Mule's Ear

Santorini, Greece, April 1976. I'm trying for a better shot.

"She wanted students to see it all."

My beloved high school English teacher, Sister Angele, died last week. Some of the reflections at her wake stirred up memories. 

Although I don't share Sister Angele's love of travel, touring Greece with her was a great experience. She was a tolerant chaperone who left us on a long leash as we explored Greece and Turkey. We dodged serious trouble a couple of times. Our group also avoided some of our responsibilities. For instance, we all carried assignments overseas because we had homework. I was supposed to read Vanity Fair during that trip expressly for Sister Angele's class. I started reading the book on the plane ride home.

When we returned to school, Sister Angele pulled me aside into the hallway outside of her classroom. She warned me not to detail our "escapades" to classmates. Sister Angele's message and tone were stern, but her head posture and glint conveyed an appreciation of the mischief.

Santorini, Greece, April 1976. Sister Angele is the teacher who required us to memorize and recite the prologue to Canterbury Tales in Middle English. She taught me not to fear public speaking, and she introduced me to the study of the Middle Ages. She thereby started two threads that ran through my life.

The donkeys will give you a ride up, but you'll have to walk down.

Santorini, Greece, April 20, 1976. Tourists head down after enjoying the vistas atop the island.

Floating

Santorini, Greece, April 1976. We've reached Santorini, and we are ready to make the donkey ride to the top of the island.

Santorini Sunset

Santorini, Greece, April 1976. This view made the mule ride worthwhile.

My Mule Guide

April 20, 1976, Santorini, Greece. This is the good-natured guide who steered the animal that I rode up to the very top of the island of "St. Irene." He put my fear of heights in perspective.

This is one of the many reasons I'll never go on another cruise.

When the vessel docks, passengers must climb down a set of swaying steps to reach the rinky dink boat that will bring them to the day's port of call.

Santorini, Greece, April 19, 1976. We disembark from the Stella Solaris.