It is a testimony to a great woman that I write this blog.
In May I received a call from my beloved YiaYia (Greek for Grandma) who requested a visit before she was to leave. I said to her in a joking manner, “YiaYia where do you think you’re going to go?” Quick witted as she has always been she responded “ No where, they don’t let me go anywhere! ” then she chuckled. She was referring to the nursing home where she was now residing not really being able to get around much without a wheel chair for the past year and a half as her knees had gotten bad due to arthritis and needed to be replaced. At the age of 99 she was not a candidate for having them done like the hips she had done at age 88 which was also her first time in the hospital. Chrysoula, affectionately referred to as Anthe, whom I was named after, entered the hospital to have one hip done and 6 months later the second. She never missed a beat. She had a walker to help steady her step which was equipped with a basket, cleaning rag, and any assorted goodies to help her with her daily chores. Although my dad had help to do the cleaning of the house, my YiaYia insisted on doing it herself and would often have the cleaning lady sit with her as she fed her wonderfully tasty assortments of Koularikia, Melomacarona, and Kourembethes, which are traditional Greek cookies. They became fast friends.
The Greeks are amazing people I have come to find out. They are a sturdy people with a strong sense of family and religious traditions. In my family stretching back through centuries, they have longevity as well. My YiaYia is no exception to this.
In June I made arrangements to visit with my YiaYia for a week. I arrived at the train station in Jessup, Georgia about an hour from our final destination. I was greeted by my father and step-mom who were beaming to see me. They had flown down the day before anticipating that my YiaYia was starting to decline slightly and it would be a good time for us all to be together. We went to the Magnolia Manor where she was residing, YiaYia saw me from across the room and cried out “Koukla, my Anthe, my Anthe.” It was so good to hear and see her. She had paled since I had seen her last and shrunk which was a bit disconcerting but her smile was heart warming. After a bit of lunch I wheeled her outside under the large live oak trees that canopied the courtyard. We talked, laughed and sang. I was instantly transported to my youth. How I loved her and how she had always given unconditional love. How fortunate I felt to have her in my life.
When I was small, my YiaYia use to care for me. She was always baking something or another. I was small and under foot but she never complained, she just handed me a ball of whatever concoction she was making and it became my play dough.
I made animals, people, and flowers with only the limits of my imagination. I would say that she encouraged the artist in me at a very early age. She always praised what I made and never asked me what it was,even if she was not sure which I am sure was a lot of the time. She would always say “That is the most beautiful piece I have ever seen, even better than the one you made yesterday.” Reflecting on those days, how fortunate I was to have a cheerleader like that. Every child should have someone like this in their life encouraging them in whatever it is they want to achieve.
My Grandma never made art or took any art classes. She was always too busy feeding and caring for the in her life both family and friends. She didn't even entertain the thought of doing something for herself everyone else came first. However when she turned 92, she went to live in an assisted living residence. Things changed as she signed up for art programs. She never missed a class if she could help it. She painted up a storm. (I blogged about her work last year). She became a real “Grandma Moses”. She also took ceramic classes. Always thinking about others she made gifts for all of her family and friends. She asked her teacher to get a ceramic magnolia flower mold so she could make the flowers for each of her daughter-in-laws and granddaughters, along with piggy banks for all her great grand children and her great, great grandchildren alike. She did and we all have them to cherish.
Well as you can guess by now, this blog is in memory of a talented, generous, kind loving woman who instilled in me a creative determination. Her faith and belief in me as a person and artist helped me to achieve my goals. I miss her terribly and know that she will be missed by everyone who ever knew her.
That being said there is no new work for the month of June or July, but I will be working on two memorial paintings and will send out pictures as soon as they are done. While I spent her last days with her I saw the wonderful care and love that was provided to her from the entire staff. These paintings will go to the facility that took such great care of my YiaYia and honor her memory. I will deliver and install the paintings at Magnolia Manor, St. Simon's Island, Georgia, where my YiaYia resided until her death on June 25th, last month at the age of 99 ˝ .
Thank you for letting me share my story and memories with you.
Obituary- Chrysoula Anthe Sarris Capitan
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/07/01/obituaries/nh2720655.txt
May her memory be forever eternal.
