Our Story: When the Gods Conspired
Act I
The Weaving of Fate
“Love is a serious mental disease” - Plato And oh, how serious it was on an EF work trip in Greece in 2019. Allow me to tell you the tale of two souls whose hearts I once set ablaze, a tale I hold particularly dear. Meet Hannah - Tour Leader, tasked with creating an itinerary adventurous enough to lure American travelers away from Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. She is the architect of adventure, the manager of the trip, the senior leader. She loves responsibility and has created a tour itinerary more meticulous than Arachne’s weavings and webs. She is ready to corral 14 EF employees through the heartland of Greece, opening their minds to the beauty of the country beyond the heavily touristed islands. She boards a plane in Boston with her friends and coworkers, and she texts her boyfriend a fond farewell. Meet Erik - salesman, tasked with having a great time and selling the tour to the American masses. He is ready to be an ambassador of mirth, to bask in Helios’s light, to nerd out over Greek history, to toast to Dionysus day and night, and to be guided throughout Greece by those more responsible than him. He boards a plane in Denver with his friends and coworkers, and he texts his rekindled flame a fond farewell. Thus begins a modern day romantic opus. An epic the likes the world hasn’t seen since The Odyssey. We have our Helen. We have our Paris. And we have the stage that will change the history of the world.
Act II
Among Marble and Myth
The groups land in Athens, the birthplace of democracy, cradle of thought. The Boston and Denver groups entwine. Among marble and myth, they are overwhelmed with the history, food, art, architecture. To Erik, the most amazing thing in this spectacular city are the gyros, followed closely by Hannah, fairer than Aphrodite herself, freer than Artemis beneath the moon, wiser than Athena, yet gentler of heart, as nurturing as Demeter in bloom. “Who is this maiden from far off lands,” he wonders, “one more incredible than all the gods of the pantheon combined? Why do the jealous goddesses allow her to live? Why have they not struck her down?”
Act III
The Arrow Strikes
Ah, but she was already under the divine protection of another. For, you see, on our stage, an old play is taking place in the storied streets of Greece. I, Eros, known as Cupid to others, God of Love, have claimed rights over these two, and am playing my old tricks upon their hearts. It is clear by day 3, when Erik looks at Hannah laughing at the absurdity of a misogynistic Greek tour guide, that this is not just infatuation, this is true love, and that my arrow has struck true. Erik is surprised by the feelings that immediately spring from his heart; he has never felt anything like this before. The old fool who fancied himself wise in love has found this feeling for Hannah something altogether divine. Erik turns to Lisa, co–Tour Leader and Hannah’s loyal companion (sweet Philotes did some of her finest work with these two on a trip to Italy in 2018. It was on that trip that Lisa— laying the groundwork — first mentioned Erik to Hannah: “You’ve got to meet this guy, Erik. You two would really vibe.”) “Lisa,” Erik pleads, “what is this feeling? I’m promised to another, as is Hannah, but no being, mortal or divine, could deny what burns within me. What shall I do?” Lisa, ever attuned to my handiwork, smiles knowingly. “Follow your heart,” she says, and so he does.
Act IV
Temptation at the Gates
And Hannah, she is charmed by Erik, more wily than Odysseus, more handsome than Paris, more brave than Achilles, but alas! She is committed to another. Oh Hannah, a harder one for my arrow to pierce. She is steadfast, firm, strong like the walls of Troy. Waves upon waves of Erik’s charms and flirtations crash hopelessly against her moral fortitude. He lavishes her with tzatziki and ouzo, he stacks countless bottles of Mythos at my temple and at Dionysus’, praying we bestow a boon upon him. Yet Athena and Hera smile upon Hannah, their favorite mortal. Hera, proud guardian of fidelity, admires Hannah’s steadfastness to her boyfriend. Athena, cold, grey-eyed goddess, favors Hannah’s dedication to duty. The goddesses reward Hannah with resolve, restraint, and sound decision making. Yet even the sturdiest walls crack, and seeds of doubt creep into her mind. She messages friends from home, seeking sage counsel. She confides with Lisa behind glasses of wine. “What is this? I thought I knew love, yet something stirs, something bright, dangerous, divine. Is this mere fancy, or a spark kindled by Eros himself? Lisa,” she says, “I thought my walls were strong, but Erik has snuck a Trojan Horse of love into my heart, and no being, divine or otherwise, could deny these feelings.” As I have indicated, Lisa is no stranger to my work. She is one of my most devoted. She sees my plan and shares the same three words she shared with Erik, “Follow your heart.”
Act V
Courage Answers
The trip ends in a flurry of mixed feelings, empty bottles of wine befuddling our lovers. Neither of them were expecting this, nor searching for anything beyond what they already had, yet both leave Greece with hearts aflame, star-crossed, minds adrift, each struck by the same unseen hand and arrow. They recall the story of Icarus, and are haunted by questions: dare they commit to recklessness, to move on from an old flame to fly closer to one that is newer, brighter, more complete, more true and divine? Will their wings of love burn? Will the other reject them? Will they crash into the sea? Back in Denver, Erik seeks counsel once more. “Be brave,” Lisa urges, and lo, courage answers. He calls Hannah, and over 2 hours, he lays his heart on the line. Hannah listens, understands, feels the same, and shares her feelings with Erik. It turns out the two, so wary of leaving something good for something great, are ready to commit to each other, to defy fear, to join in a new life, and begin anew beneath the favor of the gods. And so, dear friends, their tale—well, mine really, if I may be honest—of how they met and fell in love is over. But the tale of their love continues, growing stronger and brighter with each passing of Helios. And soon, under the big tree in St. Kitts, before gods old and new, they will pledge their hearts for all time. And I, ever near, will smile, for another pair has fallen perfectly, hopelessly, wonderfully in love. Yours in mischief and in love, Eros
