On the biggest day of my work, I realized that Roubabas himself is Melissanidis

I’ve been driving you crazy these days with the experiential texts, but a pitch comes once in a century. Basically, such a stadium is built once in a century and only Melissanidis builds it. I write it down from the start because I want to, not because I have to. Him and nobody else! Now I come to what I experienced on Friday (10/30) outside and inside our palace, inside and outside the temple!

I saw my childhood friend Nikos Zani standing in front of his camera with his daughters in his arms, his grandparents and his brother Sportish and to tears. The words should not come from the emotion. If you had asked me beforehand, I would have told you my eyes were tearing.

But my joy was so great that I held the microphone and so many emotions went through that I just enjoyed it with a smile. Feelings of my own people, which I also spoke through. They said what I had in mind, drowning in sweat trying to find the words.

I’ll go in before I go out… To the stadium. I saw a celebration that had something to say to you in every moment. No exaggerations, no obsession with anything that might be tiring.

With so many symbolic clues collected but not scattered. Purposeful to remind us where we come from and who we are. And then, looking left and right, I saw what I had only seen in New Philadelphia. We were all back together.

Those of us who avoided OAKA, those of us who didn’t take our kids there because we didn’t want them to experience anything foreign, those who dared to keep them alongside AEK.

Those of us were arguing about what is or isn’t happening, about what we thought should happen but didn’t move forward. All of us who had a different opinion than everyone else. But yesterday there was only one admission: yes we are back, yes we are back. Together!

I saw Dimitris Melissanidis break on the stadium screens. As hard as he tried to hold it back, I’m sure that in that moment he, too, experienced what he had been waiting for years: to burst before the miracle of miracles. Crying because everyone finally realized that only he could do it. What have I concluded? This Rubabas, the famous Rubabas, is the same! If they turned him upside down, the field would do it.

My mind is longing but how can it not be dizzy?

Before the opening I was nervous. For the work, for what I should serve outside of it. To be honest, I was dreaming of a relaxing day before this all started. Going there with Spyros and not doing anything special, just go with him and enjoy. And if I wanted to be moved, I would do it without thinking, without caring.

But… Pantelis Vlachopoulos wanted me there, outside with a microphone. To bring the truth of the event to your screens. I confessed to him that all this would be difficult for me, but today I have to say thank you that there was not even space to talk about it.

It was the best journalistic experience of my life. And I’d probably be a fool if there was a way to get out of this. He was right: I should have been there!

I told you from the start that the text is mostly self-referential. Yesterday I felt the recognition that every person wants to experience when they know they are doing their work sincerely, honestly and with passion.

I’ve heard words about her, up close and not under the guise of social media, that have made me feel like after 26 years of work, dedication, reporting and love, selfless love of journalism, yes, I’m doing something right. I’m not saying good or average, but definitely right.

I’ve never come home more fulfilled. Living with my son what I always wanted, as I expected and sought for him. With my friends, known or unknown – but we’re all friends in there – to live happiness.

With me to feel better than ever. A perfect day, the most important day of my life, which I can only compare to the birth of my children. After all, we too were born yesterday: our start-up!