Memorable Moments

Growing up. It's what happens to you when the moments add up and you find yourself walking along with baggage of maturity, experience and memorable moments. The past month or so have seen their fair share of them, some when it made sense and others when we least expected them.... all of them cherished. Here are some snipets of our lives in the routine of summer predictability:

Snipet 1: Irini was crying in her sleep. Laurence went to make sure all was well. One thing led to another and he picked her up from her cot, put her on a single bed that sits across from her cot in her bedroom and then settled himself in beside her. We slept soundly until he could hear the faint sounds of Irini's voice. The sun had come through the window and there were birds chirping in the distance. The light was evident, but his eyes still firmly shut as he tried to get the most of his sleep. Then, a soft touch of a finger moved over his closed eyelid. It pushed ever so gingerly so that the eyelid itself moved up, revealing the daylight as a face filled with smiles looking back at him. It was a morning filled with good!

Snipet 2: Laurence was in the master bathroom brushing his teeth. The room was quiet with Amalia sleeping soundly on the bed. Natalia had gone into the other room to check her email. Laurence heard the bedroom door open and the sound of soft footsteps. He continued brushing his teeth, remaining ever so mindful the Irini is sometimes a little too enthusiastic in her expressions of love for her sister. He heard her get onto the bed, and move closer, and begin to talk to her. He slowed his brushing to make sure that his ears picked up all that they could, ready for a quick entrance to the bedroom. The talking continued momentarily and the sound of slapping moved the alarm level higher... but no crying. Talking and slapping continued, but no crying. Now more curious than anything Laurence moved to the doorway and peeked around to see the bed. Irini sat next to her sister, clapping her hands so that Amalia could play with her. As she slapped her hands together Amalia smiles as broadly as she has ever and Irini giggled in delight. Heart-melting replaced heart-stopping in an instant.

Snipet 3: A thunderstorm came through town the other day. It was during the afternoon nap and Irini woke up at the sound of lightning and became very concerned and scared. Laurence and Natalia tried to get her to calm down but were unable to. For about 10 minutes Irini continued to cry and be cranky until her gaze fell on her sister who, by now, had waken up. Amalia layed there smiling - for reasons unknown - and immediately Irini's crying stopped, replaced instantly with a smile, as she says "Amalia up". Already these sisters are helping each other out!

Snipet 4-7 (or so): This has happend many times. Irini often runs around the house and gives kisses to all of us, for no particular reason. Same with her sister. On one particular evening she decided it was time to bring the family together and she insisted that her mother, then her father, then her abuela and pappou, join together for a mass of kissing and hugging that made everyone giggle and smile. Love, it seems, can make a big difference. There is lots of it in this household. This same scenario played out on Pappou's last night before leaving for Athens. Emilia was not here that time around, so we was spontaneously replaced by Polly, a friend of ours who was at our place for dinner. Polly blushed in the beginning, but by the end of family hug session it was obvious that this type of bonding really works.

Snipet 8: The morning Pappou was leaving (yesterday at about 6 am) he snuck into the master bedroom. Natalia was up and about to say her goodbyes, to give him the customary Myers pen for travelling and to fill the glass of water which, once Walter would leave, would be thrown on the floor to ensure that his was is clean for his return. Walter entered the master bedroom, and slowly edged his way to the bed. He said some words of goodbye softly to a sleeping Amalia, placed his hand softly on her body and said his goodbyes. He then continued to Irini's room, where he did the same thing. His tears were few but appropriate and as he stepped away he could see their bodies moving ever so gently to the rythm of their breathing.

Snipet 9: Irini was being "difficult" yesterday when Laurence was trying to get her to bathe, brush teeth and get to bed. The bath was done and Irini decided to play in the bathroom. Laurence tried, in vain, to control her, and finally gave up, leaving Irini naked in the bathroom and a floor full of water. He stormed out of the room and into the living room where he fell onto the sofa, taking deep breaths, trying to control his frustration. He lay there for just under a minute when the door of the bedroom opened up and Irini came out. She walked over to him and said "What you doing?". Laurence explained that he was frustrated with her behavior and he needed time to collect his thoughts. Irini's response was immediate, "pana?" (Greek for "diaper"). Laurence put his arm around her head, brought it close to his, gave Irini a kiss on the forehead, got up from the sofa and walked back into the bathroom. Lesson learned: Get over it fast and move on with living.

Snipet 10: Pappou has been working on a new dresser. Ikea purchased (meaning that it's nothing spectacular in its original version) but with the touch of Pappou magic. When Irini was born he painted one for Irini - a magic tree with a variety of citrus fruit. This time it is a more somber tree, filled in with much more vegetation, with a variety of red fruits (pomagranite, cherries and apples, with one passionfruit at it's base signifying "passionate roots". There is also a smattering of blue dots, a representation of the fireflies at Kuala Selangor which we visited recently. Irini walked in, took a look at Pappou at work, decided that it was worth while, and gave her approval to the whole process. Now she walks around pointing at the dresser and stating "Amaya".

Snipet 11: Visiting the Kuala Selangor fireflies (discussed in snipet 10, above) we were asked by the local guides and boatsmen where we were from. The spoke very little English. Laurence replied "Greece". The all took a look at each other, turned to us and said "World Cup" and, just then, there was an outburst of laughter as an exclamation of Greece's poor performance against Korea in the first game. Walter's statement "I am in the middle of nowhere with people who don't even speak English and I am humiliated!". Emilia laughed to her hearts content as we boarded the small boats. Minutes later the World Cup was forgotten as we moved slowly along a dark river surrounded on all sides by the syncronous lighting of thousands of fireflies. No laughter then. Just awestruck silence.

Snipet 12: Later that night, upon returning from the fireflies, Greece defeated Nigeria. Irini sat on Laurence's lap and, together we cheered "Hellas Ole, Hellas Ole, Hellas ole ole ole ole ole". Irini would put her fists up in the air and waver her arms with every Ole. No one was feeling humiliated then. :-)

These and many more mark our lives these days. For two days we are just four once again. Tomorrow Emilia Patricia (Natalia's sister) and Beto (Natalia's father) come into town for a month. They are flying now (are probably nearing Hong Kong as we write this) and will spend the night in Singapore before arriving here in the morning. Welcome to Asia!