Our Story Goes On

 

This is my favorite picture. If the house were on fire and I knew my family and pets were safe and I had time to grab just one thing, this would be it. Of the three people in it, I'm the only one left.

That's me in the middle, age 5, with my mother and her mother. To be honest, we were never the most photogenic lot. In most family pictures, someone always has her eyes closed, or her mouth is caught in a funny shape, or the shine on her nose reflects off the camera, or we are having a bad hair day (usually that's me). But in this picture, to me, we are perfect--perfectly happy, and perfect-looking, with every bit of our beauty, inside and out, shining through. Each one of us looks serene, happy, and completely natural; the fact that we are all captured together this way seems miraculous to me.

The setting, too, is perfect: This photo was taken at "the cottage," the little bungalow on what seemed like acres and acres of land, but which was probably far less than that, where my grandmother's brother, Theo Christo, and his wife, Thea Thespina lived. If someone said, "We're going to The Cottage," there was no doubt as to which cottage. It was situated on a lake, out in the country, down a tree-lined lane. It was exactly what people today aspire to have when they talk about "cottage style": dormered rooms, genuine barkcloth drapes, a white enamel stove on top of which a pie was always cooling. (One exception: My great-aunt and uncle raised four children there, threw wonderful parties for Christmases and graduations, and never once did anyone think their tiny galley kitchen need to be expanded to 20' x 30', unlike today.)

My cousins and I all had fond memories of The Cottage: there was a green and red striped swing on the back porch overlooking the lake; the adults--our parents and their parents--would send us out to the porch to amuse ourselves while they played cards (mostly Knock and Pinochle) until we nearly rocked the porch with our swinging, and then they would beg us to stop before we broke something (on our bodies or the swing, I never knew). There were always cats and kittens to play with, fruit trees from which my grandmother and great-aunt made jam, flowers to collect in bouquets, and lots of time and space to explore, with one exception: we were forbidden to go down to the lake without an adult.

When I look at this picture, I remember the sunlight off the water peeking through the trees, the picnics outside with the "old" Greek aunts (who were "aunts" even if not actually blood-related and probably younger then than I am now) who wore print dresses and aprons every day if their husbands were alive and black from head to toe ever after if they weren't. I remember everyone making a fuss over me, giving me big, bosomy embraces, pinching my cheeks, teaching me to say "I love you" in Greek and Turkish, and feeding me watermelon and Greek butter cookies called koulourakia.

My  uncle Spero, a gifted photographer, took this picture. He calls it one of his "soul pictures," where the image he has captured transcends the visual to illuminate the subject's inner spirit. He and I don't always agree, but I have to say on this subject we are in complete accord. In this one picture, he has captured the soul of my childhood, and the deep connection between mother and daughter and granddaughter.

Comments

[Loretta]

Oh Cate, it truly is a "soul picture". It almost makes me cry to look at it. All those wonderful, house dress wearing aunts and nonnas - where has that generation gone and who is here to replace it?

[Samantha]

Cath,

This picture made me cry. I don't remember ever seeing it before. I am wondering why Uncle Spero was at the lake. I unfortunately have very few memories of the house, but I do remember being sick about it when they sold it. I was thinking about Yaya in that picture and realizing that she is younger than you are now. Isn't that weird? And that at 40, she had her first grandchild and that I just turned 39 and am pregnant!!! I can't imagine having a grandchild by now!! How times change. I love this post and picture (but please don't ever post a picture of me...at least between the ages of 10 and 15!! haha)

[Ellen]

I love this picture too. I miss your mom. She always reminded me of my mom, same kindness.

[Cami @ Heart-Shaped Rock Cottage]

I'm not sure if I have a picture of my Mom and her Mother. The last pictures taken of us together were in 1995 for my son's baptism. Out of 2 pictures one of us has our eyes closed... I think YOUR picture is absolutely perfect. And I wished I had one of my family. I'm the oldest living member of my family on my Mom's side @ 39. And have been since I was 33. Weirdness. I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day and know your post really, really touched me. I read every word.

[Beth]

Your picture is beautiful and I wish I had one of my mom and grandmother when I was that age. I really enjoyed your post. I could picture the happy place you described as the cottage. I wish I had a cottage by the lake! I really enjoyed every bit of your post, thanks so much
Beth

[Patrice]

Hi Cate ~ you probably don't remember me but we met at at Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club meeting in MA a few years ago. Somehow I found your blog, must have linked to it via someone else's. Hope all is well. This is such a beautiful post, a sweet tribute to your youth, and your family. . . . I really enjoyed it. Hope all is well with you!

[Rue]

Beautiful post Cate.

Happy Mother's Day!
rue

[Melis]

Cath,
It is a perfect picture, a lovely post and my heart aches as a dry my tears.
Thanks for putting into words, what many people cannot.

Hold close the ones we love,
Precious is the time we share.
Love you, Melis

[the farmers wife]

What a beautiful picture! When I saw the woman on the right I said to myself, "That looks like someone's YaYa!"

What wonderful memories you have. I bake Kourambiedes, have you had them? I also love Kataifi and dolmades. OK, now I'll have to stop because I'm getting too hungry.

- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

[Rosanne - Firefly Nights]

It's a wonderful photo and many beautiful memories. I enjoyed reading about the Cottage.

[Lori]

This also made me cry when I read it. It really touched me, because that generation is almost gone with the wind, it seems. It was a better time and place. So much simpler back then.