The old minaret adjacent to St Nikolaos church is a perfect reminder of the way the East met the West in the town I made my home, Chania, Crete, Greece. The photographs I post all help to tell a part of a longer story that focuses on the town and its citizens, whether they are living there now, or have made their home in other parts of the world. As a newer resident, by writing about the town in this way, I am trying to put some order into the chaos that I seem to be confronted with.
Wednesday 24 December 2008
Little old lady
While I was weeding the garden, I heard a woman talking on the street. Our street is not exactly the kind you stroll around in; it has no footpath and our house is situated on a dangerous bend. I paid no attention until I realised that the voice was that of a woman who I knew.
She's about a hundred years old, walks with her back bent, and her walking frame is never far away from her. She lives down the road from our house. Every Saturday without fail, come rain or shine, she insists on coming to the iconostasis right across the road from our house and lighting an oil-burning lamp.
Today there was one problem: she lost her way. She's a little blind - aren't all old people?
I decided to help her.
"Come, Kiria Marika, the iconostasis is to your right."
""Who are you?" she asked me while she was in the middle of the road, so that the next car to come speeding up the hill would send her (and myself) flying into the air to another world.
"I'm Maria, now walk to the right."
"Are you new here?"
"Kiria Marika, WALK to the RIGHT!" Where was this woman's daughter, I was asking myself, knowing full well that her daughter could be in the house, and still not notice her mother sneaking out to light the lamp at the iconostasis.
"Are you the cleaning lady? Which house are you cleaning today?"
"Kiria Marika, I'm MARIA from THIS HOUSE!" At this stage, I was getting ready to call for reinforcements.
"Your name's Maria? Do you live here?"
"Kiria Marika, you're now at the iconostasis!" I put her hands on the roof just under the cross. Kiria Marika started making the sign of the cross, praising the lord for getting her to the iconostasis in one piece.
"Oh, it's you, Maria, from the house across the road. I think I almost lost my way, the sun was so bright and I couldn't see where I was going."
You're telling me...
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The classic good deed but with a Greek twist. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI take off in 23 hours. Catch up with you from down under.
Best of holidays to you and family.
delightul story
ReplyDeletemerry Christmas
Poor old duck.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was at least as demented and I cioped with her alone or a number of years.
A Happy Xmas for me is when nothing unpleasant happens on the benighted day.
:) beautiful tale...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this episode out of your life with Kiria Marika. Getting to the right place must be a trial for her and a ritual at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThings are not meant to be easy in this world...
ReplyDeleteHi MKiwi! Sorry for the absence, but these last weeks were a nightmare. Just dropped by to wish you a great holiday season! Hope to be back before 2009... ;) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile Blogtrotter just left Tunisia and is starting its new adventure in India. Enjoy and have a great week!
Very funny story. The old people are adorable. Merry Christmas, Maria.
ReplyDeleteQuite a sad story really but interesting!
ReplyDelete