Some of the most interesting and inspiring people, I’ve met along the path of travel. Through our shared affinity for culture and adventure, our lives converge, in a place often unexpected. This was the case with Christina Haag during our recent journey to Serifos, Greece. Via my latest fascination with instagram (obsession is a strong word) I discovered another New Yorker on the island and we met for a local rakomelo. I immediately took a liking to this warm and engaging woman who had in the weeks preceding our visit, made this island her temporary home. Most of the tourists had left for Athens or their respective cities, leaving us time to enjoy what often felt like a private island.
One of the most memorable days in Serifos was spent with Christina and my Italian, light and happy, dining in a taverna overlooking a serene beach. It was there, along the banks of Platys Gialos that Christina shared her stories with me, and I with her. We spoke freely about life and love, our shared passion for Greece, New York, the Hamptons, travel. We spent the early evening driving along the scenic roads, often stopping to admire a view, with Christina as our guide. A few dinners and many conversations followed, we even joined her for a Panagyria festival with the locals.
Christina’s life read much like a book, and I was pleased to learn that she had recently written a memoir. Come to the Edge reminisces on a life of privilege in old New York City, her successes and trials as an actress, and a five year long love affair with John F. Kennedy Jr. A life lived with passion.
From Serifos to Paris, Christina’s stories continued as I lost myself in the soulful words of her memoir. I felt as though I were living these experiences myself, and could not stop reading. I was reminded of our conversations, of how she felt compelled to tell her story, rightfully so, spending months writing in the Hamptons, long after her dear friend and great love’s life had tragically ended.
Christina lives by her heart. For this, I admire her, and feel grateful to have shared our own chapter.
Christina is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky reader. To enter, follow Christina Haag on Facebook and tell us your favorite quote on love or life, below. (Random winner will be announced on November 15th, good luck!) You can also follow Christina on Twitter and Instagram. Incidentally, for those in Paris, there’s an exhibition about the Kennedy family going on until November 30th.
Within you, your years are growing. – Pablo Neruda
Christina lives by her heart.
Sounds like a fascinating book. I’m putting it on my Amazon wishlist.
Liza, it’s a must read! I’m sure you will enjoy it.
WOW this is definitely up my alley! And how wonderful that you were able to connect while in Greece. My favorite quote: “the most important things in life aren’t things” which I think stands to resonate with everyone in all aspects of life and love.
Great quote Lindsey! I feel very lucky to have met Christina in such a magical setting.
Love the Neruda quote, as well as Lindsey’s above. Here’s a Mark Twain back-at-cha: “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
What is Christina’s fave quote?
Ah yes, let us remember that one the older we get!
Here’s a favorite and one that’s quoted in Come to the Edge: “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed.”—Carl Jung
I love this quote Christina. It’s also my favorite of all in your book. And so appropriate for your memoir.
I can never resist William Goldman’s The Princess Bride for quotes on life and love, and there are too many to pick just one! This is a goodie, though:
“Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.”
Nicely played, Mr. Goldman, and to Ms. Haag, your story sounds devastatingly interesting! My, how do we get the lives that we get, and how is it that we are able to live them? Really — when I think of each human being’s story, they each put to shame all the books that have ever been written and published. We live on a remarkable planet, no?
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust
Can always trust my dear friend Kasia to connect us to the most fascinating people! Looking forward to reading the book. Here’s a favorite quote on love from Joan Didion “A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.”
That’s beautiful Anika. Truly from the heart. Sending you love from Paris! (Let me know what you think of the book, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!)
Lovely. Oh, the amazing people we can meet on our travels!
I turn to Rumi for some of my favorite quotes on life and love. Like this one:
“And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth,
“You owe me.”
Look what happens with love like that.
It lights up the sky.”
― Rumi
I’ve liked Christina’s page on FB. Thanks for hosting the contest, Kasia!
Great quote from a master! Enjoy your travels Sion, and may you too meet many fascinating people along the way.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
THESE are words to live by! May we all live with such courage. (Unfortunately too often fear gets in the way.)
Quel surprise – sounds like a winner! Thank you for the tip – now I not only have a great new read on my radar, but a bunch of must-clip quotes! Mine to add to the mix: “Life is all about what you learn and who you love.” I think I picked that chestnut up from Oprah. 🙂
Good one, Amy! In the end, it’s all about our experiences and who we share them with 🙂
“We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” — Dr. Seuss
How I adore Dr. Seuss! What a brilliant quote, thank you Samantha!
Oh this just sounds amazing! One of my favorite quotes is this Yeats quote:
“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.”
Thanks for all of these wonderful quotes. What a great idea!
xoxo
Lovely quote, Sasha! If more people felt this way the world would be a different place.
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Anaïs Nin
Looking forward to checking out her book! I’m on the last few chapters of my current book and am currently sourcing a new one.
Thanks Kasia for hosting this contest and how fantastic that the two of you were able to meet up in Greece. Isn’t the expat life just grand? : ) !
Expat life is grand indeed! And lucky are we who have the courage to live these less conventional lives. I adore Anaïs writings, beautiful quote!
Thanks for the introduction to Christina and her work! I look forward to picking up a copy of her book.
A new favorite quote is this: “Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once.” –Paulo Coelho (via the blog of my lovely author acquaintance, Sarah Jio)
Well said, Paulo! From one author to another, you and Christina should swap books, I’m sure you’d enjoy each others story.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I have not a single bit of talent left and could say “I used everything you gave me.” Erma Bombeck
Vanessa, this is something to think about… thanks for sharing!
” Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.”
– Kahlil Gibran
I enjoyed reading Come to the Edge so much, great memoir 😀
What a meaningful and wise quote!
I too loved her memoir (as you can tell) and already look forward to her next book.
“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” – Eskimo saying
Beautiful quote!
Kasia thank you for sharing your lovely experience. She sounds wonderful. One of my favorite quotes is one my father told me : “You need three things in life to find happiness : someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. ” It’s always a good reminder to myself.
Your father is wise, Melissa!
To his wisdom I will add: love with all your heart, whatever you do, do it with passion, and always look forward while enjoying the moment.
I love this story and how it outlines how small the world can be when we are all so connected. Funnily enough, someone that I have followed on instagram for a while was also in NYC recently when I was and we swapped comments on photos. I had thought of asking her if she wanted to meet up but didn’t. Now I regret it! Good for you for daring to reach out to someone.
My favorite quote on love may be a bit cliched but here goes : “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
It definitely makes the world smaller and certainly more interesting, being able to connect with people this way. Next time, definitely meet her, you have nothing to lose, and a friendship to gain!
A beautiful, classic quote to live by.