J\u2019avais 20\u00a0ans et\u00a0153\u00a0jours lorsque j\u2019ai rencontr\u00e9 l\u2019homme qui deviendrait mon mari. Oie blanche, candide et timide, j\u2019avais re\u00e7u une \u00e9ducation classique chez les religieuses. Plut\u00f4t intellectuelle, je ne connaissais rien des plaisirs de la vie. Tout ce qui comptait pour moi \u00e9tait de me rendre \u00e0 la Sorbonne de Paris o\u00f9 j\u2019avais r\u00e9ussi \u00e0 \u00eatre admise pour devenir \u00e9crivaine, ce que je souhaitais \u00e0 tout prix. \u00c0 bien y penser, qu\u2019aurais-je donc \u00e9crit, dites-le-moi, si je n\u2019avais pas rencontr\u00e9 cet \u00e9nergum\u00e8ne d\u2019homme qui a bousill\u00e9 treize ann\u00e9es de ma vie de jeune femme?<\/p>\n
Je l\u2019avoue, sa beaut\u00e9 remarquable m\u2019avait s\u00e9duite. Moi qui avais \u00e9tudi\u00e9 l\u2019ancienne civilisation grecque, des statues d\u2019Adonis j\u2019en avais vu des centaines. Mais l\u2019homme qui m\u2019avait attir\u00e9e sur la piste de danse \u00e9tait bien vivant. M\u00eame si ma copine \u00e9tait plus de son go\u00fbt, une fois r\u00e9sign\u00e9 \u00e0 moi, il me regardait droit dans les yeux et mon c\u0153ur fondait comme neige au soleil. Je n\u2019avais jamais dans\u00e9 de ma vie et, pourtant, j\u2019ai laiss\u00e9 son bras prendre ma taille et tout doucement me tirer vers lui.<\/p>\n
J\u2019aurais d\u00fb m\u2019en douter. Dans l\u2019histoire ancienne que j\u2019ai \u00e9tudi\u00e9e, Adonis courtisait \u00e0 la fois Aphrodite et Pers\u00e9phone. Imaginez-vous donc que le grand Zeus, roi des dieux, d\u00fbt trancher la rivalit\u00e9\u00a0: Adonis passerait quatre mois de l\u2019ann\u00e9e avec chacune et quatre mois avec la personne de son choix. Voil\u00e0, \u00e0 peu de choses pr\u00e8s, ce que l\u2019homme faisait en me cachant ses multiples d\u00e9esses.<\/p>\n
Alors que j\u2019\u00e9tais enceinte d\u2019un troisi\u00e8me enfant, le mari m\u2019avait forc\u00e9e \u00e0 tout abandonner \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al pour aller vivre en Gr\u00e8ce o\u00f9 il croyait qu\u2019il trouverait facilement un emploi et que l\u2019argent coulerait \u00e0 flots. Ne savait-il pas que tous les hommes de son \u00e2ge avaient quitt\u00e9 leur village natal pour immigrer vers des pays plus prometteurs? Nous venions de passer pr\u00e8s de dix\u00a0mois \u00e0 Krya Vrysi et nous ne poss\u00e9dions rien de plus qu\u2019\u00e0 notre arriv\u00e9e, sauf une nouvelle bouche \u00e0 nourrir. La belle-m\u00e8re avait finalement convaincu son fils de retourner aupr\u00e8s de ses deux fr\u00e8res \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al en promettant qu\u2019elle et sa fille viendraient nous rejoindre pour que je puisse travailler pendant qu\u2019elles s\u2019occuperaient des enfants.<\/p>\n
Dans ma caboche, le d\u00e9sordre d\u2019\u00e9motions s\u2019amenuisait. Mon petit c\u0153ur pouvait enfin anticiper le meilleur. Lorsqu\u2019enfin arriva l\u2019argent des fr\u00e8res du mari, l\u2019homme s\u2019empressa de courir \u00e0 Thessalonique pour r\u00e9server nos billets d\u2019avion. Ma belle-s\u0153ur pleurait, sa m\u00e8re bougonnait, et moi j\u2019\u00e9tais folle comme un balai. Les deux plus vieux comprenaient que nous retournerions dans le pays de \u00ab\u00a0papou\u00a0\u00bb (le grand-papa qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois) et ils sautaient de joie.<\/p>\n
En allant chercher un pain, j\u2019ai revu l\u2019ami Thanassis qui rempla\u00e7ait son p\u00e8re au comptoir de la boulangerie. J\u2019\u00e9tais hyper contente de le voir.
\n\u2014\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Quand partez-vous?\u00a0\u00bb
\n\u2014\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Je ne connais pas encore la date exacte, mais le mari m\u2019a promis que ce serait dans moins de dix\u00a0jours.\u00a0\u00bb
\n\u2014\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0Ton mari, avan\u00e7a Thanassis, prendra assur\u00e9ment son temps pour barguigner le prix des billets. Tout le monde le fait avec Olympic Airlines. D\u2019ailleurs, pour un homme aussi pr\u00e9tentieux et exceptionnel que lui, \u00e7a devrait certainement marcher!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
Quant \u00e0 moi, j\u2019\u00e9tais contente et heureuse. Mon c\u0153ur battait la chamade tellement j\u2019avais h\u00e2te de retourner au Canada. J\u2019allais retrouver l\u2019eau courante \u00e0 la maison, le chauffage \u00e9lectrique, le t\u00e9l\u00e9phone, une machine \u00e0 laver et, bien s\u00fbr, un t\u00e9l\u00e9viseur. Tout ceci compenserait amplement le fait de ne pas nous \u00eatre baign\u00e9s dans la mer \u00c9g\u00e9e. L\u2019hiver canadien avale toute la v\u00e9g\u00e9tation, mais la neige \u00e9paisse nous permet de nous promener en tra\u00eeneau.<\/p>\n
Dans les villages grecs, en 1972, la plupart des maisons avaient des toits plats o\u00f9 l\u2019on installait une ou deux cordes \u00e0 linge d\u00e9pendant du nombre de r\u00e9sidents. La derni\u00e8re lessive avant notre d\u00e9part s\u2019av\u00e9ra pour moi tr\u00e8s difficile. Le vent de novembre me mordait les doigts alors que j\u2019\u00e9tendais le linge mouill\u00e9, lav\u00e9 et essor\u00e9 \u00e0 la main. Raison de plus de vouloir partir le plus vite possible au lieu de m\u2019user la peau jusqu\u2019aux os! J\u2019\u00e9tais soulag\u00e9e de rentrer au pays.<\/p>\n
De retour au Canada, nous allions aussi retrouver le cr\u00e9mage sur les g\u00e2teaux, le pouding ch\u00f4meur, les hot dogs \u00ab\u00a0steam\u00e9s\u00a0\u00bb, la moutarde, le ketchup, les frites et les patates pil\u00e9es, le p\u00e2t\u00e9 chinois, les guimauves, le bl\u00e9 d\u2019Inde en conserve, la mayonnaise, le beurre de \u00ab\u00a0peanut\u00a0\u00bb, le caramel, le pain tranch\u00e9 pour faire de bons toasts, les grosses citrouilles d\u00e9cor\u00e9es et les bonbons d\u2019Halloween. Si nous nous pressions, peut-\u00eatre verrions-nous dans les parterres et sur les devantures de maisons des sapins de No\u00ebl remplis de boules multicolores.<\/p>\n
En arrivant \u00e0 Thessalonique, il n\u2019\u00e9tait plus question de prendre l\u2019avion. Nous nous rendrions plut\u00f4t \u00e0 Ath\u00e8nes en autobus et j\u2019ai tout de suite eu peur. Je repensais \u00e0 notre vieux chauffeur fou qui avait embouti un camion d\u2019oranges. Heureusement, nous nous en \u00e9tions sortis avec une bonne frousse, mais rien de plus. Cette fois, un jeune chauffeur s\u2019assit au volant et je me suis calm\u00e9e. J\u2019avais les deux plus vieux coll\u00e9s chaque c\u00f4t\u00e9 de mon corps et le tout petit endormi dans mon cou. J\u2019ai commenc\u00e9 \u00e0 leur fredonner \u00ab\u00a0\u00c0 la claire fontaine\u00a0\u00bb, mais le mari m\u2019en a vite emp\u00each\u00e9e. Oui, oui! Je devais toujours parler aux petits en grec, m\u00eame en chantant!<\/p>\n
Les brigadiers de l\u2019a\u00e9roport d\u2019Ath\u00e8nes ont bien voulu nous offrir une plat\u00e9e de phrases rassurantes, mais dehors, un vent \u00e0 \u00e9corner les b\u0153ufs faisait peur aux voyageurs. Le mari avait assis les deux plus vieux dans un grand chariot de magasinage avec nos deux valises. Le tout-petit dans mes bras n\u2019arr\u00eatait pas de pleurnicher. Dans la salle d\u2019attente, tous les passagers semblaient inquiets. J\u2019entendais les conversations et mon angoisse bondissait chaque fois d\u2019un cran. Un certain vent tr\u00e8s puissant nomm\u00e9 \u00ab\u00a0Bora\u00a0\u00bb terrorisait r\u00e9guli\u00e8rement la mer \u00c9g\u00e9e et emp\u00eachait les avions de d\u00e9coller.<\/p>\n
Nous avions soif. Nous avions faim. Nous avions peur. Arriverions-nous \u00e0 bon port? Le mari fumait une cigarette apr\u00e8s l\u2019autre et je r\u00e9citais des \u00ab\u00a0Je vous salue Marie\u00a0\u00bb. Il nous fallut attendre au lendemain pour finalement partir. Tous les passagers \u00e0 destination de Montr\u00e9al, sauf probablement ceux voyageant en premi\u00e8re classe, ont dormi sur des petits matelas de secours ou sur les bancs de la salle d\u2019attente. Nous allions finalement quitter la Gr\u00e8ce. Le r\u00eave du mari de travailler peu et de devenir riche ne se concr\u00e9tiserait jamais.<\/p>\n
Le lendemain matin, nous sommes embarqu\u00e9s dans l\u2019oiseau g\u00e9ant et je me suis empress\u00e9e de remercier le grand manitou. Puis, j\u2019ai invoqu\u00e9 sa cl\u00e9mence pour qu\u2019il m\u2019aide \u00e0 m\u2019\u00e9loigner de l\u2019\u00e9poux. Il m\u2019\u00e9tait impossible de me d\u00e9velopper dans une atmosph\u00e8re hostile o\u00f9 je n\u2019\u00e9tais ni reconnue ni appr\u00e9ci\u00e9e. J\u2019aspirais \u00e0 vivre dans un monde plus noble, plus vertueux et plus g\u00e9n\u00e9reux. Un monde o\u00f9 r\u00e8gne la bont\u00e9, la gentillesse, l\u2019amour, le courage et la compassion. Je me savais honn\u00eate et vaillante et capable de me trouver un emploi pour nourrir mes petits.<\/p>\n
Comme vous le savez sans doute, j\u2019en avais encore pour quelques ann\u00e9es \u00e0 subir les affres du mari. Pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain jour de novembre 1980. J\u2019\u00e9tais mari\u00e9e depuis 13\u00a0longues ann\u00e9es et, ce matin-l\u00e0, mes enfants et moi avons pris notre courage \u00e0 huit mains et nous nous sommes enfuis du logis pour toujours. Je venais enfin d\u2019\u00e9merger de mon cauchemar.<\/p>\n
Que reste-t-il \u00e0 dire de ce fameux voyage en Gr\u00e8ce? L\u2019Office national hell\u00e9nique du tourisme vous dirait que \u00ab\u00a0tous les touristes du monde qui visitent ce magnifique pays en reviennent \u00e9blouis\u00a0\u00bb.<\/p>\n
Essayez pour voir!<\/p>\n
Cora
\n\u2764\ufe0f<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
J\u2019avais 20\u00a0ans et\u00a0153\u00a0jours lorsque j\u2019ai rencontr\u00e9 l\u2019homme qui deviendrait mon mari. Oie […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":414,"featured_media":52671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lettre-mme-cora"],"acf":{"img_en":"","contenu_en":"I was 20 and 153\u00a0days old the day I met the man who\u2019d become my husband. I was a simple, shy and naive young girl who\u2019d studied in an all-girls Catholic school. I was bookish and knew nothing about the pleasures of life. All I dreamed about was attending the Sorbonne in Paris, where I\u2019d been accepted in the writing program. I wanted nothing more than to become an author. Now that I think of it, what in the world would I have written about if I\u2019d never met this odious man who ruined 13 years of my life as a young woman?\r\n\r\nIt\u2019s true, his beauty swept me away. I had studied Ancient Greek civilization and had seen hundreds of statues of Adonis, but the man who pulled me onto the dancefloor was living. He was initially attracted to my friend, but once he settled on me, he looked me straight in the eye; my heart melted like snow in the warm sun. I\u2019d never danced before in my life, and yet I let his arm encircle my waist and pull me towards him.\r\n\r\nI should\u2019ve known better. In the Ancient Greek civilization I studied, Adonis courted Aphrodite and Persephone at the same time. Zeus, King of the Gods, had to intervene and sort out the rivalry. In the end, Adonis was to spend four months a year with each of them and four months with another person of his choice. A similar story to Husband\u2019s, who kept his multiple goddesses a secret.\r\n\r\nWhile I was pregnant with my third child, Husband forced me to abandon everything in Montreal to move to Greece, where he thought he\u2019d easily find work. The money was going to come in faster than we could count. Didn\u2019t he know that all the men his age had left their village for more promising countries? We\u2019d just spent nearly 10 months in Krya Vrysi and had nothing more than when we first arrived, except for an extra mouth to feed. My mother-in-law had finally convinced her son to return to his two brothers in Montreal, where she promised she and her daughter would join us so I could work while they minded the kids.\r\n\r\nMy emotions were becoming clearer for me. My heart could finally imagine better. When Husband ultimately received the money transfer from his brothers, he hurried to Thessaloniki to book our plane tickets. My sister-in-law was crying, her mother was grumbling, and I couldn\u2019t have been happier. The two oldest kids understood that we were going back to \u201cPapy\u2019s\u201d (their Canadian grandfather). They were jumping for joy.\r\n\r\nI went to get bread and saw my friend Thanassis, who was replacing his father at the local bakery. I was thrilled to see him.\r\n\u2014 \u201cWhen are you leaving?\u201d\r\n\u2014 \u201cI don\u2019t know the exact date yet, but Husband promised me that it would be within 10 days.\u201d\r\n\u2014 \u201cYour husband,\u201d said Thanassis, \u201cwill obviously take his time to haggle down the price of the tickets. Everybody does that with Olympic Airlines. Besides, for a man as pretentious and exceptional as he is, it\u2019ll no doubt work!\u201d\r\n\r\nI was just glad for my sake. My heart was racing because I was so excited to return to Canada. I would go back to having running water in the house, electrical heat, a telephone, a washer, and of course, a television. All those comforts would make up for the fact that we hadn\u2019t bathed even once in the Aegean Sea. Canadian winters may swallow all the vegetation, but the thick carpet of snow allows us to take a sleigh ride.\r\n\r\nIn Greek villages in 1972, most of the homes had flat roofs which featured one or two clotheslines, depending on the number of occupants. The last load of clothes before our departure turned out to be the most difficult. The November wind bit my fingers as I hung the damp clothes that had been hand-washed and hand-wrung. It was just another reason to leave as promptly as possible before my fingers became red and worn to the bone! What a relief to be headed home.\r\n\r\nIn Canada, we\u2019d be able to once again enjoy frosting on our cakes, pudding ch\u00f4meur, steamed hot dogs, mustard, ketchup, French fries and mashed potatoes, shepherd\u2019s pie, marshmallows, canned corn, mayonnaise, peanut butter, caramel, sliced bread for toast, large pumpkins and Halloween candy. If we hurried, we might get to see houses decorated with Christmas trees hung with colourful balls.\r\n\r\nWhen we arrived in Thessaloniki, getting on a plane was out of the question. Instead, we\u2019d take a bus to Athens. The mere thought of it terrified me. I remembered the crazy gray-haired man who drove us straight into a truck filled with oranges. Thankfully, we had suffered a good fright and nothing more. This time, a young driver sat at the wheel and I calmed down. I had the two oldest kids sitting on each side of me and the baby asleep in my arms. I started to hum a French lullaby, but Husband quickly silenced me. I could only speak Greek to the children even when I sang!\r\n\r\nAt the airport, the winds were gusting strongly, unnerving travellers. The crossing guards at the airport tried to reassure us with kind words. Husband had sat the two oldest kids in a large shopping cart with our two suitcases. The baby wouldn\u2019t stop crying in my arms. In the waiting room, all the passengers seemed worried. Each time I caught a snippet of their conversations, my distress would rise a degree. A powerful wind by the name of \u201cBora\u201d regularly terrorized the Aegean Sea, keeping the planes pinned to the ground.\r\n\r\nWe were thirsty. We were hungry. We were afraid. Would we safely make it to Canada? Husband was chain smoking, and I prayed in silence. We had to wait until the next day to finally get clearance to leave. With the likely exception of the first-class passengers, everyone who was headed to Montreal had slept on small sleeping mats or the seats in the waiting room. We were finally going to leave Greece. Husband\u2019s dream of barely lifting a finger and becoming rich would never come true.\r\n\r\nThe next morning, we boarded the giant bird and I quickly thanked the great Manitou and pleaded for his mercy to help me get away from Husband. It was impossible for me to flourish in a hostile atmosphere where I was ignored and devalued. I aspired to live in a more noble environment, more virtuous and more generous. A world of goodness, kindness, love, courage and compassion. I was honest and hard-working and very capable of finding a job to feed my kids.\r\n\r\nAs you may already know, I still had to endure Husband for a few more years. Until a certain day in November 1980. I\u2019d been married for 13\u00a0years and, that morning, the kids and I found the courage to leave home forever. That was the day I finally emerged from my nightmare.\r\n\r\nWhat else can I say about this famous trip to Greece? The National Hellenic Tourism Office would tell you that \u201ctourists from around the world who visit this magnificent country return home dazzled.\u201d\r\n\r\nVisit and see for yourself!\r\n\r\nCora\r\n\u2764\ufe0f"},"yoast_head":"\n