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

Last night, Babcia Krysia and I spent the evening watching an old movie: “The Red Shoes.”

This 1948 movie, “The Red Shoes” is based on a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Although I would classify the fairy tale to be a horror story, the movie, I think, is a tragedy. [You may remember that I discussed with you what a “tragedy” was when we talked about “West Side Story”.]

7/18/2010: Lilka & Michele Tymowski

In this movie, the principle art form is the ballet. In our family, the person most interested in ballet (that I know about) is my first cousin’s [Lilka’s] daughter [Michele Tymowski].

This movie, “The Red Shoes,” was very meaningful to both my Dad, and to Babcia Krysia’s Mom.

To Pra-Babcia Neumann, this movie was very dramatic, and rich in color. She loved the dancing, and she loved the music.

The movie deals with ambition, obsession, love — love of family and love of work, and the choices one has to make, and the related sacrifices involved.

Many of us love our jobs, and most of us love our families. Sometimes those two concepts, love of job and love of family, conflict; and when a conflict arises, choices have to be made.

When YOU have to make such choices, remember that your families depend on you; and you have a responsibility to your family. Yes, you have a responsibility to you job, BUT, I believe, your family should always come first.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.