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.

How does a shepherd ensure there are no little lost lambs?

With a donkey nanny.

A Fellow with Few Visitors

Brookfield Zoo, February 1970. I found it odd that a zoo featured donkeys.

A Sunday visit with the Donkey

Brookfield Zoo, January 1970. I stop to see the donkey on the same day I fed the geese.

"Pony Rides"

Addison, Illinois, June 1961. We're enjoying a ride around the amusement park, Adventureland, but I think those "ponies" are really mules.

Taxi

Lindos, Rhodes, Greece, April 21, 1976. There's no better way to see the island.

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.

Santorini Sunset

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

Black Hills

After our stop at the Badlands, we visited Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Black Hills.

Black Hills, South Dakota, July 1966. Why did my Parents think this was a good idea? Mules spit.
 

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Black Hills, South Dakota, July 1966. We did not get out of the car for these fellows. Ha ha.
 

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Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, July 1966. "Shrine of Democracy."

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.

Would you like to buy that donkey?

Lindos, Rhodes, Greece, April 21, 1976. It helps to offer something when you engage a photo subject.

A Strategy for Visiting the Children's Zoo

If you get to the Children's Zoo early on a Sunday morning—when everyone else still is at church—then you can have the petting area all to yourself.

Brookfield Zoo, September 1967. That's adorable; but is that a baby leopard I see behind the beehive?

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Brookfield Zoo, September 1967. I can barely contain my excitement.

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Brookfield Zoo, September 1967. It was fun, of course, always to hold the "regular" Children's Zoo animals, like the white rabbit ....

... the mellow donkey ...

... and the billy goat.