The Long Way Up

My two nephews recently got their circumcision done during their vacation here in the Philippines. It was quite a stressful time for me and the adults surrounding them, mainly because the younger of the two boys -- the eight-year-old one -- was getting paranoid about the discomfort and sensitivity of the wound and freshly-exposed skin, and reacting to it like he was being butchered, when in fact what was being done to him was for his own good. Despite our repeated efforts to pacify him, to let him lay still, and tell him that the procedures we were about to do on him would not lead to mutilation or death, he still allowed his fear of pain and of his "demise" get the better of him; thus making the circumcision and subsequent putting on and removal of bandages very laborious, and physically and emotionally taxing for all involved. From the cutting of the skin to the second and third dressings, his screams of "horror" caused my blood pressure -- and those ...

Its history is visible Its grandeur is discernible  Its beauty, inescapable It's Italy ! Desirable! The stature of cathedrals rule The mysteries they could unspool Milano 's structure? Truly cool The city's also worth a drool ' There's nothing common ,'  Como says Majestic lake, and mountain tress A chilly night, I under-dressed Those giant hands left me impressed Then a visit to my great-aunt In lovely Lucca , quaintness flaunts A walled city where epochs haunt ' You will linger ,' this locale taunts Leaning tower, cathedral dome World's best pizza call Pisa home Endless arch ways and streets to roam Endless as its historic tome Breezy Brescia  begged me to stay Lofty castle blew me away Lovely mountains, houses arrayed I adored her all in a day The town of Sirmione wows It is peninsulated now Blue waters are its castle's grounds With many treasures to be found Th...