It’s all about the waiting

Seems like I’m always waiting for something. I continue to keep a positive mental spin on my daily life. Working hard to put out something as simple as a little joke into an awkward moment, letting someone go ahead of me in a line, giving a complete stranger a compliment to see them smile. Little things that cost nothing but may impact someone’s day for the better. They say you get back what you give and I’m sure I’ve been on the receiving end of good more than a few times. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.

As mentioned in earlier posts, I’m waiting for my recognition email from the Italian Consulate of NY. Over the years I’ve gotten better at being patient, letting the universe do it’s thing until it’s my turn. When I began the process of collecting, certifying, translating and obtaining court orders, I did so with the instructions on the consulate website as my guide. Because of Covid there were two years lost in momentum but as soon as the opportunity came to rush forward I did so. It was another two year wait just to get my appointment to send in my documents, application and payment. That day finally came, 9 May 2024 and I was at the Post Office sending it all off at 9am.
It only took them one week to email me that they wanted another document. I sent that within two weeks. One week later came another email requesting more documentation. That took a little longer as it was an Italian document and Italian Post is very slow. The day after that document arrived I was at the post office sending it off. The consulate received it on 12 August 2024.
The next email I got from the consulate stated they received it 13 September, which really means it sat there for a month before they opened it.

Then came the circolare about the “minor issue” on 3 October 2024. All the rules changed while my application is sitting in NY. The Italian government is now saying that if a parent naturalized while their child was a minor, the child lost citizenship as well. Prior to this, the law had been that the child must have been born while the parent was still an Italian citizen. That’s what thousands of us went by. For me, my father was born to Italian citizens. Both of my grandparents naturalized AFTER their children were born.

So, I wait to hear how the Ministry is going to have the consulates and comune handle those of us who are “in flight”. No one knows what the directive will look like, how long it will take and who will be affected the worst. Each consulate is running different, Philly is flat out rejecting “minor issue” but Detroit, LA and SF are recognizing. NY, Miami, Houston and Chicago seem to be either sitting tight or as in Miami spinning out of control with bizarre and crazy document requests.

I have two thoughts on this. One is that in a very short period of time ( say 1-2 years ) this will get flipped on it’s head and all will revert back. I believe there will be lawsuits against the Italian government on the basis of constitutionality. If I’m not mistaken, this is a law within the Italian Constitution and the Ministry, though of the highest level, will not be able to maintain this “rule”.
My second thought is that part of the reason they are taking so long to send out instructions to the consulates and comune’ is that they have created a tangled web of a disaster. I believe there is a great deal of political involvement and fears of the country being “over run” with immigrants.
Italy is grappling with the immigration of “boat people” and others fleeing from other countries.

My problem with that is this; I was born an Italian citizen. I am proving that with each and every document that my blood line is unbroken. Using the list of required documents by the Italian government I have proven my case.

But I am forced to wait to hear my fate.

Recalculating

Like many people I am beyond disturbed with the results of our election. Trying to digest the indigestible thoughts of a convicted felon, rapist, traitor, ignorant, racist as our next president has been difficult at best. But I guess the next four years ( if this country survives them ) will be pretty much the same as the four horrible years of his last “presidency”. The scope of inadequacies is so large and this country still hasn’t recovered. Joe Biden did a phenomenal job putting things back together. A lot of people I spoke with thought Joe was just too old but I believe with that age came years and years of experience. He knows how to get stuff done, for the people. He understands diplomacy, working with those who disagree. He knows compromise and how to make concessions in the right place and time. But I digress as this is all mute at this point. Joe Biden has two months to finish up and the orange Mussolini will soon take over. I still think that when $rump went to the white house last week, Biden should have shook his hand and gently leaned in and whispered “we know everything.”

So now what? We brace ourselves. We prepare for what’s to surely come. I will continue to vote democratic straight across the board in any and every election. I never thought it should be that way, I always thought you should choose the person you think is right for the job. But seeing what a shit show the Republican party has become, I can never in good conscience do that again. So, there’s that. I will do what I can to support those who truly form a resistance.

I’m getting more and more serious about getting my debt paid down and giving the thoughts of moving to Italy more in depth research. Moving to Italy would mean huge sacrifices not to mention a total complete change in lifestyle. Having said that, it would also mean many changes for the better. Just the quality of food alone, the ability to purchase fresh food almost daily. Though I generally don’t eat much processed or premade foods, the food there is so much different than the food here. Moving to Italy would mean I can finally, officially, retire. My days my own. The town I would move to is not near any big city but I can do day trips by bus very inexpensively. Rome is four hours, Naples just a little over an hour, Matera is one hour. Those are just the places I know about from being there for short periods, I’m sure there’s much more opportunity to explore other cities.

There is an exodus from this country happening right now. The surge in Nomad Visas alone should open all eyes. Retirement Visas are on the rise. People want out they don’t want to sit back and watch as this crazed demented psychopath and his deranged followers tear this country apart.

I’m recalculating my life now. Afraid for my country, my women family members and friends. I am scared for all of the places that are volatile and vulnerable around the world. Including the United States. This beautiful, amazing place where dreams of freedom and a better life were once realized. Where people could come, work hard and make a life for themselves. Many like my grandparents who came here, worked long hard hours, built a grocery market, raised my father and two siblings and were still able to send money to their families in Italy to survive and prosper there.

Trying not to be doom and gloom here but seriously, this is just not even close to where I ever thought this country would go. Then again, as always, I feel like there’s a silent movement behind the scenes that we don’t know about. To date I’ve read at least two articles about the blocks already in place. There are at least three states shoring up their states protections against what this idiot could possibly do. I suspect others will follow. It is a path to move forward to protect constituents. I applaud these measures.

Recalculating until we are rid of him once and for all. Four years, just four years.

Taking Stock

Today is a windy and cloudy day. Very autumn feeling with the leaves blowing off the trees and swirling every which way. Landing in piles or strewn in the streets and yards. Yesterday we had record warm temperatures for this time of year. It was wonderful holding on to those last few hours of warmth and sunshine. Free of jackets, heavy shoes, the need for layers to keep warm.
And here we are today, facing the promise of cooler weather, shorter days, warming my car before heading off to work.

I’m kind of feeling like those leaves blowing around in circles. Lost, wandering and looking for a place to land. My mind is so focused on how the NY Consulate will be instructed to move on cases like mine with the minor issue it’s become an obsession. A chronic non stop worry and a feeling of disbelief that I made it to this point only to have the possibility of everything being striped away. It’s become my new normal to toss around thoughts both positive and negative. Like “certainly they can’t deny someone who applied before the circolare” or “we all followed the rules and provided our documental evidence.” Trying desperately to hold on to hope that I will get the coveted email from the consulate informing me that I am recognized as an italian citizen. But then I read posts on the facebook group of people are being denied even though they applied two years ago and have been in their consulates cue. WAY before this whole idea hit the fan. The emotions are all over the place. Heartbreak, anger, sadness and frustration are equal in intensity.

Adding to this is the Presidential Elections. From day one I’ve seen through Trumps BS. He was never any of the things he claimed he was. He has failed at being a business man, a husband, a father and especially a good person. He is and always will be a grifter, a liar and a cheat. I’m blown away that a convicted felon can even be allowed to enter the candidacy.
Honestly I didn’t have Kamala Harris on my radar, I think very few people did. But here we are. I firmly believe Joe Biden is a hero for stepping aside and handing the democratic candidacy to Kamala. That move spit in the face of the Trump campaign and those members of the GOP who thought if they didn’t have it in the bag they’d at least be able to steal the election.
There’s a very big movement out there right now and those are the women of this country. Especially the boomers – my age group, the educated women, the middle class women, the women are voting Harris/Walz in numbers too big to be ignored. It’s absolutely incredible how millions of republican women are casting their votes for Kamala. Oh, that’s not to say other demographics aren’t voting for Harris/Walz but women are fed up and voting.

Both of these topics are weighing heavy on my mind. To me they are huge things that affect my life, my family both here and in Italy. I’m feeling a bit lost and somewhat anxious. There seems to be a moment of holding my breath, waiting to exhale. Spending way too much time on my phone looking for a way to escape the current mood knowing I’m probably making it worse.

I’ve been taking stock of my daily routines trying to think of ways to change the things that I feel hold me back. My lack of ambition and drive has been at scary levels. If I’m not at work I just don’t know what to do with myself. I used to love to work in my art studio but I lost that space 10 years ago. I used to knit a lot, I have no desire to knit any longer. I have no idea why, the joy just isn’t there anymore. I used this platform to blog for a solid 9 years. Writing was such a great way to express myself. Now I just feel like I have nothing to say that matters to anyone.