Mi chiamo Thauna. And I am a very American girl, but my heart is Italian. I come from a completely American and Northern European heritage. I’ve searched and search and can not locate (yet!) a drop of Italian blood. But I’m still looking.
In spite of my lack of traceable roots to Italy my heart has been growing a desire for anything and everything Italian for as long as I can remember. I grew up in rural Utah, but my dad and step-mom lived in California, in the Bay Area. That was already more exotic and fascinating than the country life I lived 11 months of the year. Summers I would go spend time with my dear Daddy and his new family…oh yeah, they were Italian. I remember a cousin showing slides of her trip to Italy (I was probably 10) and I decided I will go there someday. So I guess the seed was planted then. My dad and step-mom divorced when I was 19 and I lost touch with my part-time extended family. But I didn’t lose touch with the seeds of Italy that planted themselves in my heart.
My twenties and thirties were full of children and marriage. My dreams of Italy where not in the forefront of my life. But Italy was always my answer whenever the topic of conversation was “if you could travel anywhere where would you go?”
Now I’m all grown up and single again with only myself to please. I’m fully converted to the idea of following your dreams and living your joy. I do work that I love, have a grandbaby that lights up my life, and I fill the rest of my life with anything and everything Italian I can find.
I’m a beginning Italian learner. I went to Italy for my first time the Spring of 2013 (hopefully the first of many). I’ll take the label of Italophile and wear it proudly. My dream is to have some extended stays in Italy several times a year and take my business on the road. But if my children ever move away from me, I’m moving to Italy!
I adore the language. My goal is to become conversational and then fluent.
This is my journey to follow my heart and become a little Italian.