Read all about what's happening in the lives of people you may not realize you know! Test the possibility of the Six Degrees of Separation concept.
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Is The World Really That Small?Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person
is one "step" away from each person he or she knows and two "steps" away
from each person who is known by one of the people he or she knows, then
everyone is no more than six "steps" away from each person on Earth.
Hence, six degrees of separation is somewhat synonymous with the idea of
the "small world" phenomenon. (Wikipedia)
Know Someone Special?
Let me know about someone you would like to put
the spotlight on. Honor them here for something they have achieved, or
accomplished, either for themselves or for others.
Email Me The Hiltons in Rome
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In The Spotlight this month, Patsy and Jim Hilton in
Rome, and at home.
Patsy says, "I like to travel more than Jim does, he is happiest at home. He
did agree to take me to Rome this past June, but only because one of his
favorite nieces was getting married. Krystal is just a special girl, a
graduate of Texas Tech," Patsy says, with no small amount of pride.
Read more about Jim and Patsy at home in Dayton, Texas.
Click Here.
The wedding reception was at Roof Garden L'Olimpo, a
restaurant overlooking Rome.. It is in the Hotel Bernini
Bristol, where this photo was taken. "Just breathtaking."--Patsy
Hilton
"When the couple walked out, all the tourists were waiting to wish
them well. We couldn't stay in the Chapel of the Choir long
because it was opened again for the public following the ceremony.
On Wednesday after their wedding, the Pope gave Krystal and Pat his
blessing
"The best thing about our trip was the wedding. The least thing was
having to leave without seeing so much. It would take so much time to see
everything!! We missed so much.
"One of the things we missed was the Sistene Chapel. They
close
it early for private tours and the line is always a mile long, a long wait,
so we just
never did." -- Patsy Hilton
August 2007
PATSY AND JIM HILTON
Jim and Patsy traveled to Rome to attend a wedding, and the few days
they stayed there were hardly enough to grasp the magnitude of the city,
its ancient architecture, historic sites, and mythic influence.
They were struck with the overwhelming aspect of age, of the powerful
past of the place. The Hiltons and their trip are most definitely worth spotlighting here this month.
Krystal Hilton and Patrick Gipson's wedding was a dream come true for
the Michigan couple. Here, the bride and groom are on the balcony of the restaurant,
overlooking the Vatican City, where
their reception was held. St.
Peter's Basilica where they were married can be seen in the distance.
Krystal and Pat are both engineers with Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan.
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The Wedding
"Since they are both devoted Catholics, Krystal and Pat decided they would like to be married at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pat and his brother had been there the year before and must have seen someone being married," Patsy explains, "so they wrote the Vatican, and were told to send in their paperwork four months before the wedding. They did and were accepted.
"The wedding was like a fairytale. There were nineteen family members on the bride's side attending the event, and about the same on the groom's. All the tourist were clapping and taking pictures as the bride walked in. There was a great loud aaahhhh! when the curtain came down in the Chapel of the Choir.
"The groom's brother and sisters all took part in the wedding with prayers or poems. The bride's two sisters were beside her. After vows were exchanged, a nun came out with a huge book to be signed by the bride, groom, priest and the witnesses." -- Patsy Hilton
The bride and groom being blessed by Pope Benedict XVI.
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Pat and Krystal Gipson ~ Congratulations! May the happiness and beauty of your wedding day remain with you always!
When in Rome. . .
Castel Sant'Angelo is
one of the most famous landmarks in Rome. Down through the ages it
has served as a bastion of defense, and an impenetrable fortress of
protection for the popes as well as their riches.
"We also saw the Coliseum, and the Grotto where the tombs of the Popes are located.
"We went underneath St. Peter's, called the scavi, where they
found St. Peter's body. Pope John Paul is buried next to Peter.
"We took an
open top tour bus around Rome--everything is just so ancient! Fountains,
statues everywhere. Most of the wedding photos were taken in St Peter's
Square in front a fountain that was placed there in 1300.
"We stayed in an apartment at the PIAZZA DEL VASCHETTE 13 at Borgo Pro
2000. two blocks from the Vatican.
Our apartment
had a tiny elevator and a key that was huge, was real long. We could
open up our windows and hang out. You saw people doing that over
restaurants, talking to neighbors, etc.
"We went to the audience of the Pope.
"We enjoyed sitting at the outdoor restaurants. We didn't care much
for the food, but we had the most wonderful coffee made in a very small
percolator." Patsy adds that they brought some back. 
"To me
the food wasn’t that good," she continues, "not seasoned enough. There was ALWAYS pasta,
pizza. Our two best meals were the rehearsal dinner and the reception.
"Everything costs a fortune! We got HOTDOGS one day from a vendor in St
Peter’s Square and they cost $90.00 for ten and they were terrible!
"Nutella is a spread for toast. I think it is their peanut butter but is a
different nut. I understand you can buy it at Walmart but haven’t
looked yet.
"We took cabs or
buses everywhere. We took an open top tour bus to look around. We went riding in a
horse and buggy one evening for about an hour."--Patsy
Hilton
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Follow the Hiltons home
to Dayton, Texas where they live on the edge of an estuary.
Click