Meet the Macedonians.
"…love all the brethren throughout Macedonia…aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands…" Thessalonians 4:10-11
When I read the book of Thessalonians I wonder if my ancestors heard these words. My DNA was definitely in the neighborhood. My father was from outside the city of Thessaloniki in the Northern Greek province of Macedonia. This weekend some of my mother's side of the family had a reunion at the Macedonian Convention in Dearborn Michigan. We attended the picnic on Sunday, experiencing some of the wonderful traditions: dancing in the open air, lamb roasting on the barbecue and most importantly being together.
Aunt Olga traveled from British Columbia and cousins came from Toronto. We could not miss this visit with Olga, since she is celebrating her 85th birthday. We hugged and kissed so much and so hard that tears came to my eyes. Now I mean that it was a kind of tender reunion hug that touched my heart. But I could feel the strength and health still in her body and when I reminded her of how she always beat me in tennis when I was in my twenties she said "I could still take you!"
She looked stylish as usual with blond highlights and pointy toed designer shoes. When I admired them she said they were old. She danced with the crowd of all ages. She danced beside the table holding my hands so that I could sit. She danced the fast songs, she danced the slow songs. There are challenges with her memory. But she remembered us and while we hugged she said how much she misses us. She said she thinks of us everyday. She says one day we will all be together again. Yes, I said, we will.
We laid out the long scroll containing the family tree, filling in names and dates that were missing. We talked about the wedding anniversaries, 25 years, 40 years and what all of the young cousins are doing. There were discussions about old neighborhoods and of course, the upcoming celebration of Olga's birthday. We don't get together often because everyone leads busy lives. Olga said that too. Everyone is busy. But we share a history and a heritage and we are forever connected.
The rest of the weekend I stayed at the Hampton Inn with one special cousin who has always reminded me of Ann Margaret. She's fun, a little flirty and was always known for big hair. She is a very young at heart 65 year old grandmother.
I just love those Macedonians.
hoping you have many happy reunions
your Thessalonian friend
alexsandra
When I read the book of Thessalonians I wonder if my ancestors heard these words. My DNA was definitely in the neighborhood. My father was from outside the city of Thessaloniki in the Northern Greek province of Macedonia. This weekend some of my mother's side of the family had a reunion at the Macedonian Convention in Dearborn Michigan. We attended the picnic on Sunday, experiencing some of the wonderful traditions: dancing in the open air, lamb roasting on the barbecue and most importantly being together.
Aunt Olga traveled from British Columbia and cousins came from Toronto. We could not miss this visit with Olga, since she is celebrating her 85th birthday. We hugged and kissed so much and so hard that tears came to my eyes. Now I mean that it was a kind of tender reunion hug that touched my heart. But I could feel the strength and health still in her body and when I reminded her of how she always beat me in tennis when I was in my twenties she said "I could still take you!"
She looked stylish as usual with blond highlights and pointy toed designer shoes. When I admired them she said they were old. She danced with the crowd of all ages. She danced beside the table holding my hands so that I could sit. She danced the fast songs, she danced the slow songs. There are challenges with her memory. But she remembered us and while we hugged she said how much she misses us. She said she thinks of us everyday. She says one day we will all be together again. Yes, I said, we will.
We laid out the long scroll containing the family tree, filling in names and dates that were missing. We talked about the wedding anniversaries, 25 years, 40 years and what all of the young cousins are doing. There were discussions about old neighborhoods and of course, the upcoming celebration of Olga's birthday. We don't get together often because everyone leads busy lives. Olga said that too. Everyone is busy. But we share a history and a heritage and we are forever connected.
The rest of the weekend I stayed at the Hampton Inn with one special cousin who has always reminded me of Ann Margaret. She's fun, a little flirty and was always known for big hair. She is a very young at heart 65 year old grandmother.
I just love those Macedonians.
hoping you have many happy reunions
your Thessalonian friend
alexsandra
1 --WORDS FROM YOU:
I'm so sorry about your aunt.
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