once again
en train de voyager
this time
ce temps
en avion
pas de ferrie
[i’m guessing at some of this french
but so far, i think i’m doing ok]
[though i keep worrying that i’m teaching kip things wrong
and the francophones on this plane
are judging me]
i am going to miss the stunningly azure-blue sky
of Greece
everywhere we went, not a cloud in the sky
seemed like some sort of paradise
[though maybe not for someone as pale-skinned as myself]
the history in Greece
feels
all around us
integrated into life
and tourist traps
and commonplace landmarks
[though i still stand in awe
at archaeological experiences,
no matter what culture is being shown]
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
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
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
love
needs no translation
[though cultural traditions sometimes do]
and the Greeks seem to all be so willing
to translate and explain
and invite us in
to drink
and dance
and party till [nearly] dawn
what a lovely
wedding
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]
how quickly we get used to
the nice things in life
a filling and gorgeous breakfast
out on a shady balcony
overlooking a small square in Athens
and lazy writing right afterwards
only two days of that, and yet i think that is what i’ll miss most
but who knows what the island of Kalymnos has in store for us
or the ferry ride to Rhodes
or Paris or Madrid or Lisbon
or even all the trains we have yet to take
but i see why kip in the past has insisted
on staying one place
and living
like a natural-born citizen
of wherever we are visiting
kip and i have spent a fair amount of christmases
and new years[es]
in foreign countries
and i
personally
have spent a few july 4ths
far away from the united states
perhaps this could become another tradition
because, damn, i wouldn’t mind
never having to look at another nationalist capitalist display
of red, white, and blue
touting patriotism as a personality
to be sold and bought
at any price
kipventures 