Here, now

August and its people

As I was on board, coming to my island again at the beginning of the month, I decided write down all the things that needed to be done in August: my keyword; organization. Only a month to deal with pending works; plan ahead for projects that will wake up at fall, meet people, be a volunteer, swim, read unfinished books, sleep enough and post regularly to aegeanpan… I made big lists on my daily diary, the kind of ones that are full of things that are there only for the pleasure of checking them off; By the time I was at the page of August 31, and the sun was about to set creating an inflamed sky that made all people on the blue star deck look red, I felt certain, that I would be the master of summer organization.

But every day that passes, I feel more and more caught up in the crazy August breeze of people that are all over the island. Tourists, locals and visitors, create a big wave of excitement that seems often charged with urgency, or impatience. A busy hive trying to relax, that’s so funny and interesting in the same time… Those made me think of a local friend that told me years ago that he always goes to Athens on August, because it is quieter than the island. When I heard this for the first time, I thought he was insane, or snobbish, but after my winter experience here, I understand where this comes from. The summer face of the Aegean islands has a completely different energy than winters here.

Nevertheless, I love being here in August. I love, love, love it. I don’t mind the tourists, and I don’t mind the crowds. After a while, their talking and their colorful clothes become another summer motive, like the sound of cicadas that is super loud and always present in August, but summer wouldn’t be the same without them. The strong light here and the strong wind absorb and transform everything and everyone into a form.

So I have become one the crowd, and very few things are checked off my lists. Actually, my lists seem impossible : ) It doesn’t matter. August has a magical way of simplifying tasks. I am back to the basics.