A little bit of homesickness is settling in for us. We would actually just like to have Jason here and it would all melt away. We will see him in two weeks though and Kolya and I are relishing in the anticipation... where should we bring him (& Auntie Karin!), what should we eat?, what should we do? Can we all cuddle in the bed like at home? Of course.

So, this morning started off slow and Kolya and I kept our PJs on and piled all of our pillows on Mama's bed to watch a movie. The house was quiet and a little lonely, but as it seems any time we feel that way here, village life comes to rescue us. The house is now filled with a neighborhood of children. I put out mini ice cream cones, biscuits and juice and they gathered with smiles and polished everything off.

Yesterday, we sat with our neighbors as each of them had their hair cut out on the veranda by the village stylist.

In the evenings, we sit with Yaya Stavroula and enjoy some mountain air. She always brings out a sweet treat to share... mini ice creams, watermelon, λουκούμι (loukoumi), etc. Yaya has lost both her husband and daughter. She mourns daily dressed in black. But in the evenings, neighbors gather around. It is a ritual. It puts a salve on the loneliness. When my Aunt Voula was alive, she went every evening and never wanted to go home. Our loneliness is just a fraction and temporary at that. Village life creates a community unlike any other.

XOXO,

Karen June