When the clock struck midnight I popped a bottle of champagne in front of the Colosseum. Not only am I still confused on if its Coliseum or Colosseum, but I’m also confused on how I’m living in Rome, twenty-one, and living life.
Let me try and explain my point of view to you.
One, this was my second encounter with you.
Two, I woke up in Rome.
Three, I spent two hours on a street corner due to Italian Airbnb communication problems.
Four, I was supposed to be at the beach but we drove there the day before and every restaurant in the town was closed. Hence the last minute Airbnb changes.
Five, I didn’t wear any of my own clothes because apparently after all this time I still don’t know how to pack for myself.
Six, I had amazing pizza for the fourth night in a row.
Seven, I got some sort of food poisoning thing for a solid six hours. Not the throw up food kind of poisoning, the like something is wrong with my face while I’m still sitting eating my pizza kind.
Eight, J and I were stranded in a club. In the club, like for some reason there was no exit for a solid forty minutes and the mob of Italians dancing to who knows what were simply confusing.
Nine, I ate burger king fries with a crown on and then walked home.
Ten, the locks on our Airbnb never work so it was just luck that we got in.
Eleven, I woke up in Rome again. With my best friend I made in London.
But while I was enjoying you I had no idea that such an eclectic series of events were creating you. It wasn’t until I recapped your 24 hours that I realized all that had happened. Which got me recapping a lot of similar things, for instance, last year’s birthday.
This time last year I was roller blading on Christian night at a ghetto rink near school, dressed head to toe in American-flag apparel, and singing with a group of my friends while trying to avoid collisions with little children.
And, actually, since then a lot has happened.
But I also think a lot of events, accomplishments, and moments have been somewhat overlooked or brushed aside, not because they didn’t matter, but because life is hectic and unpredictable which unintentionally causes me to move on to this next thing coming my way. This isn’t to say I don’t enjoy it, I just don’t always dedicate enough time to reflect back on the craziness of life; it is beautiful, but man it is crazy HA and laughable, tearful, shocking, chaotic, and unplanned.
I’m going to find more reasons to celebrate, reflect, and live; I’ll stay in the present, I’ll lean away from too much focus on the future, and I won’t sit on the past. But I’m still going to visit all three of them.
This is the best way I can implement l’arte d’arrangiarsi into my daily life.
The art of making something out of nothing is about actually celebrating the somethings in life.
You were a great day, there is no doubt, but my life is a series of festivals. Or at least it can be.
My favorite part about this weekend wasn’t even the literal party scene. It was having my best friend by my side as we doodle bopped around Rome, no agenda, sitting eating strawberries by the trevi fountain, wearing Adidas sweatshirts and leggings, not being able to pass by Zara without going inside, laughing uncontrollably at the most ridiculous things, eating pizza for every meal, throwing away our still-in-use metro tickets, stumbling upon a hippie Italian concert, almost getting hit by cars every two seconds, and having real conversations.
It sounds self-centered but hear me out before you make up your opinion, but to me Rome had planned a private dinner especially made for me, threw a concert for just me and my friend so we could watch the sunset and blab out sounds that we claimed were Italian, and told bystanders to be extra interesting for us to have entertaining people watching time.
Life is crazy.
And I see myself in private parties all the time.
It’s confusing.
I don’t know what else to say.
But you’re not the only celebration I’ll be having this year.
I’m celebrating all that’s worth celebrating.
Riley Makenna
Compass 
Dear Riley, This blog is one of my fav’s. I laughed out loud while reading it. Not laughing at you but, laughing because I get it!! Those spontaneous moments you know are by chance and are delightful. But, are they spontaneous or is someone orchestrating these awesome times JUST FOR YOU; for YOU to enjoy and experience. Is it like, sometimes, you’re watching yourself and thinking,”oh my gosh! This is so wonderful!” And, “how can this be?” I love that you are observing all the funny “little” things that in hindsight are so awesome! But, most of all, I’m so happy you are having such a supercalifragilistic time!!!! Love you and see you soon! XOXO
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Riley, I agree with Auntie Michelle, I laughed while reading this post, but I can imagine all of these situations happening to me and I don’t think I would be laughing. You know how I am, LOL, I don’t roll with things like you do. 🙂 But your reflection and contemplation is what makes your life so beautiful and joyful! We leave in 2 hours to catch a plane to come see you! I CANNOT WAIT ….. Love you!
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