Jeff—Saturday
Kalo Mina.
That’s how to wish someone a “good month” in Greek, and this
being the 1st of October it’s the appropriate time to offer such a greeting.
Some might think with things as difficult as they are in Greece—and believe me
they are—offering good wishes for such a limited period is a bit stingy, but such
a limited time offer strikes me as consistent with about how far ahead government
planning seems to extend over what to do next in wrestling with Greece’s Great
Depression crisis.
There is an adage in writing fiction that’s admired by we
seat of the pants writers (who distain outlines) for comparing our style of writing
to driving a car at night: You need not see the entire road to reach your destination,
just following your headlights will get you there.
That works for fiction writers just fine, but I’m not so
sure I’d recommend it to a government in the dark running so close to the edge
of a cliff. Some longer term planning,
together with a peek or so at a map—and every so often asking someone familiar
with the territory for directions—might prove a safer way to go. Though if you’re trying to write a horror
story…
Then again, who am I to question the wisdom of a foreign
nation’s leadership? After all, we have
our hands full with our own back here in the good old US of A.
Indeed, from our television networks’ ratings driven news coverage
there’s virtually nothing happening anywhere in the world as significant as our
elections. Yes, mention is made of events that arise to Hitleresque stature,
but only as a tease for returning to the next round of (non) presidential
prater.
It’s as if we expect the rest of the world to go on hold
while we conclude our three-year cycle of Presidential elections. Make that
four-year, because candidates are already positioning to run in 2020.
Question: If 20-20 vision means perfect vision, does 20-16 mean
cockeyed?
Just asking.
Personally, I think this campaign is doing a tremendous
service for the average American citizen by providing free cardiac stress tests
simply by turning on a TV. Pick a news
channel, any channel, and I can assure you that within moments you’ll find some
report or commentator testing your blood pressure.
It’s also helped me to work on my primal scream.
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!
Kalo mina.
—Jeff
Posts
You don't want to know what kind of emoji came to MY mind when you mentioned "cock-eyed". What? No, no, I've got chickens in the back yard, man. Where's your mind?
ReplyDeleteKalo mina, my friend.
Kali Mina. Thinking that laughter is crucial to surviving these times.
ReplyDeleteFOR SURE, LiL!!
DeleteKalo mina, indeed. Considering that I leave for Japan in just over three weeks...I'm just hoping the wheels stay on the bus long enough for me to enjoy the trip.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, what's written on the side of the bus!
DeleteOur US election ballots were in the mail box at our village café yesterday. I can't say we rushed home, ripped them open and voted either. They sit unopened in our living room. Hopefully this year they've added a 'none of the above' choice. As for Greece we returned to find our villages sporting new retail outlets and a feeling of vibrancy despite being storm ravaged only two weeks before. Our Kalamata airport has seen a 22% increase in air traffic this year over last and we learned yesterday that the banks are now allowing money in and out 'new money' it is called and home sales in the area are surging at levels similar to 2007. At least two new American couples have moved to our area. And without a television or access to American channels we are not getting a daily dose of our country's production of Theatre of the Absurd. It is a Kalo Mina!!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting statistics, J&J. I wonder what's behind them. Of course, you've always been trend setters and the area has long been preferred by the cognoscente, but it still has me wondering...especially as in July the refugee impacted islands suffered a falloff of between 13 and 62 percent in international air arrivals! The Cyclades, Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, and the Ionian islands did see increases ranging from 8.7 to 13.3 percent, but Kalamata nearly doubles that number. Most interesting to me is the home sales "surge," as I wonder who's buying.
DeleteAs for who's voting...let's hope everyone who can. After all, the world will be greatly impacted by this election, but we're the only ones who get to vote in it. An awesome responsibility.
Good point about the vote - as for increases in visitors, British Air added two flights weekly to Kalamata from Heathrow and the flight attendant on our flight said they had been packed and popular (it is a lovely way to get here and avoid Athens and the drive) and as for home buyers, we hear a number are from England and a few from other European countries. We have a new neighbor from Paris - who bought the home within six months of it being listed. Met a couple from Britain last night who are looking for a home here after years of visiting, they want more time here. Now that they've lifted the money controls and allow 'new' money in and out of the banks it will be much easier to purchase homes again, that's for sure! Now if they'd just ease up on the requirements for the residency permit. . .
DeleteHave you looked into whether the amount you paid on purchasing your home qualifies you for Greek residency? I believe it's 200,000 euros.
Delete