SAYING GOODBYE...

After several years of trying to sell the pizza business outright, the Testatonda family has now found someone willing to rent from them and take over the day to day operation. Seeing Ternana's go will be a day of mixed emotions....especially since we won't even be here! I'm sure March 31 will be a day of mixed emotions for the Testatonda family too. If you're in the Marsciano area that day, stop by for a goodbye/hello.  We're so happy for Rita and Pino to finally have some time for themselves, and for Marco and Marusca to pursue their bed and breakfast dream. Although everyone has assured us that the new proprietor, Giuseppe from Sicily, will do a fine job, it just won't be the same. 

The Testatonda's have been a part of our lives since the first week we arrived in Italy. Now that they're free from the daily grind of running their own business, we'll have the opportunity to see them socially any day of the week, but how likely is that? Up until now we always knew that we could stop by the pizzeria any time, any day (except Tuesday) and see at least one of the family, and quite often the entire family, including the kids. On a recent visit we met Marusca's cousin and Rita's brother and sister-in-law.

We certainly plan to keep in touch, but you know how these things go. Suddenly everyone is in a different place, both literally and figuratively, and you somehow lose touch. Marco has asked for our help and advice with setting up his bed and breakfast, and also with the website he'll establish to go with it. Although I'm not much of a computer person, I plan to put him in touch with someone who can at least design an Italian/English website that looks respectable and is translated correctly.  We think that Pizzeria Ternana's and the Testatonda family personifies everything wonderful about Italy and Italians. We're so blessed to have met them.