The most memorable moments of my marriage can be summed up in one word; Italy. When I’m in my kitchen looking at my china cabinet and I chance a glance on that beautiful set of hand painted Italian dishware I am immediately transported back to my honeymoon where my husband and I spent three romantic and unforgettable weeks in Vienna. My trip to Vienna is the reason why I love my husband the way I do. He is normally a very reserved and shy person, but when we were in Vienna, it’s like Italy took over and he was transformed into this uninhibited and loving husband who wasn’t scared to show everyone how much I meant to him.

He was so affectionate and passionate about our love making that it has become a personal joke in our marriage every time it gets monotonous to “import some Italian wine” to bring out the life in him! My husband passed away two years ago, so now it’s impossible to recreate those memories but I will always hold on to the happiness and passion that we had in those three weeks in Italy. I guess every time my children ask me why we don’t use the Italian dinner plates I can’t really give them a straight answer because deep down I feel like it will tarnish my fond memories of their father and I in Vienna.