But I must. My father has purchased a vineyard in California, USA and as the eldest son; I must go to supervise the winery. He describes it as the American arm of the family business of wine making, a time honored tradition in our family as far back as anyone can research.



Why do we have to branch out? I'm happy to just keep the business to Italy but my father is a very ambitious man. He says I am to move all my belongings from the small house I occupy on our land. That way, I will have a piece of Italy with me. Besides, all of the furnishings were chosen by my beloved mother, God rest her soul.

And so it must be. The eldest son in an Italian household has responsibilities and a good one does not go against the will of his father, especially in business. I call the international moving companies in the phone book and begin to collect quotes. I don't care too much about the rates; I just want the best one. I check each international moving company to make sure they have a correct and current license and then I book the one with the best reputation on the Better Business Bureau.

There. Done. Life, as I know it, will never be the same. The agent of the international moving company that I have chosen is very helpful. She gives me advice on the papers that I need to have with me and she tells me she's even been to California. She says I should check on the Internet I'll be able to see pictures of it and it will make me feel better. Iam thinking I'd much rather have a picture of her!

But I do check it out. I go to the library in town to use the Internet. I am very surprised at how beautiful California is with its ocean, sandy beaches, palm trees and lush, green rolling hills. I don't see any mountains but from the map, it looks like California is huge. Maybe there are mountains somewhere in that great state.

I call my international moving company agent, whose name is Sophia, to thank her for letting me know where to look for this information on the Internet and we decide that we should go out for coffee tomorrow as it is her day off. I decide that if she looks even half as beautiful as her voice sounds, I'll be in heaven,

and so we meet.

She is as beautiful as she sounds. Coffee turns into lunch which turns into an afternoon stroll in the park. I invite her to come visit me in California and she says she will. Suddenly, leaving doesn't seem so bad. Thanks to the international moving company!