Yesterday afternoon I was in the center of Athens with my mother and after we finished some errands and visiting with some friends we decided to stop by a local place that she likes, to get something to eat. Just outside the entrance an older man was pacing around, hand slightly extended, muttering over and over again Πεινάω (I am hungry), a sight and sound that has become quite common in greek cities. We put a few coins in his hand, gave him a smile and went inside. About 20-30 minutes later, while we were eating, I noticed that the same man had also come inside the restaurant. He was immediately and warmly greeted with his name by the owner and his young daughter who were busy serving the remaining customers. After a few minutes they showed him to a table, and the owner brought him a small plate of food and some bread, and after the man had sat down, a rather large glass of red wine. When the folks at the table next to him had finished their meal and left the owner took several slices of unused bread (when you go to a restaurant in greece they will always bring you silverware, bread and water) and handed them over to the eager older man. Several times the owner’s daughter (who is probably in her twenties) stopped by to exchange a few words, a smile and a touch, which always produced a very large grin from the older man. When I passed his table on my way to the bathrooms we also looked at each other with a smile, and he made the classic greek hand gesture that shows satisfaction with one’s meal.
As my mother verified and I have heard from others, there are many places who have such “regulars,” people from the neighborhood who are down on their fortunes and who will be taken in by restaurants towards the end of the busy meal times and be given what is left over. In the USA folks often have to go through the dumpster to get the leftovers. That is happening more and more in Greece too, but it is also nice to see that at least some of those who have no food will be taken to a table and served with a smile, and a large glass of wine.
After reading and hearing about a lot of the news that I have been posting, seeing something like that was food for the soul. Fuck the state, the banks and the troika. My faith is still, and always, with the people and community.
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