Meeting Family in Poland

When we initially planned to go to Poland, I (Steve) had a vague hope that he might be able to meet his relations who lived outside Krakow.  Since my dad (Gabe) had stayed in contact through yearly Christmas cards, we were able to write.  Just days before leaving for Europe, we received an e-mail from Michal Wyzga, the grandson of Gabe's cousin Stanislaw, and learned that the family would love to meet us.

Thankfully, the -17 degree Celsius temperature and heavy snow of a week previous had given way to a heat wave of +4 degrees, making the 2 hour trip by car to their small village possible.

Czelaw Wyzga (a retired Russian literature teacher) and his wife Christina graciously hosted us at their home with their sons Voigstic (far left) and Michal.  Michal fortunately had gone to college to study foreign relations and proved to be an excellent translator between us and his parents.  In our initial conversation, I tried to share how much this meeting meant to my father and siblings, and how all were eager to know as much as possible about them.

Christina had spent two days cooking an elaborate feast including home-made breads, bean soup, three separate courses of pierogies, and several different types of cookies and cakes.

Everyone was full when Christina came out with the final main course of meat pierogies in beat soup. I took some to be polite.  It was delicious!  The best tasting food so far on the trip.

Stanislaw is Gabe's cousin, and he was (as Diane would say) a stitch!  He recounted to us how Gabe and Hedy (my parents) had sent them clothes and blankets many years ago when they faced very difficult times.  I called dad. We all listened as Stan spoke to Gabe in Polish and insisted that he come and visit in the spring - no excuses.  Then he eagerly brought us to the farm and kitchen where my great grandfather was born.  Though Stan obviously owned little, he brought out an open bottle of Vodka, shared a toast with us, and insisted we take the rest of the open bottle back to Gabe as a gift.

The man on the far right is Czelaw's brother, who was also very friendly and engaging. His 25 year old daughter next to him reminded us very much of my mother, Hedy.  It is hard to succinctly articulate the effect on all of us of this brief visit with family we have never met, but it will be a day we will treasure.