But it does not always feels like one lives in the "cradle of civilization" ... It is not without that many times in Greece I rather feel like a couple of decades behind in time -when you see an old man load firewood on his donkey or how other hard work is done by hand.
This week the water froze on the property where we live. Pilidis had no water and that's when you realize how much water you use! First of all for drinking and cooking, then to do the dishes, and you want to wash yourselves including your clothes -you want to be able to flush the toilet every now and then... I'm telling you, it's a lot of water in one day! Water that we have collected from down town and the from the neighbors. It has not been any great trouble for me and Kenneth, we handle the most of our needs downtown in the church -both when it comes to cooking and visits to the toilet. The real hero is Marjo, wife and mother of tree teenagers. Well, water is of course easy to get when you have a car. But last Thursday it was the children's prayers that was heard, it was thick with snow on the ground and with the steep hill leading down from our house it was not thinking about getting anywhere with the car. But the kids were up and out faster than ever, ready to have fun and play in the snow. And Limenas was beautifully dressed in white beneath our feet. And while donkeys and man power brings my thoughts to olden times, it is also in some way characteristic for the good life. A life where you do not consume more than you need, where time will take its course and where each person's contribution makes a difference.
This morning the snow was gone, it has been raining all night -life returns to normal, the water pipes have defrosted and we were able to flush the toilet again.
I am grateful for what I otherwise take for granted. (sorry, I don't have any pictures of snow or happy, playing children...)
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