Christmas 2010

Waiting for Anna at the Athens airport.

She made it to Athens at 7 PM, Christmas Eve after 24 hours of travel in great shape. There are no photos of her first moments because the second I got my hands on her, I sobbed hysterically, not wanting to let go of my very tired daughter.

An hour later we were seated for Christmas Eve dinner at Cecilia and Andrew's house.

William and Anna were good sports, they humored me while I stalked them from across the table.

It was a massive relief to have her safe and sound with us. And to have my four children together after being apart for four months felt wonderful.

She agreed to visit for five days, the time that remained from her original trip had she made the earlier flights. I was advised by one or two nosey relatives to agree to the five days, get her in our grasp and then keep her. I wanted her to stay at least through New Years...but she wanted to get back to Tucson and celebrate with her friends.

It was frustrating for me to have so few days, but my heart told me to honor her choice. I myself feel mad love for my friends, and I love that she is rich in friendship. I am left wanting more of her.


I love these faces!

And I love these faces too. Juan and Susana are Cecilia's parents. I am a fan of theirs. They were so good to me when I lived in Mexico. I loved to hang out at their house, they were so nice to each other.

Susana and Cecilia made a beautiful multi course dinner for Christmas Eve. There was chicken, ham, crepes, sea food salad, green salad, and lots of other treats. William mentioned that he wanted a carne colorada Susana had made a day before.

In my world, the answer to a request like that would be, "Are you insane? Do you not see this mountain of food we spent days preparing? This is your dinner!!" And then I would steam for an hour or two.

But Mexican women are servicial.

"Cómo no le voy a dar el gusto?" she demanded. How could I not give him this pleasure?

It is a lovely sentiment. I learned so much about love from Susana and from my Mexican mother-in-law Silvia when I lived in Mexico. Mexican women serve their families from a place of love and it is beautiful, a spiritual gift. I am a thousand time better person after being trained up by these loving powerhouses.

In place of telling William to stuff it, she asked him if he wanted beans on the side.

I wanted to sit on top of her.

Presents!!

There is no happy like the happy you get from presents!

Cecilia, Isabella, Andrew.

The star of the evening and of the best present of the whole holiday was Isabella, two and a half month old goober.


Tesoros!



This is what the whole night actually looked like. Lunacy for Isabella.

Cecilia is bombarded with love by her new family. She is adored as she should be. Mike and I are so happy to see her cherished.

Hermosa Susana.

Santa managed to find us in Athens, thank goodness!


Christmas morn dash.



Santa decided not to bring a Wii.

Dominic's very own Ben 10 piece of crap!

Santa knows what boys like.

How about that! Santa loves Jane Austen too!

By some miracle, we managed to get ourselves gussied up and ready for Christmas services at Agia Olga, a Greek Orthodox church that Andrew's family attends, with services in Arabic. His family is Lebanese/Palistinian/Greek and the language they speak at home is Arabic.

I LOVED it. An imposing bishop, with a very fancy hat, officiated. The service was mostly sung and chanted, his voice was booming and filled the small church. Near the front and to the side of the church four or five cantors accompanied the bishop's chanting. The walls were painted with icons, including St. Anne, Jesus's meemaw. I want to go back. Attending the service with my four children was a highlight of the trip. I stopped forcing William and Anna to attend church with us when they were in high school (although I did try bribery by breakfast burrito). I want them to find their own way religiously.  And I also believe that church can happen anywhere. On Christmas day, church was in Agia Olga. I really like it that in the Orthodox church anyone who is baptised can take communion. I loved seeing babies and small children participate. We were encouraged to join in, and Mike, Michael, Dominic and I partook.

Here is an icon of a diakonos, or deaconess. I am going to hold my breath until women are accepted (again) as priests.  God bless us everyone.

Ok, now on to the party. Wowee wow wow. Andrew's parents done did up their home Christmas style!

In awe of the village.



Can you spot the two boys in this photo?



Me with Tetta Nada and Andrew.

Andrew's mother prepared a Lebanese feast for about 70 guests. It was magical. Chicken, fish, more fish, shrimp, hummus, salads, stuffed grape leaves, stuffed zuccini, tiny goat's feet, and more. and more and more. The goat's feet were served as the top layer over the stuffed grape leaves and zuccini.  It took my eyes a few seconds to register what they were...having recently affirmed my "say yes" philosophy, I decided to go for it and try a tiny goat tootsie. It was gelatinous and contained some unexpected bone nubbins which freaked me out a little. But when I paired it with the parsley and onion tabbouleh salad...I got it down. I was so proud of me.


Can you see Dominic behind Mike?

Michael and Dominic sat at the kids' table with a darling group of multi-lingual children who were conversing with each other in French, Arabic, Greek and English.

It was a gorgeous lunch and we were honored to be included.

Darling, smile for another photo???

I found myself wanting to document every second, every laugh, every tenderness. I wanted so badly to be able hold onto this time, to preserve us together.

Como queremos a Cecilia!

The End

Epilogue
We flew home to England, froze our arses off at Stonehenge, watched the fog roll in at Oxford, and then said goodbye to our William and Anna.