The circle of life...

There is a headstone in the village cemetery that I often go and look at.  The lady died on the day that I was born and was only 26.  I have often wondered who she was and through the magic of social media I have found someone who has been able to tell me about her.

So with much thanks to Chris Pavlides Messis-Pefkaros her sad story is as follows...

Eugenia Petza late first wife of Nikos Argyrou Petsas late daughter of late Christodoulos (Ttooulis) Pegiotis and his late wife Archontia (Arkontou) Ioanni Hadjifani and sister to Kyriaki Pegioti - Fengaras (mother of Ελενη Ιωσηφ Koupparis daughter in law of the presiding Muktar). Eugenia's death was one of the most sad events in Droushia at that time. She was a very nice young lady very much liked and loved by both her parents and relatives but also by all the residents of the village. She died within few months after she got married so, I remember ( I was about 10 -11 years young then) she was buried as a bride dressed in her white wedding dress and everybody turned out for her funeral. As we say in Greek on that day «ακόμα και οι πέτρες έκλαψαν = even the stones and the rocks were crying». I also remember that it was being said at the time that she died because she had a tumor in the area between her breast and her armpit which means that her death was most probably caused by breast cancer and possibly the lack at the time of proper medical facilities, the lack of proper medical knowledge and the lack of proper treatment. May she rest in peace and her memory be eternal

I told Chris that I am always drawn to her final resting place because the date connection and he replied...

You can say that if it makes you feel better. One thing for sure you have three things in common. Your date of birth and her date of death, she was and you are very much liked and loved by the Droushiotes and the village of Droushia. If you feel somehow connected with her, then place a flower pot or plant a flower bush at her grave and tend to it whenever you visit the cemetery for your dead relative. Her family will appreciate the gesture and they would not mind. My respects to you and your kind feelings.

I was so blown away by his very kind comments and I do intend to put some flowers there when it is a little less hot.

On the subject of flowers our garden never ceases to throw up surprises.  This year one of the hostas is in bloom.  In previous years I have always removed the flower spikes thinking that the plant would concentrate on them to the detriment of the leaves (for which I grow them) but I read recently that the production of flowers has no such effect so I have let them go this year and now we have a beautiful delicate white flower which I have not seen before.  The hosta at the back door produces some rather insignificant blue blooms which aren't worth photographing and apparently some hostas are grown for their flowers rather than their leaves anyway.

It has been incredibly hot again today.  I am wilting and so very grateful for the swimming pool which gives us an opportunity to cool down although the temperature is now over 30 degrees so not quite so refreshing as it has been.

The summer evenings are now filled with the unmistakable hum of cicadas.  We have obviously had some hatching around us because today I found the evidence of one which had shed its skin - it is amazing to look at.  If you turned it over you would see a massive split through which the adult cicada emerged, each bit renewed, including the eyes!!!!  Blimey nature is a fascinating and wonderful thing.

No football for John today - they play again tomorrow so we were having a nice quiet evening in - the last few Fridays have been no-cook Fridays but today I was trying to recreate the bobotie which Lilian had served on Sunday.  I found a recipe on-line and because we like a bit of spiciness in our food added chili.  It was served with yellow rice and a salad and was delicious.  We actually managed to watch a film in its entirety this evening which is not something we have done for quite some time!!!  We watched Book Smart which was ok but nothing special.