"I wonder who that could be? What time is it? Eight fifteen? Yikes! It could be anybody! Could it be THE POSTMAN?" YES! It must be the postman, we thought.

Either that or the dry cleaning man.

Or maybe it was the milkman coming to collect the dues for the week.

Or, how about the vegetable man who drops fresh veggies off on our doorstep every morning. Nope. Couldn't be him because vegetables don't grow in the winter time. Well, not entirely true; there are some onions that do grow in winter. But the chances of it being the vegetable man were slim.

So rather than missing the chance of seeing who it might be (and miss whatever "might" have been brought for us), I rushed downstairs in my underwear, my barefeet freezing and sticking to the linoleum floor in the sub-zero kitchen.

As I came into the light I could see our tiny little postman standing there with a big, white box. The white tape immediately reminded me of the religious cult behind Mayu's office that covered absolutely everything on their house, cars, everything with either white paint, white tape or white cloth. Very strange. The cult, not the box.

But this was neither strange, nor completely white, for around the box I could see black bands, holding it together. It looked heavy; it looked well-made. I knew immediately what it was.

"Sign here", said the man in green.

"Do I have to pay any taxes?", wondering if I would, indeed, get hit with some charges.

"No, not this time", he repled as he rode his motorcycle away in the heavy snow that was, until minutes ago, cold, sticky rain.

"Mayu! Mayu! Come quick, come and see what has arrived!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs in excitement, not caring that the dog was peacefully snoring beneath the kitchen table.

"What?" replied Mayu in a sleepy, confused voice.

"Just get down here! It's finally arrived!!"

"Impossible! It can't be, can it? Today? Finally? YAAAAAAAAY!!" She had suddenly woken up and I could hear her heavy footsteps come thumping down the stairs.

We had a little bit of an argument opening the box. I wanted to do it, but I was doing something else. "Don't cut too deeply, Just cut the top off. Be careful" I found myself commanding as Mayu started to take off the tape. "No, don't worry about the tape."

"Do YOU want to do it?" asked Mayu, a little bit annoyed.

"Well, actually yes." I said excitedly, feeling a bit possessive of this box. After all I had lovingly chosen the contents over a month ago and packed it away so carefully (so I thought), attempting to send it to home with only a few hand gestures and my "winning smile". (you know the rest of THAT story).

Finally we got the box open and to our amazement the most delicious fragrance (next to Calvin Klein Eternity of course) pervaded the room. Out came little cheese one (with a nice hole where a mouse had been chewing on it.) I kissed it.

Out came cheese number two; covered in extra mold where the paper had stuck to it. I kissed it.

Out came cheese number three; the most delicious of all cheeses with a smell that could send even a vampire immediately to heaven.

Then out came the FAMOUS ORO caffe from Italy, the one that Mario and Michela swear is REAL coffee (not like that "starbucks" stuff...) I licked the package and could immediately taste all of my memories of Longarone... Yum! I could hardly wait for a morning coffee (which I was not to get until about 6pm because Mr. Fujii arrived, ruining my schedule - but an enjoyable sort of ruin as we had a pleasant chat with the dog sitting under the table licking his hand - Tug won't even lick OUR hands!!).

Well, needless to say we dug into the cheese with vigor, cutting one in half so that we could start enjoying for breakfast. The special cheese knife broke. (Here I interject asking you if you could send me three of these special knives - I will pay you in May - in your next Care Package along with pictures from Margherita, punches from Elisa and a few packs of THIS (and then click the back button on your browser to continue the story.))

The day progressed naturally, the snow getting wetter, heavier, and thicker. Mayu came home at about 7pm, having finished her work early, we enjoyed a very nice dinner and then we CELEBRATED!! CLICK HERE FOR THE CELEBRATION (click your back button when you are done to come back, of course!)

But Most importantly of all, we really want to say to you . . .

(click here to find out what we want to say (and then remember to come back, OK?))

So now, at 10.20pm (2.20pm in Longarone - what are you doing right now?) it is time for us to go into the back of our house (a scary place because it is so cold back there where the sun never shines) and watch a movie with Val Kilmer that Mayu rented for tonight.

But don't worry. We won't kill ourselves on prosecco tonight. In fact, Mayu will probably only finish one bottle. (I just had about three sips, not feeling up to much after that pink Australian poison of a few weekends ago).

Thanks, Micky. Thank YOU Mario for your wonderful packing. It made it through HELL and back and now it has a story to tell.

All I can say is that I hope the mice families in our home don't get the cheese before WE do. That would be a real shame.

All our love,

Cam and Mayu

P.S. You are probably wondering why the heck "tugstail.htm"??? right now, vero? Well, that was just to throw you off the track and make life a little bit more exciting. Can't give it ALL to you on a silver platter, now can we?

P.P.S. Tug says, CIAO!
(point your pointer over Tug's Mouth to see what he has to say...)