Curious catalyst

Mom's death ultimately provided the catalyst to call Joan. What was still missing was the extra something that would bring me to dial the doctor's number.

On June 1, 2001, Jane, an American friend now living in Texas, was visiting Milan and we arranged to meet in the city for dinner. It was the first time I'd put on makeup and dressed up in stockings and heels in quite a while. Working at home, owning a large possessive dog afflicted with extreme separation anxiety every time I disappeared for more than five minutes, I rarely went out on the town. So it felt funny to be dressing up, almost like prom night in high school.