Patmos and Hearts

Patmos is a small, quiet island with a pebbly beach at the port and a few calamari chew-shacks and a few pirate-alley shopping streets. After walking up the hill above the city of Choros, one senses the true wonder of the place, the vistas, the gentle winds, the stillness. No wonder St. John felt some startling other-worldly presence here which inspired him to write Revelations in a cave up a little higher. How ironically blessed he must have felt after he was shackled and shipped out of Ephesis for preaching Christianity to the Roman trinket sellers surrounding the theater there--to come to this prison! The kids probably don't think much of Patmos but they are having fun swimming now--as I write--in the Aegean Sea. How many of you have done that?

I have descended after my hillside ascension--sorry, Biblical phrases are at the forefront of my mind after our morning tour of Ephesis in Turkey. St. Paul was also booted out, sent to Rome and beheaded there, I believe. Now I type away at an internet cafe.

Much to my chagrin, my laptop died on me. The late-night ease at which I could blog and post pictures is now gone. There'll be no more pictures, I'm afraid--until I get back and can load some more. But by that time, your kids will be back, too. In fact, Nora and I are staying a week longer to meet up with my family in Paris--Barb's sister lives there. So if you remember, check the blog one last time this summer for the last pictures. I have good ones from Italy.

Rest assured, we are having a heck of a time. The kids have created a special bond. Some old friends have reunited: middle-schooler friends 4 ever Rachel L., Stephanie, Gabby and Nora. And then we have the "I can't believe I didn't talk in high school:" Nora and Jill--they got up early to watch the sun rise over The Matterhorn, as did Reina, Alina, and Danielle. Many don't want to come home.

Most are healthy, too. Let's see: I took Gabby to the doctor today for sinus anti-biotics. The doctor said swim a little in the ocean, take some salt water up your nose, it'll cure it. See how advanced they are here? I'm joking. Actually, all the docs have been great. I took Kyle to see one in Florence and his ear infection is now cured. Mr. Hall took Rod and his bandaged hand and Kelsy and her sprained ankle to the doc in Zermat and they're healed! Earlier we had a few sniffles--I can't really remember before Paris. Back to bonding: Ari and Andrew, two early fake-loners, have been big hits now with the whole group--kids appreciate their independent spirit of adventure; Brooke and Rachel H. of late have been inseparable, for 10 seconds, Jill talked to her best friend from the PV trip, and Mitch and Alex saw close friends too, as did Stephanie. (The PV trip was just leaving the cruise ship as we were embarking.)

As far as relationships, I doubt anyone will come back with a new boyfriend or girlfriend. I did see one Nordic boy (J.E.) wink at one of the Laurens and one Stanford Cardinal bird-call signal to another Lauren. I don't think they want me to say any more. Suffice it say that Jenna and Stephen are back on track and Rod and Lauren H (third Lauren), of course, are tighter than ever. Joe Laetsch lost he's focus during the hearts tournament--losing to LV--when he got that far-away glaze thinking of Kelly back home. (He has that look a lot, Kelly.) Charlie's Angels are often thinking of EE--(nickname Charlie).

Possibly the most adventureous travelers have been Chelsea, Paige, Aimee, and Michelle. In every city they take out their notes from the meetings and charge right out there. Nicole Nakata even climbed to the top of the Campinelle next to the Duomo in Florence (461 steps according to Rachel L., and Missie who also made the climb).

Apparently, Kelsey is still celebrating her 18th birthday, but her best friend Olivia is keeping her grounded. From what I heard, they had the most fun at Florence's late-night Space Electronica disco. Curtis and Derek had the third and fourth best night out, according to insiders.

And then there's Liz: she had the most amazing comeback during the hearts tournament two nights ago on the Ferry ride to Greeze. Having to avoid the dreaded 100 score she raced up to 98 and then shot the moon dispiriting Kyle and Shannon, both of whom thought they were in.
But her glory was short lived as she and LV were upset in one semi-final by Lauren D. (who stopped LV twice from shooting the moon) and Skyler.

So who won? Coach Hall, of course. In my seven years of going, he has won 5 times. Even though LV is possibly the most poised player of all, he has never won. This year Skyler came in 2nd, Nora third, and Lauren D. 4th in a very tight race that came down to the last hand--don't they all. Congrats all.

Wryly but truly,

LV