Robin Pfeifer visits from Corfu

November 5, 2008
Robin Pfeifer came in from Corfu, and met us, with her sister Susie, at Eggshell Café. For those grandchildren who remember Robin’s mother (Grandma’s best friend for years, and one of the most fun people in the world), Robin is sort of a wilder version of Anita Pfeifer. Anita died about four years ago, and since Grandma and Grandpa held the shiva at their house, the kids all probably remember being there.
Anita smoked for years, even after her first heart attack, and ultimately died of complications caused by all that smoking. It’s shocking that Robin still smokes, but she was always a rebellious and free-spirited person who did what she wanted. She dropped out of Niles East after one semester (she reminded me at lunch) and went to a city high school for a short time before calling it quits. She tried several different jobs; and even created a knitting business, making one sweater a day and selling it for lots of money. Then, she started travelling the world, earning money here and there doing this and that.
She told me that early on, she knew that she wanted to live on an island, and when, after years of travelling, she landed on Corfu, she knew that was her island. So, she found a cute guy on the beach, and within months, notified him that she was ready to be married and have a lot of children. When they finally had the wedding (before a justice of the peace in the town with just his family), she was already pregnant with her eldest son.
She is now divorced, with four kids ages 14-20, and still on the island. She told me that she knew at the wedding that she was making a mistake, because she wanted a horse drawn carriage ride that day, but her groom Costas wouldn’t treat her to it because it was too expensive. On her wedding day! Finally after four kids, she couldn’t live with someone who was so controlling, almost abusive, who wouldn’t let her have friends, or even leave the house much.
I can’t imagine anyone having much control over Robin. She built a restaurant from scratch, and left it to Costas and the kids when she left the marriage. She bought a small bar in the town, with a room to live in behind it, and enough room in summer for about 60 people. Grandma asked if she served food with the drinks and was shocked when Robin said no pretzels, or nuts or anything. But late at night, when it is just locals, she throws together pizzas (Grandma wanted more details so we know that she uses prepared crust). It is called Robin’s Nest, and when any of the kids go to Greece, I hope they look her up.
The youngest of the Pfeifer kids was at lunch also, and Grandpa spent time chatting with her. She is evangelical, and raised five children in that world. I’m not all that interested in talking to her; she was never as much fun as Howard or Robin. But I did like hearing about her children, especially that she has one who is musical like Howard. Both girls filled us in on Howard’s life; his reworking of a Broadway musical he hopes to launch, his beautiful older girls, and the 8 year old son he had with his second wife. Grandma’s cousin Frances and I fixed Howard up with this first wife, who turned out to be a spoiled, bratty girl, but who gave him three lovely daughters. I felt bad about that shiduch for a long time, but after all he got the daughters.
I remember many of those times we went to the reform congregation to which their family belonged. It was all very sing-songy and formal but with camp music. I never liked it, but now that I know all three kids grew up to marry non-Jews, I like it less. Even though I was a reform cantor for many years, my apathy towards that movement has grown, and I’m not at all sure it is worthwhile to keep people tethered to a Judaism that is so watered down and easy to depart from. I’ve told Grandpa that I wouldn’t want it to be so easy for my children to jump into another world; how can anyone miss Shabbat if they never experience it?
Grandma asked Robin if she felt safe living alone serving alcohol to tourists late at night. Robin says there is little crime on Corfu. Where would they escape to? Grandma remembered travelling to the Cayman Islands years ago, and learning about the one criminal in the jail, a guy who had murdered his wife, who was let out on holidays to be with his family since there was no place for him to run to. Grandma thought I remembered all those visits to Grand Cayman, but I replied dryly that I’d never been.
Robin told us that she is always thinking of new ideas, new projects to do. She is inspired now to do some jewelry making, like necklaces with stones inscribed with Greek sayings that she can sell in her bar. She has met men from all over the world, but she would love to have a single good relationship as soon as her youngest is out of the house (even though the kids are living with the father in the family house). She works hard from May to October during the tourist season, take a vacation in the winter, and plans to go back and open the bar to locals on the weekends. She is happy.
I think it was fun for both Grandma and Grandpa to remember Anita; so many happy times together! So much laughter and fun, cultural events and dinners; she was someone special for all of us.