Bucket List item ... check!

My husband often asks me what items I have on my bucket list and I consistently reply that I’m a pretty content gal but my one wish would be to spend a month or two alone  on the Greek Island of Icaria where my
paternal grandparents grew up. 
 
Knowing that Icaria is a very “laid back” place, I could picture myself
there in the port city of Agios Kyrikos just relaxing and soaking in the sounds
and sights and smells.  I visited
there once about 20 years with my father and my daughter, then again about five years ago for a family reunion.   Ikaria has gained notoriety in recent years as being one of the 5 “Blue Zones” in the world where people live the longest … a nice
bonus.


My husband who had been to the island for the family reunion said that he would “go nuts” being on that island for a whole month and could not understand my interest in traveling there again. I dismissed the idea of actually following through with the trip because of the cost and because the self-indulgent aspect felt uncomfortable. He dismissed the idea because of the cost and because he couldn’t imagine that his non-Greek speaking wife actually want to do this all by herself. 

After several subsequent “bucket list” discussions the island trip remained the only item on my list. I began thinking more and more about actually making that trip. I had cared for my father the last few months before he passed away in 2009. Dad very much wanted to travel to Icaria one last time but was too ill to make the journey.  When all of his medical bills and expenses were paid my brother and I split what money Dad had left and my portion was still sitting in the bank waiting to be spent on something meaningful … perhaps my bucket list trip.  I began researching the trip costs on the computer and speaking to folks who had been to the island recently and found that my dad’s funds could cover the cost.

I presented my findings to my husband who did not exactly share my enthusiasm for the idea.  I knew that I could not feel good about making the trip unless he was completely on board.  I did not want to be sitting on the island by myself feeling guilty … that was not my bucket list wish.  I had enjoyed my researching exercise but put to rest the idea of following
through.

A few months later my husband sat me down and told me that he thought I should make the trip.  I said no, I couldn’t be happy there knowing he would be unhappy here and that I am perfectly content with my life.  He told me that he had thought a lot about it and he did not want me to one day resent him for preventing me from fulfilling this wish. He really wanted me to go.

Two months later, I found myself sitting under an umbrella at the port in Agios Kyrikos, Ikaria looking out at the beautiful Aegean Sea and enjoying a tasty Greek meal. My eyes watering … my whole body tingling … I was actually
there.

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First meal after landing on the island ... delicious.

I wandered through the town everyday ... always finding new visual treats.

I was fortunate to have a good sized painting balcony outside my room.

"Horiatiki (Greek Salad)" colored pencil

I started several paintings while in Ikaria ... still working on some of them.   Many others are  in my head.

I painted when I felt like it ... did lots of reading and pondering the ever- changing beautiful sea. 

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"Aegean" acrylic on canvas 19" x 33"