Dolce Far Niente
I was at my younger sister’s house on Christmas Eve when I picked up a book on her coffee table. It was The Sweetness of Doing Nothing: Live Life the Italian Way with Dolce Far Niente by writer Sophie Minchilli. Although the title’s a mouthful, it’s a small book, both in its physical size and the number of its pages. I thumbed through it and summarily informed her I’d be borrowing it. I started the book over my holiday break, read a few pages here and there, but didn’t finish the book until today. It took me roughly five months to complete a book about doing nothing. That irony is not lost on me.
Some might even call it a red flag. But something I knew long before a rectangular scarlet fabric unfurled and waved frantically in my face. In the inquisitory lyrics of the Talking Heads’ Once in a Lifetime, “well, how did I get here?” The short answer is, it’s been a long year. Regardless of the trials and tribulations of my little life, I’ve recently decided to lean into my core self and decidedly turn the page.
Today begins the first page of that new chapter. I picked up Minchilli’s book as I headed out the door this morning for my first beach day of summer. I’ve tried out different sections of Galveston over the past few years but have landed on East Beach as my go to spot. From my house, it typically takes about 90 minutes for me to go from door to shore. As I pulled up to the parking kiosk, instead of buying a day pass to park, I asked to purchase a season pass from the attendant. A day pass to park is $15 while a season pass is $50. If you plan on visiting the beach at least 4 times in the summer, it’s a good deal. More times than that and it’s an incredibly good deal, such a no brainer.
My credit card in hand, the attendant went back in the little hut to process the transaction. As she came out to record my license plate number, she told me I was receiving the last season pass they had from their allotment of stickers for the day. I immediately responded, “God is smiling on me.” She might’ve thought I was delusional, but I quietly reveled in my good fortune as I headed to park. I then made myself comfortable setting up my beach essentials - blanket, towel, chair, and other personal sundries. Mine also include a beach hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and some reading material. Long story short, I finished the book while enjoying the beach.
Typically, I head straight home after my beach visits. But today as I exited the beach, I spontaneously elected to detour and look at the historic Victorian homes synonymous with the east side of Galveston. As I trekked among the side streets, I realized I had happened upon The Strand Historic District. Spontaneity won again and I pulled over to park and get out of my vehicle.
A festive window display with a life-sized fake ostrich caught my eye (and why wouldn’t it?) so I ventured into its gift shop. Perusing its contents as I made my way in, I was happy to see a book about a healthy approach to crafting cocktails. I’ve developed a newfound fondness for mixing libations ever since I made limoncello this past Christmas. I’ve also been on a personal health journey as of late. So, this book and I particularly seemed destined for one another. I mean, it was sitting right there just waiting for me. So, I bought it. After that I came across a couple of vintage shops, and I thrifted an adorable lemon plate from Portugal. There was also about a block worth of murals painted on the side of one of the buildings across the street from the shops. Again, things that interest my universe.
The whole experience, from the time I arrived at the beach in the morning through the last-minute decision to veer off roads most frequently travelled (by me anyway), it felt like a reward. I was being rewarded for finishing my book, but more profoundly, because I understood what it meant to explore “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It might have been just a day, but it feels symbolic of leaving past burdens behind to delve into new experiences. I’m going to carve out time for dolce far niente during my free time this summer and the foreseeable future #reapwhatyousow