MY stepmom, Pauline, taught me a word. Serendipity, Her definition was an unexpected surprise or unexpected pleasure. She found life to be full of these. We have found this whole trip to be serendipitous (Lynda’s word). We can definitely say we have had a serendipity experience here in Sorrento, After several days here We headed out to dinner last night to a restaurant we had read about. When we got there we really didn’t feel drawn to the place so Dale suggested we just walk and maybe go to a wine shop he had wanted to check out. We found the shop several blocks off the main drag and were instantly welcomed in by Miriam. As she showed us several of the wines we were looking for we immediately warmed to her friendly manner. When Dale asked her something she didn’t know she called Giovanni over and a new friendship began. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, we just really hit it off with him, with both of them. As the guys were doing a little wine tasting, Lynda and I walked across the street to check out a store that looked promising for onion jam (we’re still looking Ruby) but they din’t have it. Come to find out it is Giovanni’s father’s store. After we had talked to Giovanni for a long time we asked him for a restaurant recommendation and he walked us around the corner where his friend had opened a new restaurant only a week ago. The setting and the meal were amazing. Sorrento is quite famous for the art of wood inlay. We had seen a lot of it in the tourist shops but I had not bought any, I went on-line to read about it and found the names of several of the premier artists. Guess whose shop was just around the corner from Giovanni? Also a good friend of his. When we went back to Giovanni’s today to place an order we again spent a long time just visiting. We’ve invited him to come visit us. While we were there his sister came over from the store across the street to tell me she had been doing much research and had tracked down onion jam and they could just add it to our shipment. Doug and Dale bought refreshments from Giovanni’s dad in the same shop. We met Giovanni’s mother also, she was wearing a pair of earings that Miriam had made. Lynda and I will now be receiving our own pair. After hugs we went to the wood shop and made new friends with the Stinga brothers. WE will be receiving a shipment from them too. It’s just our little corner of Sorrento. Serendipity. I think Pauline is smiling.