Summer Journal 2012, August 26

It's poli zesty here in Ierissos (around 100 F) and we didn't get a chance to swim.  Carrie will take heart in knowing that Stell threw the bedroom trashcan at the cow outside our window in the wee hours of the morning.  He was pissed with the clanging of its bell.  Paris will be glad to know that today in addition to being his father's birthday represented avrio day for Jevilikis and Foras who came up in Demetri's truck to haul away all the materials and tools they had been using to work on the Parent's Temple.  Paris is not awed with the Greek appreciation of avrio (tomorrow) for doing just about anything.

We went to meet Christos and Nicos' 90 year old mother, Katina, at 12:30 p.m. with the hopes she could recall some details of Stell's father's life.  She did remember something things, but even if she had remembered nothing it was just fabulous to meet her.  She asked my name, repeated it, and then said that she hoped I would live a long life like her.  I said I would like that if I could have her lucidity and huge smile.  Here are some photos I made with her.  The last is with her son Nicos, who works for a social work agency in Athens.  He served us tsiparo, cheese, salami, fish, and tomatoes and olives before we departed for a huge lunch at the Karavasilis.

Well, here's Katina at ninety who gave us a tour of her home:

Katina with her devoted son, Nicos

(gavros in the pan prepared by Georgios the neighbor)