b"B efore you read this story, there are two things you should know about that photograph: 1. It was taken more than 40 years ago; despite wishful thinking, I look nothing like that today; and 2: The photo captures a moment in my life that was quite iconicnot only did Nanci capture me in deep thought, she eternalized a moment that forever changed my life.Before visiting my parents in Sicily, Nanci and I took a trip north to visit my nonna, followed by some fantastic jaunts to Florence, Rome, and then over to Palermo. Having then stayed with my parents for a week, my dad kindly loaned me his new car so that I could show Nanci more of the beauty of my birthplace. If you haven't been to stunning Sicily (I highly recommend it), the town of Taormina is one of its most enchanting destinations.When we got there, I had a few dollars in my pocket, and I planned on spending all of it to show Nanci Taormina. We sauntered all around town looking for a hotel to spend the night. There was a lovely and reasonably priced pensione at the bottom of a hill. But then we found a gem of a private villa that was turned into a cute boutique hotel. We took a look at some of the roomsa few were the size of a closetand eventually we found one of the hotel's larger suites that took up an entire floor, with a spacious balcony that treated us to a magnificent view of the sea below. Nanci wanted to rent one of the smaller rooms. I was having none of that! I went downstairs, placed my money on the desk and asked, How many nights does this buy me? Tre, replied the man behind the desk. Done! I said, paying for the three nights.He graciously slid back a few of the bills I used to pay for the room and said, Make sure you eat on the terrace at sunset. Later that evening, Nanci and I took the hotel clerk's advice and had pizza and wine at sunset on our enormous balcony. It was at that very moment, while watching the Sicilian sunset, that I knew she was my destiny. As if sensing the magnitude of the minute, Nanci grabbed her camera and took that photo of me as I sat by the fireplace, contemplating life and what was coming. She may have sensed the significance of that moment, but what Nanci didn't know was that, in my mind, I was saying goodbye to Sicily.Deep down, I knew my story had begun on this stunning Mediterranean island, but as I sat on that Taormina hotel balcony, I understood that my future was in America. From that minute on I devoured every step, every mile we traveled throughout Sicily. Like Nanci, and her capture of me in a poignant moment, I, too, eternalized our time togetheronly my camera was my soul. I have never regretted my decision to come to American and marry Nanci. The photograph that inspired this story captured the depth and importance of that moment.Every so often, when I look at this photo Nanci took of me, I still feel the same emotions from that day, every fear I had in that poignant moment. Those feelings and fears opened a pathway for my soul to connect with my heart. Together, they brought me to one conclusion: I love this woman; I will follow her wherever she goes!34"