I belong to the Faith and Light group at Girasole. For those who don't know, I joined a Faith and Light community in 1996, at the Villa Patrizi group. I went all the time—my mother and Ernesto were always on time, which was good, and then the community friends came after. Maybe that's just how we're used to it: we're up at six in the morning. We know everyone.
Now I don't remember them. Back then I hardly spoke at all, if I spoke at all. My family situation was difficult—I'll leave it at that. We're orphans, and it's not easy living with the fear people have of you.
Then we split up and moved to the church of Sant'Angela Merici with Roberto Garibbo and other people who lived through those years and grew, improving in some ways and not in others.
There are boys and girls I see and adore with no distinction between them.
But I've never understood what friendship means if I keep growing and I'm not satisfied with my own life. I've never understood what Faith and Light means! Because time passes quickly in those moments and then alone, as if something should happen—(this about Ernesto).
I am what I am, and maybe I never got the chance to redeem myself in the community or in the free time we had—the camps and the gatherings.
I get along with everyone, from the first person to the last. Each one has something special about them that sets them apart—whether it's their warmth or the way they are.
I could make a very long list of people I appreciate and respect for who they really are, without trying to be like anyone else or copy anyone.
- Giovanni Grossi - 2003