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These are the Posts in the 2021 Album:

2021-02-24: Homeschool — Lego Great Wall of China

2021-03-01: Stephanie starts a new job

2021-03-28: John is a Medical Marvel, and our Hero

2021-03-30: Homeschool — Trip to Sandy Hook, Looking for Seals and other Shorelife

2021-03-31: Miscellaneous photos from January, February & March, 2021

2021-04-04: Easter & Babcia Krysia’s 69th Birthday

2021-04-07: Homeschool — Battle of Grunwald

2021-04-09: Trip to Alexandria, VA

2021-05-01: William is a Baseball Star

2021-05-01: Daniel’s First Holy Communion

2021-05-24: Trip to Plymouth Plantation & Boston

2021-05-29: Visit Catherine, Sarah, Stephanie & Rysiu

2021-05-31: Visit William, Kelly & Marek

2021-06-18: A Graduation Ceremony

2021-06-28: Catherine, Sarah & Rysiu Visit to NJ

2021-06-30: Miscellaneous photos from April, May & June, 2021

2021-07-06: Daniel Goes To The Hospital

2021-07-16: Day at the beach

2021-07-30: William, Catherine, & Sarah (with their Parents) go on Vacation (separately, but, generally to the same place)

2021-08-15: Sarah’s Imieniny (Name Day) Celebration

2021-08-25: Beach Day

2021-09-06: Michael’s 6th Birthday Celebration

2021-09-30: Miscellaneous photos from July, August & September, 2021

2021-10-31: Halloween

2021-11-25: Thanksgiving

2021-12-24: Christmas

2021-12-31: Miscellaneous photos from October, November & December, 2021

Return to Annual Albums

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.

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

Today is Mother’s Day — Be sure to give YOUR Mom a great big kiss and hug; give her a Mother’s Day card; giver her a flower (or a bunch of flowers); maker her breakfast; and be nice to her ALL day.

Also, remember all the other mothers you know, your Grandmothers, your Great-Grandmothers; and for William and Daniel, should you have a wife some day in the future, and if you have children, do NOT forget THEIR Mother!

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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

Today is May 7 — that date reminds me of the title to the movie “Seven Days of May” — a movie about making peace, not war:

Now, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a serious topic with you — conflict, negotiation, and peace.

May 2, 2010, at 11 am: Dziadziuś Paweł & Babcia Krysia — a Moment in Time, for the New York Times

The picture above was taken on May 2, 2010, at 11 am, at the request of the New York Times — we were to take a photograph on May 2, 2010, at 11 am, of something meaningful to us at that time, and submit it to the New York Times to be shared with everyone else. When we saw the request announcement in the New York Times several days before May 2, Babcia Krysia and I decided to participate.

On May 2, 2010, Babcia Krysia and I were on one of our road-trips, I think on our way to Philadelphia. As 11 am approached, we were on Route 1, traveling South, near Princeton, New Jersey. We looked around, and we saw the road sign that was PERFECT for US. We set up the camera on a tripod, and then, ten seconds before 11 am, we set the camera on a 10 second delay, as we ran to the sign and had our picture taken. (We did submit out picture, but there was a glitch in the transmission, so it never made it into the pool of photos; nevertheless, we did participate.)

So, why this sign?!

Because … no matter what, ALWAYS, when one of us chooses right, the other chooses left; when one of us chooses black, the other chooses white; when one of us chooses yes, the other chooses no — and then, an extensive negotiation starts. That negotiation might take a second or two, or a day or two, or a week or two, or a month or two, or a year or two, or a lifetime or two.

The resolution of that negotiation may make us both happy; or it may make us both unhappy; or it make take us to an unexpected result.

Yesterday I told you that “Babcia Krysia is just a ‘wet mop’” about celebrating certain holidays (e.g., Cinco De Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day — I will discuss Halloween and Easter photos some other day). The original version of that Post had a different photo where Babcia Krysia’s photo is now. I did not seek prior editorial approval before I posted the Post; and, as soon as I posted it, I received a warning from a very dear family member, who told me that I may be in DEEEEEEP trouble. Oh; Oh!

But nothing happened. I came home in the evening — and still nothing. So I ask: Did you see my post to the kids earlier today?  Reply: You have a very good Daughter-In-Law — she gave you good advice.

I ask: What do you mean? Reply: I do not like that picture of me. … I ask: Why not?  … What if something happens to me — I do not want the kids to associate that image with me.

I feel SO bad!

I felt so BAD! I went upstairs; I changed the picture; and I sent myself to the Dog House.

And so, here we are — now you know about the movie “Seven Days In May” and about A Moment In Time published in The New York Times (WITHOUT our picture, even though we took one); and the back story of yesterday’s Post.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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

Dziadziuś Paweł

The Post that I wrote to you earlier today got a cool reception. Fortunately, Catherine’s Mom warned me about it; so it was not a total shock to me when I came home; but, I did have to make an alteration to the Post by replacing the “offending” picture. Oh well. I did not think it was so bad — but Stephanie, and Babcia Krysia thought otherwise.

Fortunately it is not raining today. And, the temperature is warm. This will be an adventure — just like camping!

Talk to you soon.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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

Circa 1961, “West Side Story” fascinated me, and my friends. I think that I saw that movie, in the movie theater, approximately 25 times. My friends and I knew the all the songs from the movie; we would re-enact all the scenes; and, in turn, we would play the various characters in the movie. Most often, I would identify with Tony, and sometimes with Bernardo.

This movie is a modern version of William Shakespeare‘s “Romeo and Juliet” — it is a tragedy. A tragedy is a drama that involves human suffering, it is usually very sad, and it ends very badly, usually with someone’s death.

A few days ago I was writing to you about modern class struggles in Baltimore — well, in 1961, in New York City, one of the main class struggles was between established “Americans,” depicted in this movie by the gang called the “Jets,” and the new immigrants from Puerto Rico, depicted in this movie by the gang called the “Sharks.”

Notice how Bernardo and many of the other young men wore leather wrist bands — for over a year, I never left home without mine.

Here is the opening scene from the movie:

The social struggles between the members of the Sharks and the Jets become complicated when Tony, a former leader of the Jets, meets Maria, Bernardo’s sister (Bernardo is the leader of the Sharks); and they fall in love.

Another struggle in the movie is between the experience of the Puerto Rican man and the Puerto Rican women — between the disappointments of reality and the hopes that America offers. That conflict is explored in this dance number:

Ultimately, the conflicts between the Sharks and the Jest explode into a rumble — a violent fight — which ends with an unexpected death, just like in the play Romeo and Juliet.

I am sure you will study this play Romeo and Juliet in school — pay attention to it. Learn from it; incorporate its lessons into your own lives; and try to avoid those heartaches in your lives as much as possible.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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.