Ciao Readers! And Happy Birthday Mom!
As some of you may remember (and others of you may have heard about from us elders), when I was a kid there was a very popular t.v. show called “Happy Days” featuring “The Fonz” (or “Fonzie” to his friends). To my 9 year-old self, the super cool Fonzie was all that and a bag of chips – I actually wanted to be The Fonz, mini jeans jacket and all (not leather at age 9). So it is with a sad heart that I acknowledge that The Fonz is the unwitting father of the phrase “jumps the shark,” which Wikipedia defines as “indicating the moment when a brand, design, or creative effort’s evolution loses the essential qualities that initially defined its success and declines, ultimately, into irrelevance.” Just in case you don’t know the actual genesis of the phrase, in an episode in 1977, The Fonz literally jumped a shark (on water-skis). D’oh!
Which brings us to my blog. I think we’ve had a good run, yes? But now I feel like it’s time to end it, before it “devolves into irrelevance,” or “jumps the shark” as the saying goes. I have actually downloaded a ton more pictures and have drafted several more posts, but they just don’t have the same enthusiastic tone as in the past (whether that be enthusiasm for delicious food or for complaining about lines at the post). So, instead of forcing out more blog posts at this point, I think I’ll take a lesson from yet another t.v. character, George Costanza, and walk out on a high note.
I thank you, sincerely, dear Readers, for coming with me on this journey over the past year. I have appreciated your comments, warm wishes, advice and thoughts, and I have enjoyed discovering many of your respective blogs (and getting to meet some of you in person!). If you’d like to keep in touch and don’t already have my e-mail, post a comment and I’ll send you my e-mail (I can see your e-mail address when I get your comment).
(N.B. – For those of you who haven’t had enough, I am still mulling over the idea of turning this blog and other unpublished thoughts into a book, working title “To Italy and Back Again: An Expat’s Tale” ©. And yes, goal42, I am still up for a co-blog post!)
Arrivederci e buona fortuna!!!
New Mexico to Italy 
richdad
/ April 29, 2013So this is really the end Hope? As a frequent visitor to Florence, you have opened my eyes to many new places, people, and things that I would never have known about otherwise so I thank you for that and for your always entertaining and sometimes wacky observations. Aayy, I’m trying not to get all emotional here but I will miss you. Arrivederci e Dio ti benedica! Ric
newmexicotoitaly
/ April 29, 2013Thank you so much for your kind words and I am so glad I could introduce you to some new things – makes me happy! All the best!
bobbi
/ April 29, 2013I’m with richdad… your great posts will be missed. I look foward to seeing your writing again soon in one form or another. (And KC and I just last week re-enacted the Fonz’s trademark thumbs up and “AYYYY” – and also commented that it’s a bit of Americana that our nieces are completely unaware of.)
newmexicotoitaly
/ April 29, 2013Thanks – both for the kind words and the great laugh picturing you two!
peter
/ April 29, 2013Although I disagree with your assessment that you’ve crested and now the slow decline is inevitable (you still have a couple of months!!), I will keep my grumblng to myself and respect your decision. You’re not taking down the blog, though, are you? I can still go back and re-read all the posts??
newmexicotoitaly
/ April 29, 2013Well, thanks! Nope, the blog will remain up in perpetuity, though extremely astute readers may notice I have taken down a couple of posts for reasons I will not explain here…hmmmm…..intrigue…..
veraersilia
/ April 29, 2013I shall miss you as many others will. But the road is long, wide, and open so take the path that fits you best. Con tanti auguri!! Vera
newmexicotoitaly
/ April 29, 2013Grazie Mille! I’ll still be following your blog and others!
Susan Morgan
/ May 1, 2013I’m going to be optimistic and believe that a few more things will happen during these last few months and you’ll feel compelled to tell all of your readers about them. If not, I hope you’ll let us know how your re-entry back in the land of ethnic food is.
newmexicotoitaly
/ May 2, 2013Thanks…perhaps….I did get the pet passport and other stuff this week, will have to send you an e-mail and tell you what the commune vet told me…
sofia
/ May 6, 2013Hi Hope, I was in your CE Italian class a few years ago, I was hoping to move to Italy but didn’t make it so I have enjoyed your blog, interesting perspective on a place I love passionately. Best wishes for your future plans, Love Sofia
newmexicotoitaly
/ May 6, 2013Hi and Thanks!!! I still think Italy’s a must see for anyone who can, but I guess like NY or Mumbai, visiting and living there are very different experiences. I’ll be showing up at the Italian language group at Flying Star once I’m back. Ciao