Listening in Silence

By Anna Chlumsky- Demetrius smiled ear to ear as he came rushing out to meet his long lost family from America. The sun shone high behind him, isolating each hair on his balding head in its rays. I heard the crackle of the warped gravel in the road, and observed the herding of sheep in the plot of land behind us. The crisp air of the Greek countryside played with his sleeves as he dashed towards us with open arms and embraced his cousin’s wife and daughters, whom he had never met before.

I was traveling with my best friend, Chrystyna, whose mother had not been back to Athens for twenty years. Chrystyna, her sister, their mother and I would spend a week in Athens, they to reconnect with their family, with their past, I to escape the hopeless, self-pitying doldrums of a recent romantic dead end. A trip to the spot where western civilization had begun was to be the perfect remedy for my blues. I would feel the souls of all the people throughout history who had lived through my problem. Furthermore, I would do this with a friend that loved me very much.

As it turned out, my week in Athens would be one of mixed emotions. In the beginning of the week, we visited the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, several historical stages, and many a taverna. At times I felt just grand. The history at the Acropolis, the joyous singing at the tavernas, my friend’s relatives’ hospitality, and of course the ouzo were all very special. There were still times, however, when the problems I was facing at home would creep into my exploration of Athens. I felt empty and unfulfilled. Not to mention my beloved Chrystyna complained about the cold showers half the time.

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