A salute to the Greeks!

Lately it seems that I've been consumed by free things, like book sales gone give-aways and festivals in the park. There is a strange freedom associated with costless amusements, especially as it often causes people to be less critical of the outcome. I have personally discovered that I am more open to whatever may come in situations where I have not had to fork over a lot of dough to be in a certain place. Whatever I see and do is basically a bonus to me. That said, in an effort to amuse myself and satisfy my need to be culturally exposed, I ventured to Oak Park for another Santa Barbara festival today. This time, it was a celebration of all things Greek. The more I go to festivals around here, the more I realize that they are ALL very similar. For instance, each one has a fun area for kids, unique culinary delights, music and dancing, and random craft booths. That pretty much sums it up. Oh yeah, and of course the $1.00 raffle tickets for a chance to win round-trip airfare to the country being featured at the event. In a large part, however, the predictability of the festivities is what makes them so cute. It is inspiring to be surrounded by happy people who are embracing a new culture or celebrating their heritage in a vibrant way. One of the most delightful things I witnessed yesterday, apart from the delicious Greek coffee and the stunning Oud performance, was a young Greek family teaching their children how to dance and yell OPA. At one point the father, with one arm out connecting him to the dancing group and the other holding up his child, proceeded to step and twirl with the best of them. The joy on the little boys face was breathtaking. What a beautiful thing to witness, the passing on of ones heritage and traditions to the next generation. It was very touching. Sadly, I was unable to capture it with my camera, though the image has been etched into the sweet moments part of my memory. OPA!!!