Another month down! Already it’s the end of June and I cannot believe it! We have just three weekends left in the regular season. After losing to Forli this past weekend my team has landed in a three-way tie for first place. We are still in a very good position to make playoffs, so we aren’t putting too much pressure on ourselves. We plan to stay focused and continue to give our best on the field.
Last week I decided at the last minute that I wanted to go back to Rome for a second time to see all that I missed the first time around. My teammate, Lisa, and her parents were heading up there for a few days and insisted that I come along. We went back to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. This time around I made it to the Piazza Navona and the Pantheon as well. On my second day, I visited the Vatican Museum and Saint Peter’s Basilica. The museum was an amazing collection of galleries and of course, the Sistine Chapel. I spent about four hours touring the museum, an hour of which I spent in the Sistine Chapel. I listened to my handheld audio guide over and over again. I have truly learned to appreciate Michelangelo’s work, especially The Last Judgment in which it is believed he portrayed himself. I thought my day could not have gotten better after I finished walking around the Vatican and taking pictures. I was so wrong. I headed for St. Peter’s with Lisa and her family after grabbing a prosciutto and mozzarella panini. There were no lines once we arrived, so we were able to walk right in. I was devastated when I learned that my camera battery was exhausted. But I tried to remain positive and psych myself up for what I was about to see. I remember walking inside and instantly feeling short of breath. Saint Peter’s was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I pulled out my Italy guidebook, “Let’s Go Italy” and began to read about the basilica’s history and special parts. I began reading and noticed that there were a handful of masses said each day. Luckily, it was 5pm and the last mass was beginning. We hurried quickly through the crowd and asked an usher if we could sit down to participate in the mass. He let us pass through. I felt a wave of chills and joy pass through me. I could not believe I was sitting inside St. Peter’s Basilica participating in mass. It was the most inspiring religious experience I have had throughout my Catholic existence. At that point taking pictures did not seem so important. We decided to go back to St. Peter’s the next day, since I was not able to take any pictures and Lisa’s mom forgot her camera altogether. Naturally, I took a whopping 300 pictures, so it all worked out in my favor in the end. I am so happy Lisa and her parents invited me along. I was worried that my time was running out and I would not make it back to Rome or to Vatican City. I am so fortunate.
