After the experience we had traveling through Europe with teenagers, it’s probably a wonder I ever left my house with them again. But I did . . .
The (Bonus!) Destination, Part 6: Eorzea by Way of Las Vegas
Diane Masiello
I am a writer and high school English teacher at a Catholic, all-girls private school. I began my teaching and writing career over 30 years ago, earning my Ph.D. in English Education from and first teaching at New York University. After I finished my degree work, my husband and I moved to Florida; I have taught at both Nova Southeastern University and The University of Tampa.
I left academia to raise two beautiful daughters and help care for my parents, which is when I turned to blogging to help me process my experiences. I started in 2003 with a LiveJournal entitled "Afternoons with Coffee Spoons" which I eventually translated over to Wordpress. In 2019 I was invited to join "The Gloria Sirens" blog, which gave me space to develop my voice.
Over the past few years, as I have raised teenagers and gone back to teaching, my writing has become more focused on the interplay of the Catholic faith, mystery, and storytelling. This has, in 2025, led me to return to writing exclusively for my own blog where I can more fully explore "Every Grace and Blessing" that God has bestowed upon me and those I love.
The Destination, Part 5: Rome
So it shouldn’t have been a surprise to me when my younger child told me off in the middle of the Vatican. But it was.
The Destination, Part 4: Taormina, Sicily; The Amalfi Coast; Positano, Sorrento, and Pompeii
If this trip was a song, the verses would have been the daily experiences and the chorus would have been “I could have spent far more time there, and I was sad to have to leave.”
The Destination, Part 3: Cruising Through Italy – Florence
This was one of those moments where time layered.
The Destination, Part 2: Cruising through France
We could still climb the climb, walk the walk, endure the discomfort and revel in surprise.
The Destination, Part 1: Spain
If I had one takeaway from our trip to, and our time in Spain, it’s to contradict the old adage–when it comes to European travel, it is not the journey, it is the destination.
Ow
I make many, many foolish choices in life, choices where I overestimate my ability to withstand pain, pressure, workload. I spread myself too thin. This time, I did not do that. I guess 50 also brings some small level of wisdom.
This Time
The only thing we can rely on is that nothing will ever be the same for very long.
Worth Reading
If I was a dragon, I’d hoard books.
Against The Dying of the Light
This wedding photo has been in my living room for almost 30 years. Do you see the beautiful young bridesmaid on the right, throwing rose petals? Her name is Rose Mary. She […]
The Gloria Sirens 