I am not Greek by birth, by blood, or by any remote relative. I am naturally blond-haired, blue-eyed and with skin the color of fresh cream. I speak with a typical nasal California accent. I squint in the sun and I spent two decades without eating meat. I am not Greek by birth. However, I cannot mute the beating of my heart, the blood that pumps through my veins, and my mind that whispers to me the sweetest words in Greek. I love this country, that is no secret.
“Why Greece?” I often ask myself. There are 195 countries in this world- many of which I will not see in my lifetime. There are plenty of places I have been that have caught my interest, yet there is nothing and no one living who has captured my heart like this country. Why?
I could say it is the natural beauty of the land, that cannot be debated, but my home in Central Coast California rivals the beauty of any place on this planet.
I could say it’s the people, and truly- they are a large part of the puzzle- but there are beautiful people populating every corner of this earth.
I could say it’s the language, the history, the narrow hilly roads, the plant life, the water, the coffee, the food, the backgammon – I could enumerate every small thing in this country that makes my heart beat, but the truth of the matter is that it’s the most intangible thing of all.
The spirit of Greece is what keeps me coming back.
The feeling in the air every minute of every day. I set foot on the street and feel the earth giving me life. I place my hand on the ancient marble column and there is an invisible umbilical cord, feeding my soul. A deep breath- ten seconds of inhaling the fragrant air and I am new. I close my eyes and see more clearly the beauty of this country- truly, my home.
I want to bottle the air, to box this feeling up and mail it to you… but I know my Greece is not for everyone, nor do I wish for it to be. It is mine- it is what makes me come alive.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
'Why Am I So In Love With Greece?' have 6 comments
April 18, 2010 @ 12:55 pm Paula Swenson
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
amen Howard, amen Brandy. . . . η ζωή είναι καλή
Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα, σ ‘αγαπώ!
~P
April 18, 2010 @ 6:01 pm Mom
Hello Miss Brandy. It was so good talking to you last night. Reading your posts, for me, is like reading a book that I really, really like. I get immersed in it and don’t want it to end. Words that can capture my spirit and allow me to breath in “newness” is one of the things that can help me to “come alive”, to see myself and the world (weather my small one or the big one out there) in a fresh way and inspire me to “enjoy”. I thank you my “hand picked” for giving me this special gift.
April 19, 2010 @ 3:44 am Nyla
Γεια λευκό κορίτσι! Πρέπει να ρωτήσω, ποια είναι με το γυμνό φωτογραφία;
April 19, 2010 @ 1:54 pm livevicuriously
hahahaha, I haven’t been called white girl in forever! however, I want you to know that I was laughing really hard the other day and said “me reia… me reia…i’m laughing!” 🙂 love & miss you.
April 19, 2010 @ 9:29 am Debi
My soul-place is Hawaii, and I know EXACTLY what you mean. You say it all very well, too! 😉
April 19, 2010 @ 3:25 pm Olga from Athens
…and Greece loves you too!! 🙂 take care, φιλια πολλα!! ;):D