This holy day finds Team Oswald both excited &amp; saddened.  We enjoyed Easter Vigil last night at The Vatican.  As Fr. Deeley (from the Navy Base Chapel) handed us the tickets, he advised us to "grow sharp elbows" for the occasion.  After waiting in line for hours, we held our own as thousands of people pushed, crushed, &amp; ran in the direction of the basilica's doors.  I mean this was a religious event &amp; people were undeterred from their seemingly single agenda of snagging the best seats (defined as the inner center of the rows where one could have an unblocked view of "The Papa" -Benedict XVI- as he walked to the altar).  Could not believe how aggressive Italian nuns can get!  We felt v.priviliged to attend this event in the epicenter of the Catholic faith and in such a beautiful place!

The experience was bittersweet though as we trudged back to our hotel this morning @ 00:30, knowing full well that we needed to be up early to get Jennifer to the Rome airport.  We do not want to separate again after being blessed with so much time together over the past four months!  It is less than <span style="text-decoration:underline;">six months</span> until the wedding...a notion that we both hold as a dear opportunity in our time apart.