In September, members and friends of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan met once again on Belle Isle for our annual end-of-summer gathering.
For a few days, we weren’t even sure it would happen. A tornado had hit Belle Isle earlier in the week, causing damage around the island and making us wonder if we would have to cancel. But when it became safe to go ahead, we decided we really didn’t want to give up this yearly tradition. And we’re happy we didn’t.
It was a beautiful day spent the way we like it best: together. Everyone brought something for the potluck table; there was plenty of food to share, lots of conversation in Italian and English, and children playing while parents and friends relaxed and caught up.
Some of us see each other often through Dante programs and activities; others we may see only a few times during the year. Belle Isle gives us the chance to meet without a schedule or a program, just to sit together, talk, eat, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company.
That is really what this gathering is about. The Dante Alighieri Society is certainly about Italian language and culture, but it is also about the friendships and sense of community that grow around them.
After the storm earlier in the week, being together on Belle Isle made this year’s gathering feel even more special.
Thank you to everyone who came, brought food, helped out, and shared the day with us.
And before we forget: save the date for next year! We’ll meet again on Belle Isle on September 12, 2027.
