HIS7ORY ...

HIS7ORY ... I have so many words in my head. So many things I want to capture and put down about Rafa. How much I admire him, how much I respect him, what an incredible player he is, what a fighter, what spirit. How in the face of all that his career throws at him, he keeps picking himself up and coming back and back and back.

And here he is again ... a history maker. The greatest player ever on the old clay courts of Europe. The Best! ... The Seven Times Champion of Roland Garros.

To be honest, I'm simply exhausted with the trauma and stress of the past two days. I can't yet credibly think and put down in words all that I'm feeling inside. What I'd like to do - if that's OK - is watch my recording again of today's events, and spend some myself just surfing the web and reading the articles and looking at all those magnificent pictures.  And enjoying them ...

I'll be back more in the next couple of days to catch up on it all here.

I started this blog three years ago. It was just a little project of mine because at that time, Rafa was going for Five, the Five Clay Court titles. And being the romantic that I am, I just wanted to use it like a diary record of Rafa's career and my adventures; for it to be something to capture - like an on-line scrapbook - so I could look back on it some day and remember. What I didn't expect to happen though, was that I would start it in the summer of 2009 which represented one of the lowest ever points in Rafa's career. But happily - like today - I've also been able to record some of the magnificent highlights and achievements, and for me personally, this little blog has also broke through a record of people coming to visit it today.

I appreciate the support I get from you for doing it, and thanks for all those that leave your kind words and comments.

I've been especially touched by one thing that was said over the weekend - by Patzin - and I'd actually like to publish it here for all to see. Because for me, it sums up Rafa ... and it sums up what he's become to us as his fans, and I love it ...

"One Voice, in the darkness, can make a difference. Rafa is the one voice for me, inspiring me to be a better person."

*sniff*  Let's leave with the video clip of Rafa's victory and the wonderful scenes he shared afterwards with his family and friends. From Benito, to Papa, to Maymo, to Xisca, to Mamma, to us ... there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

VAMOS RAFA!!! WE ARE SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!