I had the privilege of calling Italy home for eight unforgettable years living in places like Verona, Pordenone, Cordenons, and Aviano, where the U.S. Air Force Base stood as a symbol of strength and unity. Those years shaped me. I remember field trips to Venice and Rome, drifting along the canals on gondolas, watching master glassblowers turn molten art into magic. I can still see my mother and me in the piazza, feeding the fearless birds that would land right on our shoulders, and smell the fresh bread drifting through open windows each morning. We weren’t just stationed overseas—we lived there. We embraced the culture, played on local teams, and became part of something greater than ourselves.