Jeff—Saturday
After seven weeks on the road for book conferences and events, we’re back on Mykonos. The first few days were overcast and chilly, but by the end of the week it was blue skies and warming weather. All is returning to normal. Except for my car, which died suddenly as it struggled up a hill. But even that will be better soon. Or so the mechanic says…assuming the part gets here from Athens on a “timely” basis.
Barbara has a friend visiting for a few days and her reaction to the island reminds me of why I never talk about how things “used to be” to a newbie visitor. She loves it. Fascinated and enchanted. Yep, that succinctly sums it up.
I’m fascinated and enchanted too, but at something different. What has my attention these days are Mykonos local elections, pitting the current mayor against a former mayor who unexpectedly resigned in the middle of his fifth term three mayors ago. But now he’s back, having assembled much of his old team for a run at it again. The current mayor is holding his ground and barbs are flying.
The good news is that the end is in sight because elections are on Sunday, May 26th, the same day as European Parliament Elections. The smart money is on a runoff mayoral election the following Sunday, June 2—which just happens to be the anniversary of my Bar Mitzvah, a fact I’m certain is almost as interesting to the world at large as a faraway island’s local elections.
There are claims by all parties running a candidate—a third party is in the mix—that this election holds the ultimate fate of the island in the balance. Truth is, that balance tipped some time ago. What is really at stake is who does the electorate trust to handle the new order? In that debate lie the barbs. And they are sharp.
I shall not go into them here, because I wish to remain welcome on the island, but they’re in keeping with what the USA is poised to experience in its 2020 elections.
Thankfully, in a week—or two at most—life will be back to normal here on Mykonos, which in most civilized parts of the planet would clearly qualify as paranormal.
I can’t wait. I love it when things go off the rails ballistic. It inspires me to do what I do…write fiction on the edge of societal change. Make that the sharp edge.
—Jeff
PS. All images are from the Municipality of Mykonos website.
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