A Grain of Sand

A grain of sand

I’m looking for the essence of Roman life. My first ambition upon coming here was to live a Roman life. At home in California, I know my life’s definition. By that, I mean, I know the parameters of my life. I know what defines my daily life and my creative life. Here in Rome, I find the definition of life to be extraordinarily different than what I thought it would be.
The surface is different,….. the day to day, cacophony of sounds and clatter are much more loud and ordinary than I had anticipated. The average Roman is emotional, in your face, speaks loudly. This I expected. But the city itself is assaulting. The sounds, sirens, trolley cars, the traffic, the cigarette smoke, people talking or laughing. It envelopes you, invades your sense of self. Your space. Even when in conversation with Romans, they come a little to close, too intimate. Living in Florence, I didn’t get that sense of intrusion. At times it is overwhelming, other times, as I’ve said, in conversation it can be intimate even comforting.

I found myself in a crosswalk carrying Clare when 2 police cars, [carabinieris] turned on their sirens. I immediately held her tight, shocked….. and exclaimed “you fucking assholes” they were within 10 feet of me!
Clare said “ you fickinaholes!”[A note here: 2 year olds repeat everything you say],
Life in Rome is on the edge!

One tries to go about the daily life as you would anywhere, we get our groceries; we have lunch or dinner out. We shop a little, we sightsee a little…..we don’t go around with all the accoutrements of a tourist, we blend in…in a sense…
I’m often approached as a German; I have to say Americano frequently…
The girls blend in better…..they are “bella”…I am “brutto”

We have a great apartamento. In a wonderful neighborhood . I want to be apart of it all so much. We have some neighbors who acknowledge us and the local Friars have even nodded to us, [mostly because of Clare, [she knows how to bless herself in the Catholic fashion], some stores know us….the organic market! ....we are SO American! ....
Perhaps it’s never to be…I’ll always be a “strangieri” in Roma.

Nevertheless, some people sense our effort to be part of the neighborhood. The best Italian restaurant in the world is right around the corner, Clare, of course is the main attraction when we go there…always happy to see us [her], even when we are 2 hours before regular dinner hours!


There is a fine art print shop on our street. A contemporary print shop. A coalition of Italian artists, mostly young, just out of art school. They are very friendly and quite open to an American artist coming in and talking to them about currents in art and issues about being an exhibiting artist in today’s world. They have formed a group of likeminded European artists that show together and support each other with exhibitions in several European venues. I’ve approached them about showing in California, perhaps an exchange show?

Can you understand the nature of the beach by a single grain of sand? Can you understand the essence of a city like Rome by a few experiences? Life here is like life elsewhere I suppose. You try to find your niche, a pattern to your days that fills it with experience and meaning. Life is a series of accommodations, frustrations, accomplishments, and exultations, whether you are in Rome or Costa Mesa. Right now we are lucky enough to be in Rome.

Ciao, Tommaso