
But who are you anyway?
With a background in engineering, entrepreneurship, investments, and a heart that beats for art, beauty, and nature, I am deeply passionate about technology, history, psychology, and uncovering the layers of what makes things ‘weird.’ Above all, I’m a family man, a software artisan committed to lifelong learning, eager to share the insights gleaned from my quest to minimise regrets.
Follow my journey here and on X, let’s connect even if you simply want to tell me how much my content sucks. I’d love some honest feedback!