This is what I love about the Italian people – they have not lost that important quality. People are still more important than anything else. They are more important than work, or money or your schedule. The customers do not rush into Pepe’s shop and out again in a hurry without a smile. They will stand and chat and wait for Pepe to finish each customer until it is their turn with patience. How nice is that and how simple. They will not die of a heart attack at sixty from stress as they have their priorities right. Working in Italy always sets my priorities right.
There is a time for work and a time for play, a time to sow and a time to reap. In the west we get too caught up in the hectic pace of life. We have to make an appointment to see our friends three weeks in advance on a weekend only as we are too tired from work to go out midweek!! For Italians every night is the same, it does not matter if it is a work night.
Tonight I went into Pepe’s fruit shop and asked him “How are the pears, are they in season now and he cut one up and put it in a plastic cup and broke open some fresh walnuts and sprinkled them on top with a little plastic fork as well. What service, incredible hey!! How are the pears he asked? I just smiled!!
While I was eating these fantastic pears with the crisp walnuts, another customer came in and starting singing Napolitanni songs to me in a beautiful voice. I thought well - this is a truly a great night out, such entertainment and food and in a fruit shop of all things!! Only in Italy would this happen. Serendipity - I could not stop smiling!! I loved it! I loved it!
