Sleeping In The Pope's Bed

I fought with myself over whether to title this post as above, or whether to call it "A Night At The Museum."

Well, two nights, actually.

I have been asked to housesit for a religious community in town. When I agreed, I thought they meant I could stay at my home and just check in on their place, picking up their mail and newspapers.

Wrong.

I had second and third thoughts when I learned I had to move in. First of all, it's not an easy thing to do to relax in a home that is not your own. I really like to relax and sleep on my weekends, which I am not sure will be possible here given my heightened state of anxiety. Plus it's really hard not to answer the phone when it keeps ringing and blaring at 50 decibals in your room, but I can't answer the phone. Think of the scandal of a young female answering the phone in the night at a house of priests. Second of all, this place is a museum of fine art and religious decor. I keep fearing I will break something. Third, it is in a neighborhood just slightly less safe than my own... read, yikes. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that they have left me a shotgun to defend the place. Fourth, I'm sleeping in the Pope's bed.

Yes, you read that right. The bed I am typing this from right now is one of the beds John Paul II stayed in while he visited this country some years ago.

Truthfully, the mattress is a bit soft for my taste.

It occurred to me I should probably post a picture of the Pope's bed, before I messed it all up by getting into it. I will do that tomorrow.

For now, I'm trying to find something on TV and trying not to jump at every creak and moan that this ancient house makes. If I'm honest, it didn't get off to the best of starts here -- I fought with their alarm system and tripped it, sounding powerful alarms. While I waited for the police to come and take me to a different place for the evening, I managed to dredge up the secret passcodes for the alarm company and preserved my freedom. I hope I have it mastered now. I don't think I shall mention that to the head of the community -- at least, not straight away, and not without a few glasses of wine in each of us.

In the meantime, I shall try to relax and enjoy this rather odd experience.