Postcards from Greece - October 2021
An excerpt from Access Magazine’s October 2021 Edition
Enjoying much more than a trip abroad, our favorite expat and local artist, B’Beth Weldon, has been in Athens, Greece for several months now. With her grown daughter firmly planted in this majestic city for many years, B’Beth’s journey is proving to be more than inspirational as they both realize doing life together is the real gift.
Dear Friends,
Family has always been important to me, and having an only child made bonding (and life in general) fun and easy while she was growing up. But, when Megan chose to move abroad at 18 to study, the empty nest syndrome really set in. For years I enjoyed traveling to visit her every few months in London, New York, and finally in Athens, Greece. We enjoyed our long FaceTime sessions in spite of the time differences, and it became a happy and effortless routine.
The pandemic, as for many families, highlighted our distance in a different way. The inability to travel between the U.S. and Greece became a large reason for my choosing to move closer to my daughter and embark on the adventure of learning a new language and culture in a place I might call home.
Settling into a new routine and sharing daily experiences in person has brought us even closer. We’ve both realized there’s nothing quite like doing life together, not only as mother and daughter, but also as best friends. Whether it’s hiking, exploring new communities and islands, or even a quick coffee, these moments are priceless. With the importance of family deeply ingrained in the Greek culture, I feel we’ve been doubly blessed!
As an artist and frequent visitor, I knew there would be no shortage of inspiration in Greece. From the seascapes, landscapes, and historic areas, I constantly find myself studying the light and atmospheric colors and how they play with the perspective and composition. But sometimes you get stuck when painting. I find myself questioning if there’s a certain shadow or color that’s missing or if the painting merely needs to go to “time out” for a day or two until my eyes are fresh and ready to finish it. Having my daughter’s opinion and a trusted second pair of eyes when I’m painting has definitely been an extra bonus. It’s fun comparing the differences to what I innately knew growing up painting with my mother, as an adult, and with Megan as well.
Throughout these adventures, I have found one of my favorite expressions to be σιγα σιγα (siga-siga) meaning, “slowly, slowly.” It’s wonderful taking time to pause and not race through life as I once would, and it’s never too late to have new adventures and new beginnings, especially with someone you love!