I am coming to you live from the business class lounge, only because I have dumb luck. My 100% Greek blood shown so boldly when I waited and waited and waited and then had a hard time finding a seat that I didn't know until CHECK IN that I purchased a business class seat! So I am happy to be in an air conditioned environment writing to you.
My thought for you is simply this: I am humbled and blessed at the outpouring of love I have felt here. And think of all the family I haven't seen yet!! It's an absolute amazing thing to be in a place so incredibly far away, and yet to have so familiar and familial. Amazing.
I have said to many of you before that my life at any point in time lies anywhere between good and great. And of course, I do what I can to keep the needle as close to "great" as possible. However, in moments like these, I realize how fortunate I am, for so many reasons, simply by my birthright to have what I have, and to have the needle point to great without any doing of my own.
More to come...
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I really do love the heat.
We made it! After a relatively easy trip and a lot of sleeping by yours truly, we arrived in Athens, greeted by my mom's dear cousin Pepi. It was 10.30 am and already 90 degrees. We were strategic in our travel outfits to be able to layer up for the trip and peel away for the arrival.
We got to Pepi's house, and were greeted by her 90+ year old mom, Thea Maria. I am hoping that we can record Thea Maria while we're here so that we can develop an oral history of both sides of my mom's family. In addition, the family that visited us earlier this summer stopped in, and Pepi had prepared a huge lunch. Sorry there's no photo (obviously, I was not prepared), but included was: fresh fish soup (sounds horrible, but it's made with plenty of rice and avgolemono and it was DEElish), xorta (greens), boiled vegetables, yuvarilakia (classic meatball dish also with avgolemono sauce), homemade bread, olives and feta, and the main course of fresh fish prepared with arugula and mayonnaise. I am telling you *I* was surprised at how much I liked everything. We ate. I napped. We headed to our place that night.
I woke up at about 6 am to spot a ferry coming in (prob from Crete or Santorini). This is the view from our veranda, and no, it doesn't grow old.
We got settled and in and by 4 pm that day (after a nap and more yuvarilakia - we had some at 3 am), we were on a ferry boat that was getting a fresh coat of paint to Aegina. The mental image of Aegina for me is a hug by my Uncle NIck (who passed a couple of years ago) and my Aunt Anthoula. Anthoula is in her late 70s and swims several times a day. She's AWESOME and so easy going. It was so great to be with her. She has 6 grandkids from her two boys, ranging in ages from months old to 26. I feel so very fortunate to be so close to her. And though we were only there a couple of days, there is great joy in knowing that we'll be back very very soon.
We also got to see, though briefly, my cousin Christoforos. He runs a bar/restaurant there, called Anassa. You should try it. Of course, we ate very well, but only got to visit with him briefly. We are going to try to coordinate a trip to the village with him later on when he is able to get away. My mom and his dad/Anthoula's brother used to do that trip all the time when my mom visited here, so it would be very special for us to do it together.
Mom, Anthoula and I spent some of the time wandering around the town of Aegina. I never tire of this, as we visit the same shopkeepers and have established a routine so far away from home. Aegina is known for its pistachios, and so we get them from a particular harvester/roaster. I will try to snap photos of him and his shop, as he is a bit of a riot. The Pistachio festival on Aegina is in September. Since I will be missing the Seattle Greek Festival, maybe I should make it there!!
I did wander around the Port of Aegina while mom and Anthoula caught up at a kafenio. I took some shots of the port, but one I would like to point out is the "ouzeri" down below on street level, and the octopus hanging on a clothes line high above on the roof. Common practice in Greece, and we had some (at my cousin's) that was prepared over the coals and absolutely delicious. Seriously, you should try Anassa. I'm just sayin'.
Some moments are captured here, and as I have finally figured out some kind of internet from home base, I hope to post photos as I go...so check out the photos of the first days here.
I leave Greece tomorrow for a week. My cousins are less than pleased with me, as I am missing 3 birthdays, an anniversary, a baptism, and God only knows what else.
More to come...
We got to Pepi's house, and were greeted by her 90+ year old mom, Thea Maria. I am hoping that we can record Thea Maria while we're here so that we can develop an oral history of both sides of my mom's family. In addition, the family that visited us earlier this summer stopped in, and Pepi had prepared a huge lunch. Sorry there's no photo (obviously, I was not prepared), but included was: fresh fish soup (sounds horrible, but it's made with plenty of rice and avgolemono and it was DEElish), xorta (greens), boiled vegetables, yuvarilakia (classic meatball dish also with avgolemono sauce), homemade bread, olives and feta, and the main course of fresh fish prepared with arugula and mayonnaise. I am telling you *I* was surprised at how much I liked everything. We ate. I napped. We headed to our place that night.
I woke up at about 6 am to spot a ferry coming in (prob from Crete or Santorini). This is the view from our veranda, and no, it doesn't grow old.
We got settled and in and by 4 pm that day (after a nap and more yuvarilakia - we had some at 3 am), we were on a ferry boat that was getting a fresh coat of paint to Aegina. The mental image of Aegina for me is a hug by my Uncle NIck (who passed a couple of years ago) and my Aunt Anthoula. Anthoula is in her late 70s and swims several times a day. She's AWESOME and so easy going. It was so great to be with her. She has 6 grandkids from her two boys, ranging in ages from months old to 26. I feel so very fortunate to be so close to her. And though we were only there a couple of days, there is great joy in knowing that we'll be back very very soon.
We also got to see, though briefly, my cousin Christoforos. He runs a bar/restaurant there, called Anassa. You should try it. Of course, we ate very well, but only got to visit with him briefly. We are going to try to coordinate a trip to the village with him later on when he is able to get away. My mom and his dad/Anthoula's brother used to do that trip all the time when my mom visited here, so it would be very special for us to do it together.
Mom, Anthoula and I spent some of the time wandering around the town of Aegina. I never tire of this, as we visit the same shopkeepers and have established a routine so far away from home. Aegina is known for its pistachios, and so we get them from a particular harvester/roaster. I will try to snap photos of him and his shop, as he is a bit of a riot. The Pistachio festival on Aegina is in September. Since I will be missing the Seattle Greek Festival, maybe I should make it there!!
I did wander around the Port of Aegina while mom and Anthoula caught up at a kafenio. I took some shots of the port, but one I would like to point out is the "ouzeri" down below on street level, and the octopus hanging on a clothes line high above on the roof. Common practice in Greece, and we had some (at my cousin's) that was prepared over the coals and absolutely delicious. Seriously, you should try Anassa. I'm just sayin'.
Some moments are captured here, and as I have finally figured out some kind of internet from home base, I hope to post photos as I go...so check out the photos of the first days here.
I leave Greece tomorrow for a week. My cousins are less than pleased with me, as I am missing 3 birthdays, an anniversary, a baptism, and God only knows what else.
More to come...
Monday, August 23, 2010
What a Weekend!!
I am coming off one amazing weekend. My close friend - and frequent travel partner - Kendra got married to a fantastic guy, Brian, on Saturday, and me and friend Kelli W. got to officiate the wedding! I find it hard to write only because of all the emotions I still feel over the day: gratitude, for having been asked to be a part of it; confidence, for knowing what a great life these two will have together; joy, for connecting with so many people I got to meet and reconnect with; a little sadness, for anticipating losing out to the hubby on some future trips with a great friend.
My mother caught this moment, when I was honored to lead them both through the ring exchange.
It was such an amazing day to be a part of and to witness. And the best part is in knowing that the party is just beginning, as we have a lifetime of celebrations ahead of us. Isn't that awesome? Isn't that such a great part of friendship?! CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN AND KENDRA!
PS: If you'd like to get a glimpse (nothing more) of the bachelorette party in Whistler, Canada, and my slow ride up to it, check out the photos here. We had GREAT FUN, though I am still miffed by the dude at the border asking me if the car was mine!
My mother caught this moment, when I was honored to lead them both through the ring exchange.
It was such an amazing day to be a part of and to witness. And the best part is in knowing that the party is just beginning, as we have a lifetime of celebrations ahead of us. Isn't that awesome? Isn't that such a great part of friendship?! CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN AND KENDRA!
PS: If you'd like to get a glimpse (nothing more) of the bachelorette party in Whistler, Canada, and my slow ride up to it, check out the photos here. We had GREAT FUN, though I am still miffed by the dude at the border asking me if the car was mine!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Eat Pray Travel
When I left my job earlier this year, a then-coworker asked me: "So are you going to do an Eat Pray Love kind of thing?" And I replied to him: "If I tried that, I wouldn't make it out of Italy."
I soon leave for the Motherland with my Mother (no, I am not sure what she calls it). And in preparing for this excursion, I find myself with an overwhelming number of emotions. Earlier this week for example, I was putting songs on my mom's iPod that included some that I hadn't heard in a very long time. You see, just short of 10 years ago, I lost a dear first cousin, Dimitri. Those of you who are either (1) Greek or (2) knew me in high school may remember him as he did spend a couple of summers with us. Dimitri was about six months older than me, putting him about a year younger than Bro, so he was able to forge a meaningful relationship with each of us. I remember my dad telling me then how excited *he* was that Dimitri was coming, because Dimitiri was a little younger than the age my dad was when he immigrated to the US, and he understood the wide-eyedness of the coming to America experience.
In time, Dimitri's dream was to immigrate here too. Back then, he and his accent were a clear hit at summer camp. He had developed a following. And he loved it. He was full of personality. And drive. He put himself through business school and was able to parlay that into a sales role with a leading Greek software company, specializing in shipping companies. His firm had occasion to make a sales call in Seattle, and given that he had family here, well, they sent him of course. I had just started a new job. Though I was driving my dad's hand-me-down, an '84 Cadillac Eldorado (dad's from the era where Cadillac used to be the actual Cadillac of the line), I was looking at buying a new Miata. And of course, while I was with D, we talked about cars. His dad, Mimi, was the car nut in the family, and his love of hotrods ended up infecting most of us. So D and I were together in the Caddy, and I asked him what he thought. He said, "Get it, and enjoy it. And buy a stick-shift."
When I ended up visiting Greece in May of 2000 after many years, I was so eager to see him. I was traveling with two friends and he came to pick us up. The material difference from the last time that i had seen him was that he had been diagnosed with cancer. It was a very aggressive kind; my family kept urging him to come to Seattle for treatment. When I saw him, he put on his best face. He picked us up in Syntagma Square and took us to one of his favorite restaurants. I forgot he was sick. And he didn't want me to remember. By year end, he did come to Seattle. But it was too late. The cancer had gotten the best of him, and on February 5th, 2001, he passed. In an act of generosity, his mother gave me the book of CDs that he brought with him. The collection he brought spanned ABBA Gold to Yiannis Parios (his favorite) to Herb Alpert. After he died, I listened to those CDs incessantly, until I just couldn't anymore. I hadn't heard the music until this week. And when I did, I wept. (Pause - as I am now.) I cry because I ache to see him again, to witness his zest for life, his passion for fun, and to talk about the latest addition to the Aston line.
While there are those who are absent, there are a great many who are present. And what I have come to learn as I have gotten older is that the richness of all of these relationships is what makes me me. I am instantly accepted when I mention who my parents are, or who my grandfather was. It's my family. It's where I come from. And it's where I need to go to. "Anticipation is the purest form of pleasure." Though I am not sure if the person who said this had ever spent time in Greece, I don't wholly disagree. The thought of seeing my cousins, aunts and uncles again delights me. It delights me to the point where I think about certain people, knowing that I will be with them soon, "να τα πουμε απο κοντα," that instantly puts a smile on my face.
So to all of you who are staying put and not headed anywhere, I urge you to pick up the phone or write a short note to someone you love. Keeping people close, no matter the distance, takes effort, and it takes less than you think. Remind them of why they matter to you. Do not wait to create joy for yourself or for someone else. You may even make someone's day in the process. My commitment to you (and to me) is to do the same.
I soon leave for the Motherland with my Mother (no, I am not sure what she calls it). And in preparing for this excursion, I find myself with an overwhelming number of emotions. Earlier this week for example, I was putting songs on my mom's iPod that included some that I hadn't heard in a very long time. You see, just short of 10 years ago, I lost a dear first cousin, Dimitri. Those of you who are either (1) Greek or (2) knew me in high school may remember him as he did spend a couple of summers with us. Dimitri was about six months older than me, putting him about a year younger than Bro, so he was able to forge a meaningful relationship with each of us. I remember my dad telling me then how excited *he* was that Dimitri was coming, because Dimitiri was a little younger than the age my dad was when he immigrated to the US, and he understood the wide-eyedness of the coming to America experience.
In time, Dimitri's dream was to immigrate here too. Back then, he and his accent were a clear hit at summer camp. He had developed a following. And he loved it. He was full of personality. And drive. He put himself through business school and was able to parlay that into a sales role with a leading Greek software company, specializing in shipping companies. His firm had occasion to make a sales call in Seattle, and given that he had family here, well, they sent him of course. I had just started a new job. Though I was driving my dad's hand-me-down, an '84 Cadillac Eldorado (dad's from the era where Cadillac used to be the actual Cadillac of the line), I was looking at buying a new Miata. And of course, while I was with D, we talked about cars. His dad, Mimi, was the car nut in the family, and his love of hotrods ended up infecting most of us. So D and I were together in the Caddy, and I asked him what he thought. He said, "Get it, and enjoy it. And buy a stick-shift."
When I ended up visiting Greece in May of 2000 after many years, I was so eager to see him. I was traveling with two friends and he came to pick us up. The material difference from the last time that i had seen him was that he had been diagnosed with cancer. It was a very aggressive kind; my family kept urging him to come to Seattle for treatment. When I saw him, he put on his best face. He picked us up in Syntagma Square and took us to one of his favorite restaurants. I forgot he was sick. And he didn't want me to remember. By year end, he did come to Seattle. But it was too late. The cancer had gotten the best of him, and on February 5th, 2001, he passed. In an act of generosity, his mother gave me the book of CDs that he brought with him. The collection he brought spanned ABBA Gold to Yiannis Parios (his favorite) to Herb Alpert. After he died, I listened to those CDs incessantly, until I just couldn't anymore. I hadn't heard the music until this week. And when I did, I wept. (Pause - as I am now.) I cry because I ache to see him again, to witness his zest for life, his passion for fun, and to talk about the latest addition to the Aston line.
While there are those who are absent, there are a great many who are present. And what I have come to learn as I have gotten older is that the richness of all of these relationships is what makes me me. I am instantly accepted when I mention who my parents are, or who my grandfather was. It's my family. It's where I come from. And it's where I need to go to. "Anticipation is the purest form of pleasure." Though I am not sure if the person who said this had ever spent time in Greece, I don't wholly disagree. The thought of seeing my cousins, aunts and uncles again delights me. It delights me to the point where I think about certain people, knowing that I will be with them soon, "να τα πουμε απο κοντα," that instantly puts a smile on my face.
So to all of you who are staying put and not headed anywhere, I urge you to pick up the phone or write a short note to someone you love. Keeping people close, no matter the distance, takes effort, and it takes less than you think. Remind them of why they matter to you. Do not wait to create joy for yourself or for someone else. You may even make someone's day in the process. My commitment to you (and to me) is to do the same.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Blue Angels
For those of you who grew up in Seattle, you'll know that Seattle's annual Seafair celebration is kind of a big deal. It starts early in the summer with things like the Seafair Pirates invading Alki, the milk carton derby on Green Lake, the Torchlight parade, the sailors in town, and of course the Blue Angels. Their arrival marks the time of year when I don't care how much NEA funding gets cut in exchange for jet fuel. And I get kind of excited to watch them, as evidenced from my wardrobe.
Though the weather was less than cooperative this year than last, the Angels did their low show, and it was as awesome and loud as ever. Check out the photos.
Also, I have FINALLY learned to add captions to photos on the gallery, so the link above and the links below from Mexico and Oregon now actually tell a story (or parts of the story that I'm willing to share). Enjoy!!
More to come!!!
Though the weather was less than cooperative this year than last, the Angels did their low show, and it was as awesome and loud as ever. Check out the photos.
Also, I have FINALLY learned to add captions to photos on the gallery, so the link above and the links below from Mexico and Oregon now actually tell a story (or parts of the story that I'm willing to share). Enjoy!!
More to come!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
