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Sanctuary of Epidaurus
Dear Bags,
I have to say your letter filled me with joy and surprise when it was delivered by our mole postman this morning. I have been living in the Sanctuary of Epidaurus for thousands of years and you are the first person to write to me in all that time.
I hope you don’t mind me calling you Bags, especially as you are Princess Bhagyalakshmi Kumari, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Kanyakumari. But I don’t have to worry about airs and graces as I am a Goddess. Well, I was a Goddess in the old days but that was before the Gods had a restructuring program and all of us lost our jobs to be replaced by only one God. Staff cuts, we were told. Streamlining! Yes, sad to say but I am an unemployed Goddess.
Yes, my name is Mnemosyne and I am, or was, the Goddess of memory and remembrance and also responsible for inventing language and words. I now reside in the Sanctuary of Epidaurus along with my good friend Asclepius. A woman and wise! Yes, my dear Bags, that I am for being wise is a prerequisite of being a Goddess. you have so many questions for me which I cannot answer all now, but I am sure we will correspond further so do not worry, I will get back to you about everything.
I have to apologise for my litter being washed up on your beach, but I am nevertheless glad it happened as we never would have been put in contact with each other. But for sure I have heard of your Kingdom of Kanyakumari and used to visit it frequently in the days I was allowed to travel. Sadly, I am stuck here in the Sanctuary of Epidaurus and am not allowed to travel anymore. But we do live with a labour of moles that look after us and run errands. They are our contact with the outside world and probably the cause of the litter.
Please do write back and keep me company in this never-ending eternity.
With warmest regards,
Mnemosyne
Unemployed Goddess of Memory
Delighted to be here too.