My Greek Family

My Greek Family--a family that I had known only through pictures, stories told to me by my father-in-law and my husband, and brief phone conversations. Each year at Christmas I would type a letter summarizing our year and mail it off with photos in hopes that they would get to know us a bit better. A family that I loved but did not really know and were so very far away. When we decided to travel to Greece this summer, that was one of the things I was really looking forward to---getting to know this family that I had heard so much about. I now find that this is one of the things I miss most about Greece---my family. Uncle Nestor----stories about him are legendary. Such a fun-loving, easy going, good humored man. He always had something up his sleeve to make us laugh. Because Uncle Nestor lived in the States for about 10 years, he was able to speak English very well which made it so easy to get to know him better. One evening after dinner, we were all relaxing and enjoying each others company. Uncle Nestor came from the kitchen with two dinner plates. One for himself and the other he handed to my son. He told Alex that he was going to preform a trick and Alex would be hypnotized. Handing Alex the plate, he told him to hold it chest level and to focus only on his eyes. He then instructed Alex to do as he did. Uncle Nestor began to rub the bottom of his dinner plate with his fingers. Alex did as he was told and rubbed the bottom of his. Uncle Nestor then took his finger and ran it along his face. Once again Alex did the same. It became very clear to all of us what Uncle Nestor was up to. All of us except Alex. This was the result of Uncle Nestor's plot.While in the kitchen he had secretly placed ashes on the bottom of Alex's plate. This is just one example of Uncle Nestor's humor. It was also Uncle Nestor who drove us safely all over Greece in the rented van helping to make our trip so amazing.

Thio Dimitri----It was at Thio Dimitri's home where we gathered everyday for our meals. I will never forget his beautiful patio where he built an amazing outdoor sink and the lovely awning that shaded us from the sun.
He also had a silly side which showed up in the funny faces he would make for all of my pictures.

It was Theo Dimetri who woke early each morning to visit the market to purchase the food for the day. He worked so hard keeping things in order to help make our vacation perfect.

Aunt Angie and Thia Anna----I don't think I have ever met two such special ladies. Aunt Angie is married to Uncle Nestor and Thia Anna is Thio Dimitri's wife. I could write forever about all the thoughtful things they did for us. I really don't think they sat for 5 minutes at a time busily caring for every one's needs. All of the delicious meals that I spoke of in the last post were made by these two ladies. When laundry needed to be done, they not only washed our cloths but ironed them to perfection. I so appreciated them and all the love they put into everything they did.

There were so many cousins to meet and get reacquainted with. The last time my husband had been to Greece was the year before we were married. That was 23 years ago. He had alot of catching up to do. As for my son and I, we had a great time meeting and getting to know each and everyone of them.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet and get to know each and every one of them. They are truly special people and are not just relatives who live so very far away----but have now become FAMILY.