Aaron’s flight arrived late, around 11:30 PM at the Florence airport. It was late November and winter had arrived a bit early. As we headed down the hill to pick him up, a cold slushy rain soaked everything in sight.

On the way home, however, the rain turned to snow. Soon, the roads were covered and slippery. As we drove up the hill near home, we slid to a stop. After a few failed attempts to move the car, we decided that there was no alternative but to walk.

So there we were, the three of us taking turns with his suitcase, walking up the wintery road. It was one of those cold but wonderful snowy evenings as the moon shone through the trees. Just the crunch of our shoes in the snow, and the quiet conversation accompanied us on our journey up the hill.

Thirty minutes later, we were home, in the warmth of the house, thankful that Aaron had come to see us, and that we were all healthy and able to take the last mile on foot.

Lyrics

In a snowstorm
When the car stopped
Long before we were home
Up the hillside
in the moonlight
The only path, our own

A piedi, a piedi,
Sempre cosí
Always on foot
Is how every journey ends, it seems

Just after midnight
We drove from the city
Through the rain

And then it happened
Out of the blue

Icy snowfall
Claimed the road
in the country, we got out
To see what happened
What to do

Things seem to happen
Nothing new

In the coming and the going
One thing you know
There’s a rhythm in arriving
No matter where you go

A piedi, a piedi
Sempre cosí
Always on foot
Is how every journey ends, it seems
Whatever happens, you get through

A piedi
Sempre cosí

Credits

From Settle Down, track released 01 March 2007
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering
Inspiration – Aaron’s visit to Tuscany