I should make one of those “how it started, how it ended” memes.
The end of 2022 and the celebration of my 55th birthday at the end of December last year had a funny, if not prophetic, theme. When I was growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1970s and 1980s, the national speed limit was a topic of national conversation and the government was trying to implement a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour. I remember signs and billboards saying “55 Stay Alive” and such.
So naturally, the theme of my 55th birthday last year was 55 Stay Alive. We had a transatlantic celebration with a party in New York. I even found a vintage 55 mph speed limit sign that we used to decorate the DJ booth at the party. And in Greece, my closest friends met with me at the Ermou hotel where Anna Vissi even sang to me. It was quite a party for…Stay Alive.
Well, the start of 2023 was filled with not one but two highway potholes that, well, almost killed me. I won’t bore you with the details (all of which I posted on my personal account) Facebook And Instagram accounts over the months).
Yes… instead of 55 staying alive… it became 55 almost dead. Twice.
These health issues caused a pretty abrupt halt to my work with The Pappas Post, to my news and articles that I loved to share, and most importantly, to storytelling. Because I am first and foremost a storyteller and The Pappas Post is the latest evolution or vehicle that I have used to share so many wonderful stories.
Years ago, I started with a print magazine, which grew into a “blog”, and eventually into this website which, at its peak, before my illness, was read by hundreds of thousands of people each month. Of course, I branched out into other mediums like making films and producing a television series and use my voice as a megaphone to share other people’s stories, particularly through charity and philanthropy, via the Greek America Foundation.
I also launched various products, each with a revealing story behind themlike a unique type of olive oil from Crete, rare teas, also from Crete and of course, my handmade glass Christmas decorations.
But writing remained my heart and it pained me not to be able to continue during the health challenges of 2023 that brought me close to death not just once, but twice.
But I’m alive. And to be honest, I feel healthier than ever, despite what I’ve been through, and this new clarity has helped me dive deeply back into The Pappas Post and my writing. I also work in partnership with a digital agency called customedialabs maintaining the site’s back-end technology to modern standards to keep navigation not only user-friendly, but also safe.
I have made the decision to remove annoying advertisements from the website. You know what I’m talking about: those annoying video pop-ups and on-screen ads that often distracted you from reading the content I was trying to share with you. That’s not to say I won’t reintroduce some sort of banner post or non-intrusive advertising. Advertisements are a financial lifeline that helps keep the lights on and the bills paid to keep the website running.
We also introduced the Free Will Subscription Program a few years ago, which many of you chose to support. This was not necessary to read the content. It was more like “philotimo” as YOUR way of supporting the work we were doing. I’m grateful to those of you who continue to give $5 a month, $10 a month and more in some cases. And I hope more of you decide to do so in the future as I begin to build and grow The Pappas Post again. his latest reinvention.
You can click here to join this support program if you wish.
Over the coming weeks and months, you will notice slight changes in the way you read content, both on your mobile devices and on your computer. Eventually, and a little later, in early 2024, we will launch a complete redesign with only one thing in mind: YOUR EXPERIENCE on the website. I have been working with my new partners at Customedialabs in Philadelphia and Larisa, Greece and I keep saying that USER EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE on our priority list.
My personal commitment to you, the tens of thousands of readers who have loved my content over the years, who have hated my content over the years (but continue to read it), is 100% truth and authenticity in my writings. And while we don’t always agree on everything, we only grow by learning and listening to others whose opinions may or may not align with ours.
Thank you for staying on board and being an important part of this global community we have built together to share news and stories related to Greece, its history, heritage and culture. And if you haven’t already, please subscribe to our email newsletter listwhich is currently being repurposed for regular, interesting and informative weekly communications with you straight to your email inbox. CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EMAIL.
