Rhea’s Story. Part 4.

“I liked that the Plaka tavernas never closed until 6 or 7 in the morning, that things happened all the time, that the atmosphere in the streets was that of a general party. And I must say that learning another language offers you the opportunity to think in that language. At Berkeley parties, all the hippie philosophers used to sit around in various states of consciousness and discuss subjects such as “does language shape culture, or does culture shape language?” I have to say that, although language may have grown out of culture, learning the language gives you the opportunity to actually feel as the native speakers feel to a greater or lesser extent. And that is a revelation.”

Excerpted from a 2002 interview in Jareeda magazine, in which my mom free wrote responses in her beautiful cursive script to questions submitted to her in writing by Morgana/Meg Smith. I typed up Mom’s responses then, and share them again now because her story is unconventional, unique & inspirational.

Mom felt a primal connection with Greece when she first visited in 1976. The ancient city in particular felt electric, magnetic. True to her instincts - with the exploratory fire of Sagittarius (her sun) and the persistent and practical will of Capricorn (rising)- she lives still in chosen beloved city of Athens, a stone’s throw from the Acropolis.

Photo from our personal family photo album.