Taylor's Homecoming

Homecoming…oh how the meaning of this word has changed for me. Five years ago homecoming was a football game once a school year where the girls wore giant mums and the boys wore ridiculous garters. Now when I hear the word 'homecoming' I think of soldiers returning home from war to their families. I love love love Homecomings!! In March Taylor came back from a nine month deployment in Afghanistan. 

I had 2 great friends capturing the excitement with a camera and video camera.

A big thanks to Lynnsi and Renu!

My friend Tara and I.

Heidi! Her husband, Colin, just came home a few days before. 

My friend Katie and her son Carson getting ready to see Alex!

Me, Anna, Katlin, Katie, and Heidi

These ladies helped me make it through this deployment!

This is the little American flag that I waved during Taylor's Homecoming from Iraq in 2009. 

Kaitlin and Anna patiently waiting!!

They are getting ready to enter the gym...

Here they come!!!

Where's Taylor?

There he is!!

Wohoo!!

Trying to get his attention...

"Taylor, where are you!!!"

He found me!!

Finally!!!!

Who knows what I am telling him here...

Katie, Alex, and Carson reunited!

James and Anna

Kaitlin and Mason

It was so great to have everyone back home!! Although, I will always remember and honor those that did not get to come back home that day. 

PFC Adam Ross

July 24, 2012

Army Pfc. Adam C. Ross, 19, of Lyman, S.C., died July 24, in Jaghato, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

SPC James Justice

August 17, 2012

Army Spc. James A. Justice, 21, of Grover, N.C.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; died Aug. 17 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, from injuries suffered Aug. 14 that were caused by small-arms fire in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

SFC Daniel Metcalfe

September 29, 2012

Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel T. Metcalfe, 29, of Liverpool, N.Y.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; died Sep. 29 in Sayyid Abad, Afghanistan, of injuries caused by small-arms fire.

Mr. Kevin O'Rourke

September 29, 2012

Retired New York City police sergeant Mr. Kevin O'Rourke, 52, while working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan, was killed during an apparent insider attack by members of the Afghan military, Sept. 29, 2012. O'Rourke was an officer for 20 years and missed being in the World Trade Center by 20 minutes on September 11, 2001.

Emily and Joseph Visit Italia! March 2013

          Taylor's sister Emily and her husband Joseph came to visit at the beginning of March. We had a great time! They were so much fun to travel with! We went to Verona, Venice, Burano, Murano, Soave, and Milan together. They also went off and saw Rome and Florence. Lots of traveling!!

Venice

We spent 2 days in Venice!!! I've gotta give credit to Emily for taking all of these pictures!

Bridge of Sighs

There were lots of gondoliers that day.

Saint Mark's Square

Around town…

Venice at night. 

Saint Mark's Basilica

Rialto Bridge

We spent another day touring the islands of Venice. 

Burano

Burano…the island of brightly colored buildings and lace. 

Fur coats set out to dry.

Watching a girl work on stitching lace. 

Joseph using his glasses as a magnifying glass to see the tiny little stitches. 

Murano

Murano…the little island known for their glass making.

San Michele

San Michele- the little cemetery island.

The famous Igor Stravinsky's grave. 

Le Pignole Winery

Dinner and wine tasting at a local winery called Le Pignole. 

Joseph ordering some vino. 

Bonamini Olive Oil Mill

An olive oil mill tour and tasting at Bonamini.

Joseph and Emily amongst all the olive trees.

Warming the olive oil in our hands.

Taking shots of olive oil…only in Italy!

Soave

A short stop at Suave castle for some funny pictures. 

Verona

Day trip to Verona.

The third largest Roman Arena is here in Verona dating back from the first century A.D.

Gelato stop!

Milan

Milan in a nutshell...the international fashion capital with a cool church and the famous Last Supper.

Milan's Duomo, or Cathedral, is the 4th largest church in Europe. It was built from 1386-1810 to hold 40,000 worshipers…which at the time happened to be the entire population of Milan. 

Joseph ventured up to the top of the Duomo and got some great pictures. 

Piazza del Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Inside the galleria there is a patriotic mosaic in the floor. One of the pictures is of a torino, or little bull, which is the city's symbol. For good luck, you can spin on the bull's testicles.  

The mosaic has to be replaced every few years because of this tradition.

Emily and Joseph in Piazza della Scala.

We went to see Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, but of course could not take pictures of it. I always envisioned it as a painting, but it is a fresco on the wall of an old church. It was pretty cool.

I don't even remember why we were taking these, but they make me laugh. 

I remember now!! We were both wearing argyle patterned sweaters!!

My Tour guide website

While traveling together, Joseph and Emily decided that I should start my own tour guide business. Emily took some pictures of me around Venice to use on my website. 

Welcome to Lindsey's Tour guide website, Driver's Way. 

You should choose her because...

She always know where the water fountains are so you can refill your water bottles and stay hydrated for free. 

She always has a stick of gum for anyone who needs one. 

She will protect you from the rose sellers and other peddlers that harass you in high tourist areas. 

She is willing to get to any heights so that the group can see and hear her. 

She is very charismatic about the information she shares. 

She knows where all of the best gelato stops are. 

We had such a fun time traveling together and hope they can make another trip here before we leave!