it. is. happening.
sta succedendo. (it is happening).
Today, we officially broke ground. I had spent the night in Florence last night after running some errands and enjoying a late birthday celebration with some girlfriends. Then this morning I walked to the architect’s office for the largest face-to-face meeting we’ve had with everyone so far. The geometra, builders, and structural engineer all drove up to meet at the architect’s studio so we could be around the same table and discuss all of the little details moving forward.
In proper Italian fashion, not everyone arrived until about 45 min after the scheduled time, but since I was there earlier, it was nice to have some time alone to chat with the architect team and go over some of the final points and changes on the agenda. When everyone arrived, we positioned ourselves around a conference table and the papers, files, and drawings all quickly made their way out of folders to the space between us. Everyone had good points to make, concerns that were addressed, and before too long, we were all standing and leaning over each other to better see the blueprints or sketches that were being made a-la-minute to illustrate a new idea. I’m guessing that probably a good half of the 2.5 hr meeting was spent standing, crossing over conversations, and moving around the table to get better views.
The best part was that now it feels like a solid team behind this project. Everyone knows everyone. The communication is open, and everyone is on the same page. Last week the geometra started a group text chat, put the main photo of the group as the house, and added everyone who’s been on the project thus far. So we are all in constant contact with any new step.
I rode back with the group who’d come up to Florence for the meeting, and they drove me home. During the meeting, we’d received photos from the builder’s team on site that they’d begun to break ground and start the dig. I quickly texted J who was still at home to ask if he could go over and take some photos and video while it was happening. I was so excited to see it in person, so this evening we quickly went up to see the lot. The sky was just beginning to display some amazing sunset colors, so I was looking forward to seeing the property in this amazing light. We arrived and it already seemed like a completely different place…so much had been done in just one day.
There was a partial service road that had been spread with large gravel rocks so that the trucks could safely enter the sloping drive towards the site. The water tubes had been buried (as I’d signed for the water service just this morning), and there were two large septic tanks, as well as a big special filtration system already placed on the lot ready to be buried tomorrow. Then the first level of earth had been cut, moved, and smoothed.
I’d always thought that I’d be there the minute the first shovel went in - maybe even to ceremoniously take the first dig myself - but I found that I didn’t mind having missed it and am more just excited that it has happened. We’ll be there again tomorrow while the next steps are happening, and I will hold a little ceremony of my own.