In Greece: The Tree of Life

By Betty Woodworth

During Stan Woodworth’s 40 years at Cate, he and his family were fortunate to enjoy several sabbaticals overseas, with stints in Madrid, Paris, Greece, and Rome. Woodworth pursued advanced degrees or wrote, while his wife Betty and their children absorbed the local culture and language through daily life and local schools. Here, she remembers the year they spent on a Greek island.

Perhaps our most unique experience in international living occurred during our third sabbatical, in 1975. We spent that year in the ancient city of Lindos, which is on the southeastern coast of the island of Rhodes. Our home was a stark white cube situated just below the city’s acropolis, with its Temple to Athena.

From our house we had a magnificent view of the sea around us, and we could walk down to the beach in the cove below, where there was great swimming most of the year. The people living in the whitewashed houses amid a maze of narrow walkways were nearly all Greek peasants — the few exceptions were artists or students, like Stan. He and our daughter Elizabeth were enjoying an experience that few Americans with our income could afford. Stan was writing a history of the island that became a lassical-studies textbook at Cate. He also had a tutorial exchange with the local tailor, and became proficient in the language — his background in Ancient Greek helped. Elizabeth attended the local school and mastered the language — an admirable accomplishment for an American. I envied her, and was also very proud.

By the end of our stay a number of English “bed and breakfasts” had sprung up, and we sensed that this charming place with its rich history and environment would be exploited by tourism. We were glad to have experienced its untrammeled state.

My dearest memory of Lindos is the pomegranate tree that grew in our courtyard. This ancient tree is believed to be the true “tree of life.” It was cultivated in Egypt before the time of Moses, and has a decided Persian influence. Some time after we returned, we planted a pomegranate tree near our back door here on the Mesa. On returning home from travels near and far, I always find comfort in this venerable tree, nestled close to the house, but reminding me of a place far away.

Betty Woodward is Archivist Emerita.

The Woodworths planted a pomegranate tree at 1792 Cate Mesa Road