RE: A QUEST OF NOT BECOMING CORRUPT
Thank you for this honest response.
First of all, I want to say that the financial crisis in your country made me often think of Greece and how becoming a member of the EU was not doing you good. As it was only related to the currency and economical intentions I think that our governments were in principle seeking for the right message (to unite all Europeans) but did use the wrong tools. Long before the currency union, I felt that European countries drifted towards union as I can vividly remember that in my youth we traveled to Spain and Italy and Greece without having the thought that we must be united as we already were cause traveling was not a big deal even with the official borders. The fact that one had to exchange the currencies even made it more exciting and having the feeling of entering a different culture and habits and food was the main reason for visiting another country.
To live with the differences and find them valuable is still for me more of importance as to make all the countries even in their appearances and economies.
Yes, you lost a lot in that.
The example of your Easter tradition and you wanting to continue that ritual made me think... I want to say condolences to your mother and grandmother as they have lost a sister and a daughter. From the perspective of your grandmom, I can understand why she longed for making a difference in this year's Eastern approach.
To honor the death of one of her daughters the attempt to have it different and not the usual way is understandable. Even though I can hear that the contact was loose and you were not much in touch with her still I find it right to not have continued with the usual.
I hope you don't mind that I deliver my perspective on that. I also can understand your perspective though and I wonder if it would have been possible to connect both of the desires or if that indeed happened while your Easter gathering? You must be honored to keeping alive your tradition, too.
Much love to you.
Greece was not ready to join the currency. I agree, but there have also been years of abuses and mismanagement that only augmented the problem.
As for the family "matter" and Easter tradition. Thank you for your condolences, but I think I might not have explained something right. It was my grandmother's sister who passed, my mum's aunt. She was an old and sick lady and, may God rest her soul, not one of the best people I knew. And if my mum felt any close to her late aunt and wanted to mourn I would have respected that. But this thing was all a silly attempt to hide behind our finger.
I mean we honored her memory at the funeral, my mum and I were the only ones of her nieces and nephews who helped out with the coffee and snack event (Things here work a bit different, in my village the relatives prepare coffee and snacks for the people who attend the funeral. They are the ones who have to serve and then clean up the special gathering hall. My mum and I did all this by ourselves. And just to be fair, two of my mum's cousins did come to serve coffee for an hour or so, but then "disappeared" just before cleaning time). I felt like we had already done our part (and we will do it again for this woman in the next two memorial services to come, I do not object to that).
My point is, when it is obvious hypocricy I cannot keep my mouth shut :P
Love back to you too! :D
Oh, I see. Thanks for clearing that. I am all in favor to open the mouth:)