The World's Fair
New York, NY
Summer 1964
I don’t remember much about
this fair. I went with my parents and two of my siblings. My three younger
siblings stayed home. My grandparents must’ve taken care. My parents probably
thought they were too young to be in this large crowd. And so, the five of us
took the train to New York to see this world event.
The moment that stays with me
is the long line to see Michelangelo’s Pieta.
It seemed as if we had to wait for days in this line. It was hot and sunny.
There were lots and lots and lots and lots of people. And we waited quietly.
Finally, we could see a massive block marble. And as the marble came in to
people’s view, the tone of the crowd became more pious. People stood in
silence. Some people prayed the rosary. Some people put on chapel veils. But
everybody stood with a sense of reverence.
As we approach the statue I
was awestruck at its sheer beauty. It also filled me with sorrow to see this
beautiful woman holding her dead son. It was a magnificent sculpture. It stood
by itself so that nothing interfered with its beauty. People strolled past as
slowly as possible. Nobody wanted to be rushed. They made the sign of the
cross. They whispered prayers. Some people cried. Everybody was moved by this
mother, by this son, by this rendition of so much sadness.
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