Yiayia's Journey Part 13
In 1951, the former peasant girl who had once only ever travelled by donkey
would make yet another journey of a lifetime. Leaving the children with Papa, she delivered her standard "mis mas kanis rezili!"
(do not bring shame to the family name) and that was that. The now more
worldly Yiayia hopped a train to New York City, then boarded a cruise liner.
Destination: Greece and the beloved mother and siblings she hadn't seen in 18
long years.
And
so after 12 days at sea, she finally set
foot on Greek soil and set eyes on those beloved faces again - faces so achingly
familiar, yet so very different now. Her mother Damiani had become an old
woman, but her beautiful smile and loving arms bespoke the same tender feeling
of home. And despite the years, she was still climbing pear trees, working the
olive orchards, and generously sharing her bounty with fellow villagers.
Pictures now adorned the walls of that same stone structure Giagia once called home.
Photos of Tasso, Anastasia, and Chrysanthy ~ the grandchildren Yiayia's mother
had never met yet greatly cherished. Damiani - my great grandmother - would kiss
and pray over those beloved photos every night before she went to sleep inside
that lonely cottage overlooking the Mediterranean.
Those lost years were perhaps even harder on Yiayia's siblings
George and Calliope. Now also parents themselves - they bore the physical signs
of those hard years under WWII Axis occupation. And so too did Yiayia's beloved
native island of Kythera. After WWII life had slowed, buildings had crumbled,
villagers had moved away, and her beloved donkey 'Keecho' had died. But
"such is the life" and so Yiayia adapted, endured, and savored every
moment of their reunion and the introduction of nephews she'd only ever known
through letters.
Meanwhile back in New Kensington, Papou received an
angry letter from his family in Kythera. Still hostile toward Yiayia after
all these years, they claimed she was having 'too good' of a time on the
island. Well indeed she was--for she would reminisce about this long awaited
reunion for years. It was certainly sweet, but would it ever be enough to
compensate for all the years lost?
And so when she tearfully boarded that return
ship for America, she despaired--when would she see her mother again? Happily a few years later, her daughters Chrysanthy and Anastasia would journey
to Greece to meet the loving grandmother they'd heard so much about. And they
too would be the recipients of her abundant love and eager hugs. But as Yiayia would painfully discover, she herself would never set eyes on or feel the
loving arms of her beloved mother again. Such is the life.
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