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As the waiter left, she looked around and gave a little sigh of unexpected pleasure."This is a charming square, isn't it?"
"Even more so on a perfect day like this one.It's like we're in a picture postcard."
"It does feel that way.When was the last time you were in Rome?"she asked curiously.
"A year ago, for my grandfather's funeral.It was a quick trip.I could only take two days, so I didn't do much beyond sit with my grandmother and try to comfort her.That was difficult.I meant to come back sooner, but I couldn't seem to work it into the schedule."
"Well, you're here now."
"I just wish the circumstances were different."
She nodded in agreement."So, do you know a lot of your extended family members?You spent a lot of summers here.I imagine you must have seen your relatives."
"I had some second cousins around my age who showed me around the city, especially when we were older teenagers.We had more fun than we should have."
"Do they still live here?Do you ever see them?"
"I haven't seen either in a while.One of them moved to London, the other to New York.I saw the one in New York when I was assigned there several years ago.He had just gotten married and had a kid on the way, so we mostly met for a beer or pickup basketball.No more wild days for us."
"So, the FBI agent has a wild past?"she asked.
"I've had my moments.What about the dedicated journalist committed to saving the world?Any wild stories you'll tell your grandchildren?"
"No.I never thought I could be wild.My mother owned that space.I had to be responsible, steady, and in control.I'm also not sure my goal is that big.I'd be satisfied with saving a few people, maybe not the world."
"Oh, come on.I think you want to save everyone.Why not own it?"
"Because it makes me sound egotistical."
"Saving the world isn't selfish.It's admirable."
"That's true.Okay, I will admit that I tend to live by the mantrago big or go home.I don't believe you're any different."
"I used to think bigger than I do now.I've come to realize it's impossible to save everyone.And not everyone wants to be saved.Sometimes just making a difference in one person's life is enough," he said, a somber tone entering his voice.
"It sounds like you lost someone," she commented.
"More than one," he admitted.
"How do you live with that?"
He shrugged."You just live, because there's no way to change it."
"You must have had some nightmares over the years."
"I rarely sleep until I'm exhausted.Then I don't dream."
"I wish I could say that.I dream too much.I crave being able to turn my brain off and just be still, no thoughts, no worries."
"Have you ever tried meditation?"
"I have, and I spend the whole time telling myself to stop thinking, which is pretty much thinking."
He smiled."It's a practice.You can't just do it once."
"Okay, Yogi, are you an expert meditator?"
"I've found it helpful in my line of work.I can't afford to let emotions get in the way of my job, so I've learned how to manage my breathing, stay calm, look for a way out or a way in, whatever the case may be."
