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It is strange for me to write you a "letter" when I know perfectly well that I would just need to grab my phone to cal you both and tell you anything I wish; but it is also true that by writing one gets to say things that in the hurry of everyday life gets forgotten... I remember it as if it were only yesterday, the first time I saw you "live"... a cold, cold December morning in 2000, two days before Christmas: it was December 23rd. Mary and I were freezing outside the Agorà Ice Rink waiting for Silvia, and you paseed quickly next to us to enter the rink. We were too intimidated to try to tell you something, to say hello... you were, after all, "the ones we watched on tv", with strong personalities and those sharp looks in your eyes going through the cameras straight to our souls... we can say this now: we were scared!
Once our "guide" introduced us into the rink, may it be the familiarity with which we were welcomed, may it be the pre-festive atmosphere we could feel in the air, but by the end of the practice we were chatting happily with everyone, and in a few hours we had already organized the first of so many trips following you... we had joined (as the Gazzetta wrote one day) the group "following the Angels' path". How many emotions after that... even more than I can list. The victory in Bratislava, feeling anxious from far while you were in Vancouver, and the immense explosion of joy of a little group of crazy fans still awake in the middle of the Italian night to follow that crucial FD... and also the bitterness of Salt Lake, and so many more moments, beautiful and sad as well. Because it is not only of big events and occasions that the memory is full of, and maybe are even more dear to the heart those which are little, everyday-like, spent joking after a practice session, or at a party, or at dinner... The smaller gestures are often those that touch the heart more, like a smile at the right moment, a small message, a memory we didn't think we shared... you gave me this and much more.
I really think that skating wouldn't mean so much to me if I hadn't met you... I wouldn't even have met lots of people who have become friends, everyday present in my life, and I wouldn't have taken so many trips and done so many crazy little things; I have no doubt that if I hadn't decided, on that cold winter morning, to come around and have a look at the rink, my life in the last five years would have been different... and the years still to come, too!!

Paola
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Hi! I am Silvia, I am 20 years old and my hobby is to write poems (I've been doing this since I was a kid!). Among these there's one that I wrote the day after you won the bronze in Salt Lake... I don't know if this might interest you, but I wished to send it to you anyway, hoping you would read it. It's title is "Bronze Tears"... I hope you'll like it... a big kiss!! Ciao! Silvia

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Dear Barbara and Maurizio,
My name is Gianni and I'm a 23 year old student of Banking Economy in Genova; I have never skated, but I've been following your competitions for some years. I "shared" the joy that you European and World successes brought, and lived with trepidation the moments of Olympic competition. I suffered in that occasion, seeing your efforts and your abilities pass unrecognized by a corrupted jury. Anyway, the reason for his mail is not only to show you all the admiration and sympathy I have for you, but also because I have seen the film "Casomai" by D'Alatri, moved by the trailer showing one of your exhibitions. The idea of the director to involve you to represent this metaphor of marriage being like skating was simply fabulous!! And it also allowed me to understand what you passed through to me with all your competitions: emotions, strenght to face difficulties, passion, fun, sharing common goals, strenght, courage, hope, love, joy, serenity and a sense of fullness that only beautiful things can convey.
Grazie,Grazie,Grazie
Gianni Panconi
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someone who always remembers you!

Dear Maurizio, who knows if you might remember me - that ltlle dark haired girl you knew, when you were still skating with Claudia and passing from high school to university, well before you "blossomed". I surely remember you well, and how could I not, now that you are a champion and the world talks about you ?! I am proud of you, even if we never met anymore (but I moved to another city too!) I hope your dream has come ue. A kiss.

Angela N.Sulis

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see you soon on the site!

Dear Paola, all those faxes and letters give you a tangible proof of how much the danc e and poetry of our "angels of the ice" reach straight to the heart. To this chain of love I have had additions of every age and with no geographic barriers. I will tell you again that I am immensely glad if this "golden battle" I started can make your site even more beautiful and universal. For any help, collaboration or "piece" you, Baby or Mauri might ever need, you can always count on me. I'll wait for news from you. Keep up the good job... Paola Pellai

----- Original Message ----- Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 9:04 PM Subject: Rif: see you son on the site!
Dear Paola and all the other friends of Baby and Mauri, you know I love you all. Thanks to you I have discovered how friendship can be big, strong, without any mess-up and betrayals. If you'll give voice on your site to that battle that we all made important and impressive, fax by fax, I will only be happy, and you'll give me a reason to smile in this period that is being so hard on me on the work front. A hug and a kiss... see you soon .... Paola Pellai
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hi barby! Im Naldo from Puerto Rico....a Caribean Island. I just want to say that i was watching a tape from the 2000 Worlds.....and i convinced myself that , that year was your best definitively. Not because of the silver medal, because the so powerful energy that i felt watching it.....and i still have it too.. I think that the latin music help too....but i dont know we're from the same family: Italian speaker and Spanish speaker...i dont know Barbara....you were there very very powerful....energetic.....if you are not retired, PLEASE I BEG YOU, use that number again when the ISU permitid on their schedules.. is very funny for me beacuse i sang the music it was very simple to understand the words, the lines....and hearing the ABC commentors too on english.......and you guys saying "Ciao Italia" ....haha it was funny ....my mother Alexandra translated me what you said and i dont know.....the latin flavor were mixed! ...hope you are ok......enjoy your life and " disfrutala al maximo" ciao un piacere!!!! Naldo

Reynaldo Montañez (not translated)