I have a feeling President Lincoln wasn’t actually talking about family vacations when he famously quoted the poet John Lydgate to say, ““You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” But he easily could have been.
Ah, the extended family vacay. An intergenerational lovefest. Misery loving company. Or both. As summer approaches, I’m posting a link to my reminiscences of my foolhardy, fantastic trip to Greece last summer, with a sybaritic grandpa, a white-wine swilling culture-vulture grandma, an adrenaline junkie husband, a four-year-old diva, a two-month old baby, and a broken breast pump. Click on this link to Pure Wander where the essay first appeared to join us…if you dare.
Just finished NORTH OF ITHAKA after rereading NickGage”s A PLACE FOR US. I am now addicted to Jaanie’s and your blogs.
Hi! Thanks for this note; I just came across it (I’ve been neglecting the website lately). I’m so glad you enjoyed North of Ithaka!
I’m not sure I should thank the coronavirus -if that is acceptable- but I just finished reading your North of Ithaca. Με έκανες να δακρίζω σχεδόν με κάθε άλλη σελίδα. I picked your book after reading your father’s “A place for us” where he exercised on me the same tendency. I came to the States as an eighteen-year old in 1946 and recounted similar experiences that NickGage described so wonderfully. You are of the same caliber–αμέ πού θα πέσει το μήλο;
To my great surprise the inner page of your book: 14 April 2005 To Sitsa and Kon, Με αγάπη, El N. Gage. Maybe my late wife got it from a book tour of yours?
Love you, too.
Hi! I just came across your lovely message–I thought I had programmed my site for comments to come to my email but I guess not. You made my day! And yes, I must have signed it at a Philoptochos event or some other gathering like that. I’m glad you are staying safe. May your wife’s memory be eternal and thanks for writing!