“Monday? At 12:00? My name is Sennen – SENNEN. No, S-E-N-N-E-N. No, S–E–N–E–N–E–N. Yeah. Okay, thanks. I’ll see you Monday!” And with these words, Sennen accomplished something I never was able to – getting an appointment with Kris the Barber. It took two trips to Kris over a few days until Kris felt bad enough to grant Sennen an officially booked appointment. Usually, he just says to come back later. Last time, he told Sennen to come back in two days, maybe three.
You have to understand, in his way, Kris is one of the most powerful people on Patmos. One of two barbers – the younger one – the only one in Skala – and the fill-in if the Barber of Hora should be unavailable – Kris services are essential. like many small town barbershops, Kris’ is usually packed to the gills with regulars – especially older men – who sit around and shoot the shit. It’s a small shop with a 3-seater sofa, two chairs and some standing room. Hence, Sennen didn’t even go in – he just spoke to Kris from the doorway.
I’ve “known” Kris since 2010, which I put in quotes because I think he recognizes me vaguely, but we have never really forged a solid acquaintanceship. When I first tried to get a trimming and shave at his shop, he was almost annoyed at having to take my business. In my encounters over the years, that attitude has never changed. I think he has one of the least touristy businesses and values his regulars, not inconsistent outsiders. Which is understandable. He just didn’t go through the Customer Service portion of Barber School.
That said, Kris has been softer with Sennen over the years and takes him under mild protest. Then, when he gets Sennen in his chair, Kris is actually very warm with Sennen and does a meticulous job with his hair. In fact, Kris is an altogether meticulous barber and forgoes Supercuts productivity in favor of quality. He takes pride in his work. He is also able to do it while smoking a cigarette, which while disgusting on one hand, is impressive on the other.
Either way, Sennen managed to negotiate an arrangement with Kris – which is equally impressive.
Last night, Sennen took on another project. Last year, he made fried chicken to show Yiannis, the owner of Cafe Mostra, why adding chicken and waffles would be a good thing for Mostra. Yiannis found this absurd, so Sennen shared his chicken with other friends in the community. This year, Sennen wanted to make another American classic to share and chose Mac n’ Cheese – something he has never actually made before. Nonetheless, he bought the ingredients a few days ago.
Since our friend Andreas – who operates the beach chair concession at Agriolivadi – is under the weather with an infection and struggling to get through the day at work, Sennen went ahead and made the Mac n’ Cheese last night, thinking some comfort food might help. While some of Sennen’s other recipients such as Eirini and Alessandro and Coach Thanasis did not grow up with Mac n’ Cheese – if they’ve had it at all – Andreas knows it much better, having a British mother and spent significant time in the UK. Unsurprisingly, Andreas was touched by Sennen’s gift today at lunchtime and gave Sennen a big hug.
I love these sorts of interactions. Whether it’s navigating the oddness that is Kris or bringing food to people he loves in our community, these are the growth moments and also the ties that bind. These things are acts of community and make Patmos all the more his and him all the more Patmos’.
Each kid – including Ethan – is getting independence and learning new things this summer. All three work together on taking out the garbage and recycling – which is actually a chore because the bins are far enough away from the house to be uncomfortable. But they do it willingly and together.
Ailyn has relationships with at least half the shop owners along our very long pedestrian “street”. The cosmetics and perfume shop lady especially loves Ailyn – but I suspect if I took inventory, more of them know her than I realize.
At this point, all of the kids have ordered gyros and run to the supermarket, bakery, organic store ,both gelaterias and bookshop. They not only are learning the skills of operating in these environments, but they are building relationships.
“I just saw your kids,” the lady at Stelios Gelateria reported to me when I passed – not because the kids even bought gelato, but because she saw them passing and she knows them. Manolis at the organic shop loves when they stop by.
Ties are developed and strengthened in many little steps and over many interactions. The kinds of ties we create in what for the kids are just five weeks of summer a year are amazing because they last and are built upon the next summer. These are the kinds of investments that build a life – and they are learning this at a micro-scale where it’s clear and visible.
Of course, not all interactions go well or are meaningful.
“We saw some hot girls our age and I almost ran into them with my bike!” Ethan told me when they came home last night.
I suggested the girls might like him more if he didn’t run his bike into them – though what do I know? I wasn’t successful with girls at thirteen.
What I can say is neither of the boys felt Ethan’s incident was problematic and tonight after dinner put on nicer clothes and cologne before going for their evening bike ride. Whether a nice-smelling American boy on a bike can win over the heart of a Patmian middle-school-aged girl, I have no idea. I still think it will go better if they get off the bikes and don’t threaten the girls. Although that could well be happening without me knowing.
In another small community interaction today, Sennen and I ran into Iakovos at the bakery while picking up bread for sandwich making. We told him we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s boat day trip and he confirmed we’re booked and set. I have no idea how many times we’ve been out with Iakovos over the years – but a lot. Today at the beach, the trio talked about lot about Boat Day tomorrow. The excitement is building.
“I am so happy to go because for the past two years I haven’t gone and I’ve felt so isolated and sad on Boat Day – and now I get to go which I just love!” Ailyn said. My head cocked with confusion because I recall her feeling something more akin to “Boat Day, good riddance!” She denied this and said it was just that she feared the boat because she gets motion sickness. The new pink anti-nausea wrist device she used coming here was so great, she feels completely comfortable and even excited. She has a new lease on life.
Whether it’s clinical efficacy or a placebo effect, I don’t care. Ailyn is back in the game and I’m very happy she’s reengaging with what she used to enjoy and what Sennen and I always find to be one of the most fun activities of the year.
