Miss List (Jan- Feb 08)

• I miss Robert!
• I miss Home Depot and Lowe's- you have no idea how hard it is to find zip ties or rubber washers in a store where you can't read any of the signs and you can't ask for help.
• I miss Cowell park and all of the other great parks like it in CA.
• I miss the sound of birds singing in the trees. Since there are no trees in Naples, I have found there to be very few birds. I miss their happy chatter.
• I miss being able to pick up an article of clothing or a pair of shoes and know immediately what size it is.
• I miss being able to drive through and get Mc Donald's soft ice cream for the boys (I think they miss it too)!
• I miss being able to talk to other people in complete sentences. My current form of communication is something like this "Where I go find park ticket?" In english that means "Excuse me, can you please tell me where I might be able to find the store that sells parking tickets!"
• I miss being able to get in the car and know how to get where I need to go! I also miss being able to read street and business signs.
• I miss trees. I miss the smell and feel of lots of BIG trees. I don't think they have any big trees left in Naples- at least I haven't seen any. I think one of our first outings once we get back to the States will be a nice long camping trip in the woods.
• I miss Target. I always thought Target was an awesome store but I never knew just how much I depended on it until I was without it.
• I miss afternoon shopping and lunch in Los Altos with Mom.
• I miss Home Goods (my house misses it too!).
• American Shoe Stores. One stop shoe shopping does not exist in Italy.
• Fresh air. I know it sounds pesimistic but honestly I have not had a freash breath of air since we arrived! I can't wait to be able to open my windows or walk out the door and have cool, clean air fill my lungs.
• Construction paper from Sam's Club. I never knew how much constuction paper we used or what a great deal it is to buy it in bulk. So far I have not found a single store that sells colored paper of any kind- crazy hu?
• I miss church parking lots!! Our church building is on a very busy road (where parking is not allowed) in Caserta. The only parking is parallel parking on narrow side streets. It isn't too bad but when I have a lot of carry (and that is quite regualry) it is a challenge.
• Kinkos Copy Centers. How is a girl supposed to survive three years without a way to mass produce documents and pictures!?! Honestly, Kinkos has shaped the American economy by providing services to individuals and small business owners. If you don't believe it come spend the week in Naples!
• CARPET!! I know, I know, I used to loath it but not any more. 3000 square feet of white tile is not only hard on the knees and the decorating, it is a bear to keep clean!
• Two lane roads with painted lines, shoulders, and nicely landscaped medians.