If you were Jesus, today would be Christmas!
.
H
a
p
p
y
.
b
i
r
t
h
d
a
y
.
This year there are only us: you, me and the dog. All year has been a limited edition. Luckily we are a good place to be. Let it last.
Here is a poem in Italian that I wrote and will not translate. Happy birthday! And in photos, our year. It wasn’t that bad after all.
Spazio amato
Grazie per il presente
che sei tu,
sempre qui,
ascoltando,
sveglio.Grazie per il tuo spazio
che puo essere silenzio
o tutto tranne
ma e’ amato,
sempre amato.Grazie per essere
un buon posto
per andare,
ritornare,
rimanere,amato.
This is one of my favourite books, The Path, written by a Slovenian climber, translated into Italian. Maybe you will read it one day. 
On the back: “Anyone looking for a goal will remain empty when it is reached, but whoever finds a way will always carry the goal inside.” 
Ah, right, your real present is waiting outside. Not a Ferrari. Sorry. (A surprising view from our garden one day. He drove away soon after.) 
Let’s have a look at our year. It started in Rome for Christmas with oysters, something that we cannot repeat this year. 
Then we went to Ostiense to meet Flavia for the first time. 
For my birthday you organised the 50th birthday online party and made me this. 
We repeated the recipe a few months later. Gratinated shell-shaped pasta with prosciutto cotto and cheese. 
Something gratinated again. Cauliflower, I think. 
Timballo at another time. There is nothing quite like a happy man in the kitchen. 
Something melting… Gorgonzola for nuts and spinach pasta. 
Hm… I forget what this was. Do you know? It matches the image on the screen. 
Sometimes you outdo even yourself. Spinach roll filled with cheese and proscuitto. Look at this colour! 
Does everybody know that eggplants must be salted and squished in this way to lose bitterness? 
Now to Slovenia. For our summer card tournament you made tiramisu. 
Relaxing after the tournament. 
Then we conquered Kranjska Gora for three days. 
The Julian Alps were mostly hiding in the clouds. 
The shortcut to our hotel. Really. 
All this outdoors made my boys sleepy. See, I’ve got a problem to claim my space sometimes. 
But they are so cute that I don’t mind. Lake Jasna. 
Right there. There was a line to take a photo with this goat. Photo: Dad. 
Next stop: Zelenci nature reserve. My first time. Brilliant! 
Sister joined us for the day at Planica. You two look like you’ve just stepped off these bikes. 
We took the ski lift to the top from where they jump. I was surprised that you said yes. 
Observing the start of the zipline with apprehension. Crazy! 
Better this way, in control. You took us across the Vršič pass and all its 50 turns, and next day you took me back home to Tuscany. 
In our garden. I love it when you call me out and show me something to take a photo. 
This was one of such moments too. 
We will keep watching you go to work. 
And happily wait for you to return. 
My life goal: to be like these two in Torre Alfina. 
My beloved space, here with you. Day. 
And night.
Happy Birthday, Amore! And many, many more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Lois. Merry Christmas to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to you, too, Manja! 🎄🤶🎅
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthday, lovely man! 🙂 🙂 Wishing you and Manja all the joys of a Christmas together!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, thanks, Jo. 🙂 He is rather lovely. We are having a good time. Hugs and Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthmas amore. I see you enjoy cheese. Have a wonderful day from Australia 🎂😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Bushboy. Hihih, indeed we love our cheese. I don’t know how I survived a year without having any a while ago. But that yellow blob that he is holding is not cheese and neither can remember what it was.
LikeLike
Yes cheese is good. Made me laugh about Amores yellow blob 😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Manja, what a lovely journey this was, and is yet to be. I’m sure you two will be like those two, forever and ever. You’re gorgeous.
Happy birthday to your wonderful boy, and I wish you many happy returns.
per andare,
ritornare,
rimanere,
How gorgeous is this!
(That book seems like a perfect choice for my boy but I couldn’t find it online. Do you know if it’s translated in English or Serbian by any chance?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank youuuu, Bojana! ❤ I've asked around and so far the book is not yet translated into either language. I'll notify you when it happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the Smiles! And happy birthday! (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always most welcome. 🙂 Thank you, K!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merry Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and one to you, Sherry. 🙂
LikeLike
Happy Birthday to Amore, and Season’s Greetings to you both!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you kindly, Sue. All well to you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see such happiness in all these photos ~ inspiring 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Randall. You always bring me joy with your words. I’m glad you see happiness. It is struggle sometimes but we do our best to catch it. All well to you!
LikeLike
So many many great photos of Amore!! This was such a love letter of memories. I enjoyed this post so much, Manja, for telling a story of 2020 that filled my heart with every new bit. Happy Birthmas– er, Birthday to your wonderful man. ❤ I wish the best for the year ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank youuu!! Love letter of memories, I love this. Let’s make it the best year, Crystal.
LikeLiked by 1 person