Lake Orta and How To Extend Your Earthly Existence

I recently traveled on the Lake Orta ferry to the island of San Giulio with a local resident, who was puzzled by Mom's barking bag.

Nestled in the foothills of the Piedmontese Alps of northwestern Italy, Lake Orta is a great destination for the savvy (sausage) traveler.

Back in 1882, Friedrich Nietzsche visited Lake Orta with Lou Andreas-Salomé, with whom he was in love. (Her mom came with them.) 12 years later, she wrote a book about him.

One of Mom's favorite contemporary American authors, Lance Olsen, wrote a book called Nietzsche's Kisses, which focuses on Nietzsche's "last mad night on earth" and touches on their brief love affair.

We spent several hours on the tiny island of San Giulio, home to seventy cloistered nuns.

There are signs for meditative walkies.

San Giulio Island is the setting of Gianni Rodari's delightful novella Lamberto, Lamberto, Lamberto, the story of a billionaire whose lifespan is extended by hiring people to repeat his name over and over and over.

I wonder whether that same trick would work for me. I'm still a puppy at heart, but lately people tend to notice the silver strands on my forehead. Well… why not give it a try?

Please repeat after me: Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie, Tootsie...