Kim Marcille & Michael Romaner tie the knot on the Savannah.

In a simple yet sweet ceremony, Michael and I were married on September 26th at Hammond’s Ferry in our hometown of North Augusta, SC on the Savannah River, just upriver from our neighborhood.  In a quasi-elopement, we invited only our children (his daughter Alexis, 20, and friend Ray, and my son Zack, 19, with his girlfriend Katherine).  We celebrated at Manuel’s Bread Cafe with prosecco, a lovely sparkling Italian wine, and a lovely dinner with the kids.  A week later we embarked on a two-week tour of Italy, visiting such romantic places as Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Lake Como.

We re-said our vows at San Marlino church, a church high on a cliff that you can only reach by hiking a trail up the mountain.  The last four days, we stayed at La Darsena (The Boathouse) in Tremezzo on Lake Como.  The first day there, we took a ferry across the lake to Bellagio, and visited the Melzi estate.  Melzi was the chancellor of Italy during Napoleon’s reign.  We sat high up on the perfect lawn of this estate, and told each other Father Guido Sarducci jokes as we looked over the sparkling lake.  (Remember the 5-Minute University?)  We spoke in fake Italian accents for about a week after we got home. I’m happy to say we’re recovered from that now, but still suffering from having to leave that beautiful country behind.

Right at this moment, though, as I sit on the patio of my home in the beautiful Fall weather of our hometown, I can hear the church bells ringing the half hour across the river, and I think, “We’re not so far from Italy after all.”

Ciao, mios bellos.

What if you allowed yourself to hope for, desire and pursue this scintillating vision?  

What if you spent time every day imagining yourself in that joyful world of beauty and light, as if it were the life you are leading now?  

What if you allowed yourself every day the opportunity to feel the emotions that come with such a life: the joy, the serenity, the peace, the connectedness?

Is it possible that you might begin to draw this dream life out of the ether?  That every day—little by little at first, and then faster and faster—your life would begin to look more and more like your dream life?  

Could it be that your passion would be ignited, that your head would clear, and that suddenly you would know, really know what you’re supposed to be doing in each moment?

Get your vision crystal clear in your head.  At every opportunity, make it bigger, bolder and juicier, until it is a towering and magical fairy castle in which you live.  

Only you can protect the integrity of your dreams.  Dream now.  Dream boldly.  Take action.  

2009 is your year.  And it will never come again.  Make your move now.