In 1958, a grieving Yiayia and her three children finally welcomed some much needed happy news. Daughter Anastasia would graduate magna cum laude from SJSU - the first in their family to earn a college degree. And on August 17th, yet another great dream would come to fruition - a new union.
And so that day, Yiayia grabbed her clutch, locked the door, then steered her trusted Chevy to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. And when she stepped inside, the celebrants were stunned. For gone was the traditional widow in black ~ if only for the day. And in her place stood a regal, beaming mother of the bride, resplendent in purple silk and long white gloves. It was a triumphant, poignant moment that bespoke a hard lesson profoundly learned: that one so often vanquished by life must also savor the sweetness of victory ~ fleeting though it may be.
So with a humble heart and an eye to the future, she beamed as beautiful daughter Anastasia (my aunt/Thea) married a good Greek boy from San Francisco. It was a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony reminiscent of the old country, so very like her own wedding 27 long years ago. And as she watched the bride and groom exchange rings, she deeply felt the weight of Papou's absence. But ever wise, she gratefully welcomed the renewal of life on that beautiful day.
And so in the months to come, shades of the once feisty Penelope Conomos began to reemerge. She honed close friendships both at church and in her neighborhood. She never missed a Sunday Liturgy service. And she rarely lost an opportunity to chase a good deal. For with Giagia, price tags were but merely an American 'suggestion'. So to her children's dismay, she bartered for everything like she was still in Greece. And more often than not, her undeniable mix of charm and intimidation reaped rewarding results. Yes, it seemed the one time spitfire still had some spark left in her. But just as it seemed to crackle and build ~ it would suddenly turn to ash once again.
But then one spring day that spark suddenly, decidedly flared back to life. Checking on a rental property Giagia had acquired, she and Tasso noted something frustrating. That very same slovenly tenant had neglected to water the garden yet again. So just as Yiayia grabbed the hose, the tenant opened her door. And Tasso stared in disbelief as the woman - twice Yiayia's size - began to berate his mother. "What are you doing wasting MY water, Penelope??" she screamed.
A dignified Yiayia kept her cool until she noticed a pile of cigarette butts littering the garden. And that was that. For to Giagia's way of thinking ~ to defile God's green earth was to spurn the very good Lord himself. So she aimed that hose right at that mouthy tenant and let her rip. In her trademark Greek accent she roared, "YOUR YARD IS DIRTY -- AND SO ARE YOU!!" and then blasted her with water to Tasso's utter shock.
Needless to say, after that day the sputtering, stunned, and seriously soggy tenant never tangled with the Yiayia-ster again. But more importantly, an amazed Tasso realized that indeed - despite so much grief - the ever spirited, always determined, indelibly feisty Penelope Conomos had finally, inevitably, and marvelously returned. And in Yiayia's words ~ that was that.