Ode to Freddy

Freddy Leads us through Italy

Let me begin by assuring my family that, no, I have not reconnected with my old imaginary childhood friend whose name was Freddie (with an “I E” - as in the one from Scooby-Doo).  I must give my parents immediate peace of mind as Freddie and I used to wreak some havoc together back in the day. I’m certain the thought that he and I may be scheming again may cause my aging parents cardiac distress, and worse yet, my poor, sweet dog to tremble in fear from the grave (a long story that involves Freddie, me, my white long-haired Maltese, new furniture, and a lot of baby oil). In my defense, I was four, Freddie told me to do it, and I only wanted to make everything – including my dog – glisten…

No, this ode is to Freddy (with a “Y”) Morgan, our delightful courier.  He is French…and he totally rocks (not just because he’s French, although that earns him bonus points in my book). He does not know it yet, but we have taken a secret vote and have unanimously agreed that he must come home with us. He is, by far, the most fascinating individual any of us has ever met. 

Freddy & Rob Share a Dance

 Freddy has a Ph.D. in sociology, which he obtained in India where he wrote his dissertation on the caste system. He speaks eleven (yes 11!!) languages. He lives in Seville, Spain with his lovely wife and an adorably fat kitty (I’ve seen pictures – the cat is 20 lbs!) He paints, plays piano, and volunteers as a clown in a children’s oncology unit at the hospital where his wife is a nurse. He and his wife spend time each year in Vietnam where they started an orphanage. They take care of 30 Vietnamese children.

Not only is Freddy tremendously kind and insanely smart, but he is a riot! He amuses the students, and the four adults are encouraging him to either write a book or go on the road with his stand up comedy routine. My abdominal muscles actually hurt from laughing so hard! He kept us in stitches telling us some of the ridiculous questions people ask him while on tour. For example, the woman who asked, “Freddy, where do they put the original Eiffel Tower?” to which he jokingly responded, “In the Louvre.” Later that evening, she came storming back over to him and said, “I was at the Louvre tonight.” He thought he was going to get what for, then the woman said, “The workers there are idiots. They don’t even know where the original Eiffel Tower is!” Wow…

How the Nuns Roll the Dough...

So, I’d like to invite all of the students and chaperons to post their favorite Freddy story here as a way to say, “Thanks Freddy! You’re the best!”