One Year Ago

One year ago today I cried the most hysterical tears I have ever cried. My body has never convulsed so violently before.

There have been plenty of tears since that day for many other reasons, but none like that day.

I don't know what came over me. I knew what was coming. I was the strong one. I knew the signs for which to look. My presence was sought after because I was one of the only one's with a calm demeanor.

If you know what Greek families are like, you would understand. Very emotional. Very dramatic. Lots of yelling. Lots of tears.

I grew up with grandparents, but they were somewhat distant. I never knew either of my biological grandfathers. My mom's dad died while she was in college, and the only memory of my dad's dad is him on his death bed.

From the day I was born, I had "adopted" grandparents. They were the parents of my mom's best friend. YiaYia, my grandmother. Papou, my grandfather. They were at every school play, church program, many soccer and basketball games, graduations... Papou would take me out for breakfast every Saturday morning and then to buy a Barbie at K-mart when I was little. We went to parades, to watch the planes take off at the airport, grocery shopping, to the cemetery to water etc...

My grandmother says I was "the apple of his eye". My Papou....how I miss him. It doesn't seem like a year.

I can still hear him say "Hello my κούκλα αυτή" ("doll" in Greek)

(Taken Christmas 2008)

Love and miss you, my Papou