https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437853
Venice, from the Porch of Madonna Della Salute
Third Granddaughter – 12/11/20
…and, of course, her grandfather was, let’s say interesting, yes, and funny at times, and, well odd, yes…she’ll stick with that story, but this postcard was different and unusual even for him, as it had no connection to her life, still in elementary school…almost finished…but what did he say once, oh yes, with her mother he always tried to not let her schooling interfere with her education, yes, that’s what he once said. And so, she looked at the painting on the postcard. It didn’t say what city, but maybe somewhere in England as the painter was English. And Madonna Della – maybe a singer, yes…must of been good to receive a salute, though that is a little confusing because it is sort of blurry and you can’t tell which of the little blurry figures is Madonna, or even who was saluting her. Well, okay, so she at least got that much down, maybe so far, so good…maybe. She’ll ask her grandfather more when she sees him again…whenever that will be…for COVID is keeping them apart and when he sends her a text message he always says at the end, “I love you very much, I miss you very much, and I pray for you a lot”, but she wishes he didn’t have to say all those things, for she wished he would just be there visiting as usual.…but nothing is usual now…oh, why, yes, it does say Venice on the card, but where is Venice?
I love this line! – “with her mother he always tried to not let her schooling interfere with her education.”
It reminded me of these well-known words from C.S. Lewis: “Logic!” said the Professor half to himself. “Why don’t they teach logic at these schools? There are only three possibilities. Either your sister is telling lies, or she is mad, or she is
telling the truth. You know she doesn’t tell lies and it is obvious that she is not mad. For the moment then and unless any further evidence turns up, we must assume that she is telling the truth.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe