by Francesca Di Meglio

Sunday, June 15
I'm feeling a bit blue because I cannot be with my papa', who is in the United States, on Father's Day. I give him a ring on Skype, an we talk for a bit. I can tell he is disappointed, too. I send greetings to all my other favorite fathers in the United States via text message or e-mail and catch up some more on work. Later in the afternoon, I visit my relatives from both sides of the family, who still live in Ischia. I miss them so much - even when I'm only on the other side of the island at Antonio's house. It's wonderful to see them and hear what everyone has been up to since my last trip.

Monday, June 16
As a freelance writer and reporter, I can work from Ischia as long as the Internet is functioning at Antonio's place. I spend my mornings working on my About.com Newlyweds site and a couple of freelance articles I'm writing for other magazines, and I spend my afternoons and evenings working for BusinessWeek.com. It's tough because I have jet lag and I'm not used to working until 9 p.m. in the evening. But I have to try and keep American hours (from about 9 or 10 a.m. ET to 2 or 3 p.m. ET), which are six hours behind.

Antonio and I watch my cousin Fausto, who will be the best man at our American vow renewal in November, play tennis before grabbing panini at an American-syle pub with Fausto, his girlfriend Lea, and other couples we know who join us later.

Tuesday, June 17
Work, work, work. I'm still hungry when I should be tired and tired when I should be hungry. The Italian national soccer team keeps us biting our nails until it defeats France and waits for Holland to defeat Romania to head to the quarterfinals of the Euro 2008 tournament. We all breathe easier at the end of the two matches. Text messages start arriving from relatives in the States who caught the game.

Wednesday, June 18
Lea, who will be a bridesmaid at the American vow renewal, comes to try on and pick up her bridesmaid gown. I fear that it won't fit because I translated her Italian measurements to American ones using the Internet. She tries it on. She loves it. I love it. It fits and only needs some slight adjustments. We're all giddy with delight! I work all day with the exception of this lovely distraction at lunchtime.