July 6, 2025 [part 3]

i had a recovered memory
[though i still don’t know where it was from]
of dancing [something akin to the] traditional Greek dances
at some other point in my life

perhaps it was a production of fiddler
with well researched cultural expositions
or perhaps a bat mitzvah i attended once
or something else i can’t even remember the context of

but everything felt so familiar
when trying it for the first time

my life has been so filled with experiences outside my own day-to-day
and i so appreciate life that way

July 6, 2025 [part 2]

leaving my phone in my pocket
in order to experience all the culture coming at me

the dressing
the kissing
the shaving
the hugging
the loving
the familial bonds

and the invitation to observe
felt
so sincere and lovely

and the explanations for why
even more so

learning all the cultural traditions
as we watched
[and listened]
[and eventually joined in]

even the alcohol was more refreshing in Greece

July 6, 2025

parade down the one road in Kalymnos
car after car after car with white ribbons on the mirrors
blasting air horns and car horns alike
one stop for coffee
[or was it “coffee”?]
and arriving to see and meet even more family
and friends

the bride arriving
surprisingly on time
[surprising for cultural tradition]
and watching the ceremony all in Greek
with an Athens-native whispering to us
what and why things were happening
and even the jokes that take place in today’s ceremonies
all while standing
and waiting
with rice in hand
to shower upon those before us
tying a marital bond

and, similar to American traditions, congratulating afterwards with rice as well,
then swept off for photos
and a reception
but with traditional Greek dancing
for hours before the modern dj’s set
and no specific time for food
[the main course being served at 1am]
and partying, dancing, and talking with folks
until being dropped off at our hotel at 4:30am
to hear the roosters crowing

i’m so glad we made the trip for this

July 5, 2025 [part 2]

time
disappears
when you spend it on a beach
soaking up the rays of the sun
[through three layers of spf 50
only to burn burn burn anyway]
and swimming in the ocean
[or is it a sea?]
but somehow
there’s no need to be
running running running

we’ll get places when we get there

[and this island is small enough that it is likely
we’ll still be on time
if we leave a little late]