Dear Anneliese,

Today I am in Crete. I have just returned from my walk, and I feel as though my pen may surely burst with the story I have to share with you. As you can expect, I have been paying close attention to the wildflowers of Europe throughout my travels, and the anemones in particular have caught my eye. The most common colours I have met here are white and pink, but today it was my pleasure to stumble across the more elusive scarlet hue.

The anemone has the most beautiful origin story in ancient Greek myth. In the Metamorphoses, Ovid describes a flower created by the love goddess Aphrodite. Her mortal lover, Adonis, was killed by a wild boar during a hunting trip. She held him as the light waned from his eyes, and she wept, and as she wept her tears mingled with Adonis’ blood, the product of which was the red anemone.

Ovid further describes the etymology of the flower as an allusion to the frailty of the petals that are easily blown away by the wind. The word in ancient Greek translates to 'daughter of the wind'.

The story made me think of how life and love, like the petals, are frail. They are things that feel so eternal, and yet are so liable to break, and are thus all the more precious. I feel so fortunate to know your friendship, which neither wind nor distance will cause to falter. I have gathered anemones of all shades and placed them in a vase in my room, and I think of you every time I glance over.

I so hope you have been well, and look forward to having your words accompany me as I continue my travels.

All my love,

Eden