In Paris last week, Aunt Elizabeth turned a half-century.
We had a great celebration on the Seine, which is the river running through this brilliant city:

St Joan of Arc has her own statue in Paris (and many other places in France, but I think this is the only GOLD one).

One day, we visited Aunt Elizabeth’s new studio — on a rooftop! Can you see why these tomatoes are called “Sharing Tomatoes”?

After Paris, I went with Aunt Elizabeth to Marseille. When we walked into our apartment, we saw this sign posted. Yes!

We also found a wonderful place for Lobster Rolls…

…and walking shoes!

Somehow, this short video was never posted — from Finn’s and my weeks in Greece, a couple years ago. He’s an even finer fisherman now, from what I’ve seen; in any case, the Greeks were v. impressed .

Finn fished every day, here on Rhodes… and look who joined us for a few days…!

Dear Grandkids Who Can Read,
In 1940, Benito Mussolini planned to send his troops through Albania, then into Greece, and he wrote the Greek Prime Minister to tell him.
“OHI” (sounds like “OXI”) was the answer the Greek Prime Minister sent back to Mussolini — NO!
People like Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of England said this “NO” was largely responsible for the war not spreading more than it already had.
You’ve read or know about Homer and his Iliad and Odyssey. So you’ll GET what Churchill meant when he said this: “Hence, we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.”

–

Today, in this village (Zacharo) the school kids marched and marched in honor of this “NO.” I watched from the balcony — you would have loved it!

LONDON — a year ago

I stayed awhile back with a brilliant and generous former student, Megan, whom your moms and/or dads know. I also met up with another former student — & part of his beautiful family. They came and met me, near Megan’s: again, very generous, as I’m pretty sure it meant a 30-45-minute train ride across London.
As for London — you have all been to London or will go or…I hope you want to go (start working on the ‘rents).
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was the day before I arrived. Everybody seems hopeful about their new king, Charles III. What do you (seven of you, I mean) know about Elizabeth II or Charles III, I wonder?

Dear Ceci, Finn, Gus, Kieran, Mary, Seamus, Francis, Joey, Peter, and Genevieve —

With Elizabeth on Rhodes, at Nikos’ Fish Taverna — we all love it, very grateful to whatever fishmen/women caught this meal!

Dear Francis, Mary, Kieran, Augustine, Finnian, and Cecilia —

Did you watch the Royal Wedding, or anyhow some of it, on Saturday?  I hope you saw the part I showed my students at Melissa today, but if you didn’t, WATCH THIS. Your parents can explain how the song became an anthem, a sort of symbol,  during the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. 

For now, look at these words near the end. See what a great English lesson it was for the young women! 

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea, 
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.

Two questions as they listened:

• “‘I won’t be a friend!’  But,  Teacher, why not?”  I explained, and they understood instantly:  “I won’t be afraid!”
•  The title of this blog (“What means ‘Stand by Me’?” ) was a little tougher. I really wish one of you had been there to help me out. But then one of the young women shouted and pointed to her friend sitting across the table — “I know, I know — like you, like me, like you AND me. Here at Melissa!”

The women at Melissa are amazing. Sometimes, I just sit back and watch them teach themselves.

Missing you all!
xx —
Eebie
P.S. Did you know that Auntie Elizabeth has done art with them here?
E.B.

Hi to Francis, Kieran, Finnian, and Cecilia from MARY…

Best Sunflower cupcake — from Gerardo’s

Best Star Wars laser-wielding characters – Worcester Art MuseumBest – or anyhow, BIGGEST Roman mosaic in North America – Worcester MuseumBest Swim lessons – Assumption College

Dear Francis and Mary,

(K,A,F& C, this is old news for you, so I’ll write this to the Littlest cousins)

Very early this morning, I came again to the village where Ceci, Finnian, Augustine, and Kieran live. The human Cronin’s aren’t here, but MANGO came out to greet me!

He nearly knocked me over, so we went outside. We played “Fetch”!

This afternoon, Joachim came over to take Mango on a run. I met them along the way. Mango was very tired.

They went back to the house for food and water. I kept walking. That white city is called Lausanne.

I took this video just before the rain began to SPLAT, and the thunder began to ROAR!

You probably can’t hear the cowbells, but they make a sort of CLANG. Mary, you can play that on the piano. Francis, you can make that noise with your mouth!

Xx