St Ignatius High School - Ignatian Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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AWAY FROM HOME «------ Mr. Jim Hogan insisted on something more Christian than Hardbodies. 99 Above: Among the magnificent sculptures of Versailles crouches this scythe-wielding creation. The Blind Man. Students spent a day exploring the gardens and palace of France's royalty. urope. the land of opportunity: Paris. London, Rome, and the Bavarian Motor Works. The continent across the Atlantic seemed so far away. The only exposure that I had to Europe was Chevy Chase's movie. It was pretty funny. But besides that, all I knew about Europe was that the Nile was its largest river. And so it was the summer of my junior year that I was given the opportunity to cross the Atlantic. I could actually go to Europe for the low price of $2,100. The best thing about it was that I could go there for credit. Not extra, just credit. The Theology Department was offering a summer program to visit Europe for eighteen days. That's seventeen nights for you and me. So. equipped with a suitcase and $500 to spend. I boarded the plane. And nodded off to never, never land. I slowly slipped from the grasp of sleep's warm and comforting arms. I realized that I was not at home. But where was I? Some strange man in muscle-T's had my passport. I saw who was sitting in front of me. It was Tod Christensen, the big tight-end for the Raiders. What was he doing here? And that's Geoff Neri. My dream had become a nightmare. Oh. of course! The theology trip! That was Mr. James Skerl sitting in front of me, not Tod Christensen. The plane trip lasted forever. I sat cramped next to Steve Lavelle. wondering when the movie would be shown. It was either Rambo I or Death Wish IV. I wanted to see Hardbodies. but Mr. Jim Hogan, our chaperone, insisted on something more Christian. So we watched Over the Top starring Sylvester Stallone. When we finally landed in Munich. Germany. I had already downed ten packs of chewing gum, seventeen containers of Tic-Tacs, and several cases of gobstoppers. I always believed a man needs a balanced diet. In Munich, we visited the prison of Dachau. Talk about emotional roller coaster. I knew already that this trip was going to be special. Witnessing the horror firsthand chilled my spine. I was glad to leave that place. And fast. I never before had come so close to history. And this was theology class. We travelled the world. In England, we visited London and Canterbury. In Italy, we went to the landmarks of Florence. Venice. Rome, and of course Vatican City. We saw the Pope. He was great. We fled to the Tower in Paris and the Mountains in Geneva. God was indeed in nature. As I sat in my seat listening to the engine, my mind slipped the surly bonds that confined my body to this earth. And I began to relive my most recent wanderings. Oh. Muse. I saw the green and misty mountains that surround Switzerland as well as the twisted steel fences that surround Dachau. I recalled the majesty of a castle built on the whim of an insane king and the sobering splendor of churches built by generations of faithful paupers. I watched thousands of people strain their every sinew to the max. just to see the Pope. And I saw those thousands walk by a starving child in the streets. I beheld the Pieta and the Mona Lisa from behind glass because people have tried to destroy them. And I saw myself for the first time. 28 A Day in the Life

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Left: Ron Aukerman prepares to rifle the ball downfield. Many dreams of supcrbowls and Alcoa comeback commercials are fulfilled in quagmires of local parks. Below: Smelling a touchdown. Kevin McQucary stretches the ball forward past the goal line. Vince Ruffa fails to strip the ball from Kevin. Below Plowing like a Mack truck. Neil Hagan carries a full load for six points. Defenders Sean Kilbanc and Chris Allen, dismayed at Neil’s power, could not summon the courage or strength to stop him. Saturday Football 27

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Left: These three billygoats enjoy R G R in the gruff as they carefully scan the area for the troll under the bridge. The migratory patterns of these high altitude mammals yearly retrace the paths of Hannibal and his elephants in the Second Punic War. Above: Michelangelo's David stands pensive in innocent, adolescent assurance. His awkward, oversized right hand cradles the stone; his left shoulders the slingshot. He is ready. Left Steve Lavelle and John McNulty catch some of the Pope's skin as he strolls through his Vatican City. Each student in turn shook 'John Paul's hand and received his blessing. Theology in Europe 29