The Gods have smiled kindly upon us.

Yesterday was the culmination of Moda Mania2 at Marymount. It was a tremendous success. Our students investigated and celebrated selfworth and personal esteem. Creativity and the important fact that "I CAN". We all learned a lot by the simple act of working in harmony together. All of the international schools of Rome. It was a momentous day for all of us.

The morning began with seminars given by eight large personalities from the world of fashion.....the Fendi clan, Gucci, Renato Balestra, Bottega Veneta, Gattinoni, etc., etc. Students came out of these seminars with their mouths hanging wide open saying things like "I never knew that...wow! he talked about first looking at inner beauty before exterior beauty......she discussed color in a way which I had never heard it being spoken of before, etc., etc.

Lunch was served to the students and then an arduous three hours were spent practicing on the runway in preparation for the evening fashion show competition under the astute guidance of Lenore Lohman, our stage director and the fascinating Romina Power, our host presentor for the evening galà.

The students were terrified, apprehensive and extremely anxious, but, above all, completely involved and concentrating on doing their very best. Positive vibs of anticipated excitement were bouncing off of the auditorium's walls!

Lights came down, the music began, I took a deep breath and the evening galà commenced at six that evening. The house was packed with curious well wishers, parents and friends. By 6:10 there wasn't even standing room left! People had even baracaded themselves in the foyer of the auditorium to get even a glimpse of the passing sparkle being shown on the runway. There must have been at least a total of around seven hundred people there.

Before the "final act" of presenting the awards to the winning competitors, I stepped on stage for a moment to thank everyone present, below and above for the day's success. Just before giving a huge bouquet of flowers to Romina, my way of saying thank you to her, I felt a tug on my leg from a parent in the audience. This woman smiled at me, a smile I will never forget, and presented to me a huge bouquet of flowers and simply said "this is from us, thank you"! I stupidly looked at her in amazement and said "these are for me"? I was incredibly touched. I had never been presented with a huge bouquet of flowers before in my life. Another first experience.

A few minutes later, going backstage to say to my students "job well done" they presented me with a huge bouquet of tulips and in unicine said "we love you". I was profoundly touched.

As I am writing this recount to you, tears come to my eyes. Tears of extreme gratitude, thankfulness and exhaustion.

It was all worth it. Every damn minute of it!

In the process of putting this event together, numerous people have "come out of the closet" in support of Moda Mania2. I was really astounded by the support and well wishes of people around me. One parent, for example, came up to me a couple of weeks ago and said to me "I don't know if you know, but I have a film company and if you want, I will put together a film documentary on the day's event for you". I was astounded and immediately said yes! She and her crew were there all day yesterday filming away!

We were covered by local press and even a reporter was there from a paper in the States who promised to give us coverage. RAI International was also there doing coverage. As I said, "they came out of the closets"!

Your prayers, kind thoughts, secret conversations with the gods, kisses on oak trees and silent wishes being blown at Selena have all been fruitfull. Thank you......it worked!

I too have learned that " I CAN".