Page 22 - February_2016_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

ACmoemirngictoa

by Sandra Lee Buxton

B orn and raised in DÜsseldorf
Germany, Mally described her
life as perfect and couldn’t image
changing any part of it. She lived on
the Rhine River which was enchanting,
enjoyed her friends and family. She was
enmeshed in the culture of the city and
especially the arts, visual and performing.
Her world was about to change in ways
that she could not imagine and from an
unlikely source. As her children grew
older one of her teenage sons applied and
was selected to participate in an exchange
student program here in The States.
Returning to Germany after completing
his year of studies he spoke nonstop
about his time in America. He was so
excited and anxious to return that he also
choose an American college to complete
his education. Mally and her husband
visited their son at the school during
parents weekend and liked what they saw.
Wanting to extend their American visit
just a little longer they traveled to Captiva
Island for an additional week.

They quickly fell under the spell of
an ideal climate, walking on the beach,
sitting in the sun, watching nature and
the bliss that comes with it. Towards the
end of the week they looked at each other
and said “why are we leaving, we need to
live this life.” As simple as it sounds that
was it. Leaving their roots was difficult
but the pull of blue skies, a picture perfect
beach and a laid back lifestyle won over.
They went back to Germany tidied up
business, sold a home and moved to

22 Life in Naples | February 2016