Uncle Feyte ...Turkey

The moment I walked through the door of Tijen's families summer home, her Uncle demanded to know if I was hungry. Muttered something regarding pregnancy & olive pits in English, he asked Tijen to translate, "Uncle Fethi says that you are too thin, and that if you ate only one olive pit, people would surely think you were pregnant. He wants you to eat more, now!!" A lovely spread of food (that my tastebuds couldn't comprehend) was devoured on their balcony, (which overlooked the impossibly blue sea) I was left bewitched and grateful.: After Tijen received a "thorough" lecture on the importance of work, love, and making proper life decisions- her proud Uncle poetically explained to me that "in life you can only trust the opinions of those who have nothing to gain from you (family), because all they want is your absolute happiness, and f-ck the rest, live your life"! (newsflash- the man is like a chapter from "tuesdays with Maury", & I am tremendously envious of Tijen's possession of love from such a charismatic and wise man, who is so desperately devoted to her. Watching him wait with bated breath on her every word pulled @ the "old heart strings", and left me teary eyed with feelings of homesickness.
As they chattered away in (ridiculously attractive vow- harmony) Turkish, the utter warmth of her family,the food, scenery, etc),was a bit too much to bare!! My mouth literally ached from grinning, and I was sure that at one point they must have thought I had just free- based lithium, when Uncle Fethi announced, "Liz is a happy, always smiling girl. She can call me Uncle, and come back! ". (she shoots, she scores!)