Abuela & Pappou

Given the arrival of Amalia it was decided a while back (how long back is arguable, as memories tend to disolve from one daily chore to the next) that instead of the normal 35,000 mile round trip around the world perhaps we could bring the world to us... and so it was. Emilia (aka Abuela, "Grama") arrived on May 6th flying from Bogota to Tampa, and onward through Chicago, Tokyo and Singapore. Walter (Pappou) joined us on May 29th after flying from Athens through Doha. The cross-continental flight itineraries, and hours spent in the air and airports were certainly worth it when each of them walked through the door only to be welcomed by a "hiiiiii" from a little Irini rushing to them.

Each of them adds their own element of the life in our place now. Emilia quietly finds things to do. She works "behind the scenes" and when no one in watching. She wisks up tortilla hispaniola or corn on the cob to satisfy hungers and grumbling stomachs. She works on removing down from pillows that are just too full. She removes sofa covers to have them washed. She is the busy body who seems to make life that much easier for the rest of us. Payment? Quality time with her granddaughters, of course, but mainly time holding Amalia. Happily she holds her and smiles a smile filled with the joy of grandmotherhood. Her eyes twinkle with love and she cherishes the moments that will soon end, at least for the moment, when she heads back to Colombia at the end of the week.

Walter sits and chats and "mmmmms" his way through meals. With Emilia's prodding he also heads the creation and preparation of a pastitsio, and he notes the strangeness of an American being the one through whom the Greek culinary world is passed on to the next generation. He works with Irini on her drawing and shows Emilia online sources related to opera. He writes and writes, as he has always done. If Emilia is a doer, he is the observer. He gives his spice to the family through his words and works, his wisdom and his appreciation. He helps out with pretty much everything, from shopping to ordering frames for artwork to unplugging clogged drains. He teaches everyone a bit or two about everything and, in stride with Abuela, cherishes his time with his granddaughters. Irini, in particular, loves giving him kisses!

Though they will be heading out (Emilia in a few days and Walter in a couple weeks) the time has been worth it. How wonderful to have family provide the kind of love and support that make life worth living. To be able to share the little things, the passing moments, the daily routines that make the fabric of family that much stronger. For Amalia to be able to receive their love and for Irini to be able to spend her time with them has been just what the doctor ordered!