Our month long vacation is beginning to wind down. Many of our relatives have started to depart for the states so this has given us some time to just relax a bit more. We have confirmed our flight home and continue to take in the beauty of our island and a few more trips to Moustafa. It was these last few days that brought me to a moment of exactly why I started this blog. I had gone back to Faros (my sanctuary) while mom headed up to the village to see family there one last time. I was on the beach enjoying the peacefulness of it all when my former mother in-law spotted me. I thought to myself “this is as good a time as any to get this conversation over with.” This would be the first and last time we would ever speak since I left California with only what I could put in my car. Not once did she try reaching out before this and I certainly was not picking up the phone. She sat next to me and we spoke for a long time. No hostility. Just talking about life in general. As we wound down our talk she looked at me and said “People make mistakes.” I pondered that comment for a few seconds as I was trying to decide if she meant me or her son. I focused on my thoughts for a moment before I spoke and I replied softly “Maybe they do, but it doesn’t change who that person is at the end of the day.” I never regretted my choice to leave California because it took me three times to finally end that cycle. It was a different time back then when you tried to talk to anyone about a relationship in crisis. The general response back then was “That’s how relationships are sometimes.” I was not going to accept that. I was the talk of the Greek community for a long time, but you know what? I broke the damn mold! I loved living in SoCal, but I loved me more. This was a healing trip to Greece for me. Now one last crazy BUT TRUE story that happened this same day.
It was August 24th and I was left sitting on the beach staring at the most perfect day! My cousins worked their way down to the water and we were all swimming when we noticed a large yacht coming around the island and headed into the cove at Faros. I wish I had a camera to provide pictures but my entire family is witness to what happened next. Me not being the shy person that I am I began waving at the yacht and suddenly it started to turn toward us. Then I did the next logical thing and started to swim out to it. My family was already back on the beach watching in disbelief and I was laughing as I swam right up to the yacht. They dropped anchor and a young man dove into the water to come talk to me. His name was George and he was from Thessaloniki. The yacht is his fathers and they are cruising the Aegean. He then told me they stopped here because I waved them down. Hahahaha. I cannot make this up, I have witnesses. We spoke for a bit and I swam back to shore to announce to my cousins that the George and the captain would be joining us for some “meze” shortly. George’s parents had taken a helicopter to another destination that day. I know my cousins didn’t believe me until they saw the Zodiac being lowered into the water. Fifteen minutes later we had guests! The captains name was Aristos. We had a wonderful afternoon with our guests and as they prepared to head back to the yacht the captain said he would return at 6:30 so we could join them for “cafe” on board. Guess what? 6:30 sharp our ride arrived. What to do? Watch our last sunset at Agios Kyrikos or go aboard? I convinced my cousin Nancy to join me. The tour was magnificent. The yacht was named Timi II named after George’s mother. We sat in the salon and had cafe and cookies. George had taken videos and pictures of us all together but I never did receive anything. I would love if the power of this post could track down such wonderful people. This would be our final night in Faros as we start to work our way back to Agios for a few days to have a proper party “good bye” to our island before we jump on the Ferry for Athens and then the U.S.
This was an important day for me personally. I closed a part of my life forever and jumped into the water like the pisces that I am and swam toward new things. Things that bring me joy and happiness. I couldn’t have planned that day better. This post is perfect for this day as we are walking into a New Year. Wherever you are reading this from, this is your time to close the things that don’t bring you joy and happiness. It is time to step into a New Year being the authentic YOU that you are. Land softly into 2024. Peace. Love. Kindness.
A Voice For Women 