CoAbode

'Nice Girls Can Be Naughty': A series of articles, By Erica Miner
Excerpted From Erica's Novel, Travels With My Lovers:

My thoughts briefly drifted again to Eric, whom, I feared, would judge me harshly if he had been aware of today’s events. Within a matter of minutes, however, Regina and I had entered the hotel lobby; and as we were rushing to the elevator to rejoin my precious but mischievous son, I glanced for a brief instant at the lovely drawing of ancient Florence, which hung on the lobby wall. It was labeled “Fiorenza” – very evocative. But I still preferred the contemporary Italian version of the name: Firenze – the city of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, the city with which I had fallen in love at first sight, the city whose heady atmosphere and burnished roofs embodied for me the phrase “Italia.”

As we sped down the hall and to our room, I looked down at the delicate cameo locket dangling between my breasts, and I vowed that I would someday give it to Regina for her unwitting bravery that day. As soon as she was old enough, I would say: “to remember our time in ‘Fiorenza.’ ” The wee one must have known I was thinking about her, because she turned to me and gave me the biggest, most grateful tired smile, as if to say, “I don’t want to go anywhere ever again.”

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Personal Narrative By Erica Miner:

"What takes precedence over a mother’s paranoia about what someone else – in this case, my hubby – thinks about her? The reality of her children’s needs, of course. Nothing was more important to me at that moment than having living proof that my son was safe: neither paranoid thoughts of the kids’ dad nor evidence of the beauty of the city of Florence, which had inspired me from the moment I set eyes on it. I was focused on one thing only: seeing that Julian was okay. As I reflect on this experience in my long-ago life, it occurs to me that a certain bonding took place between me and my daughter at that time. Her patience and forbearance, way beyond her tender years, helped me realize – and appreciate – what a trooper she was. She remained so during much of this fascinating but daunting voyage to Italy. She nurtured me when, at age 5, her father left us to cope on our own. And she, now grown up and on her own, is still that generous with her caring to this day. Where would we all be without the compassion and support of our moms?"