Dancing Under the Stars + A Thousand Olive Trees

In my summer experience, for the second time here in Gubbio ... I’m finding what a difference a year makes! I say that with the greatest of joy, meaning that Summer 2026 has been quite different from Summer 2025 in surprising and delightful ways.

June through August has found me indoors more than last year at this time. The other day I learned that there have been four heatwaves this summer and I wanted to laugh. I didn’t know the heatwaves had been delineated! For me, it has just been extremely, very hot, each and evey day. I really wondered how they’d discerned between heat waves!

This last Saturday, to remind me of how very blessed I am, even during another hot summer ... our strada (street) had una cena (a dinner), hosted by a few of the neighbors for all of us, and it was like a dream come true for me.

Over 20 years ago, my Italo-American friends and I were musing about what we’d like to experience in Italy one day. My friend Sara said that she’d like to dance under the stars.

I never forgot that. Since then, I’ve seen Italian hillside outdoor parties in films, series, fotos, magazines ... and I dreamed about how superbly lovely it would be, to be part of something like that. Including dancing under the stars.

The other night, I got it all!  I was joyfully seated with my soul family at a long, white-dressed table that went on forever. Our multi-course meal – that naturally took hours to enjoy - included antipasti, pasta, grilled meats and salad, and desserts on a tray that also went on forever. Everything except dessert was served on individual plates, every detail was attended to by our loving and willing next-door neighbors.

Several of our neighbors whom I’d never quite met and I, were kindly introduced. I kept my wine glass a bit full, which always helps me speak and understand better!

One wonderful introduction was a familiar face, a lovely elderly gentleman who has the cutest dog in the world. His name is Fernando Mosca. La Famiglia Mosca were the first residents of our street.

Just this summer, I began taking walks to and through the grove of olive trees at the end of our street, which has been a glorious discovery for me.

Fernando and his family planted these olive trees. There are one thousand of them! These trees have become new, cherished friends of mine this summer, and I felt honored to meet Fernando and thank him personally.

This morning I discovered that there is at least one pear tree in that olive grove! It is already bearing fruit, so I pinched a couple of pears to ripen on my counter. I was thrilled to notice this!

Back to the Saturday party, my dear friend and soul family member Daniel brought his music speaker and microphone, and sang for us. Lots of other dance music played as well.

I didn’t get up to dance at first, but with the moon and stars shining in the fabulously cool dark sky, I finally did join the dance floor. I couldn’t resist.

I was overjoyed and so excited, to finally dance under the starry Italian sky.

(Unapologetically, I didn’t take fotos at the party as I left my phone behind. The lead foto are olive trees and guarda! My fresh-picked pears!)