Dear William, Daniel, Catherine, (and Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

This morning I told you about how Babcia Krysia, in my mind, became a contender to be my wife. Now let me tell you the story of the “blue eye-shadowed blond bombshell” that Bacia Kyrsia still talks about to this day!

Unknown male, Olenka, Tom, Lydia Fetera, John Galiano, Krysia, Irka ?, Pawel

As we often did, whenever there was a Ball, all of us would attend. This particular Ball, which has totally faded in memory as to time and place, was attended by many of us, family and friends, including Olenka and some guy; Tom and his then girlfriend, Lydia Fetera — she was from New Britain, Connecticut; a very nice girl; I had dated her for a while, but the relationship exhausted itself due to geographic undesirability; Babcia Krysia and her boyfriend, John Gagliano; and, I showed up with a BEAUTIFUL blond, in a sparkling gold dress, wearing blue eye-shadow. Well! Everyone’s jaw dropped. Her name was Irka (Irene). I do not remember her last name; and I do not remember where she lived; or how I met her; BUT, she was BEAUTIFUL, (and also very nice).

Babcia Krysia had a steady boyfriend (John), but, secretly, all her Polish Girl Scout friends “knew” that she and I were destined for each other. So, when I showed up with this BEAUTIFUL blond, in a sparkling gold dress, wearing blue eye-shadow, the Ball-room was abuzz. There were several conferences in the ladies-room, and Babcia Krysia received many words of wisdom from the many “older” [16 & 17 year old] women in the room.

As things turned out, I do not believe that I ever saw Iraka again. And most importantly, I have enjoyed a life of happiness being married to Babcia Krysia. (But, if you want to raise Babcia Krysia’s blood pressure, ask her what does she think of blonds wearing blue eye-shadow.)

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.