In "My Texas Alphabet", the letter "G" is for Goliad and Gonzales. Both are connected with the early history of Texas State and its fights for independence.
In 1835, Texas was still part of Mexico, however, the Texas insurrection had already begun. The Goliad Campaign, which took place that year, was related to suppressing the Texas uprising by the Mexican government and their army.
I am not going to describe it all here, as experts in Texas history have done it already. You can read about the Goliad Campaign here.
Gonzales was a crucial spot during the Campaign. On 2 October 1835, the battle of Gonzales took place. The attack of Texan troops made the Mexican army withdraw their forces from Gonzales to Bexar. A certain cannon played an important part in it all. Upon the request of the citizens of Gonzales who needed protection from the Indian attacks, the cannon had been provided by the Mexican army. There was one condition, though. The cannon was to be returned to the givers whenever they wanted it back. That time came during the Goliad Campaign in 1835, when the representatives of the Mexican army came to Gonzales to retrieve the gift. Nevertheless, the colonists, who were not willing to give the cannon back, arrested the soldiers. All in all, the conflict arose and led to the Battle of Gonzales. Before the battle, two women of Gonzales made a flag that became symbolic later. It contained the picture of the cannon and the slogan "Come and Take It".
Recently, the flag and the slogan have become controversial, to say the least.
Well, I do not intend to provoke any political discussion here regarding the flag, the places mentioned or the people who were involved in the Campaign. According to philosophers, everything is subjective. That was what I have been taught during my philosophy studies. I would say, (history) facts are just facts. Yet, adding interpretation to those facts is a totally different matter.
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"My Texas Alphabet" is quite a particular and personal summary of our hitherto life in Texas.
Elbląg is a city in northern Poland situated on Lake Drużno. In its early beginnings, the land was inhabited by Prussian tribes. In Middle Ages, Elbląg, then called Truso, was a Viking settlement. Later, in the 10th century, Truso was destroyed by fire. After the Teutonic Knights conquered the area, in 1237 they built a castle there.
Old Town, Elbląg
In the 13th century, the history of the present city began. A new settlement was founded in 1237 and was granted city rights 9 years later.
Due to the complicated history of the region, Elbląg was part of the Polish Kingdom/German Empire/Prussia/Germany. During WW2, the city was severely damaged and was reconstructed by the Poles after the war.
In 2009 my mom and I visited the city very briefly as our main goal was a boat trip along the Elblag Canal. Everything was organized by PTTK (Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society).
The Old Town are was being worked on then.
According to the legend, a young baker trainee once saved Elbląg from
the Teutonic Knights' siege. With his bread oven shovel, he cut the
rope that was holding the city gate, so it went down just before the
Knights managed to enter the city.
And here he is, still standing at the historic remains of the city wall/the gate. It is said that touching his nose brings good luck. Well, we did that, just in case, it was true.
The 50-mile (80.5 km) long canal goes from Lake Druzno through the Elbląg River/Drwęca River to Lake Jeziorak. It was commissioned by the King of Prussia and designed in 1825/1844 by Georg Steenke. What is so special about that canal? It has big differences in water levels (up to 300 feet/100 meters).
On a higher part of the canal
Navigation on the canal is possible only thanks to its locks and a sort of train carts (inclined planes). The latter carry boats on the ground level and then back to the lower water level again.
Our boat trip lasted 4 hours.
Double lock
The boat is about to get on the cart which is under water - see higher, side part of it
It was interesting to see all the locks and how the boat was transported over a hill, back to the water level again.
However, the time in between was a bit boring. Luckily, the weather was nice and sunny so we were able to sit on the deck and enjoy the landscape. At the same time, due to a lot of still water around, mosquitos bit us quite often.
The lock is a sign the ground level of the canal is close
... and up on the cart again...
The last part of the trip on Lake Jeziorak was very rewarding, considering the beautiful views.
The lake is a habitat for various birds and fish. The previous had their cute nest on the little islands on the lake waters.
Elblag Canal is listed by the National Heritage Board of Poland as one of the Polish Historic Monuments. It has also been recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Poland.
Lake Jeziorak
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My Polish Alphabet is related to things, places, and people that come to my mind when I think about Poland. More Alphabet entries here.
A lady said to me not long ago: "You speak Polish and English, but you sing in German. I don't understand." I replied: "What don't you understand? If I had an opportunity to practice the other language which I learned at school, I would."
Well, I have done it before. Meaning signing in a foreign language not only to myself but in public as well.
The first time was in primary school when I was 14. Not that I volunteered to do that, oh no. I was part of the school choir then. Our music teacher, who was also the choir director, and the teacher of Russian, chose me to sing a song in Russian during a school assembly.
Poland was part of the Soviet block at that time, and every year, schools and bigger workplaces observed "the days of Soviet culture and science". The observance was mandatory and some state events related to those "days" were always reported on TV.
Anyhow, the song which I sang solo at that assembly was done to mark the above-mentioned observance in the school papers/report. Its lyrics were nothing political, though. The text (children appropriate) was about Cinderella and the ball she attended at the Prince's castle. The tune was nice, but the refrain part was full of high notes and difficult to sing. Luckily, the music teacher arranged it in a way that the school choir supported me in that. Being shy, I did not enjoy standing in front of the entire school and doing my solo part, but I did like the song.
The song was originally sang by Russian artist Ludmila Senchina, its
title was "Хоть поверьте хоть проверьте"/"Believe it or check it out."
A few years earlier, my first unofficial solo presentation took place. One day, an unexpected visitation occurred in our local youth club. Neighborhood kids (including myself) spent their after-school time in the club, doing various activities and playing games under the supervision of the club instructor. Quite out of the blue, a group of ladies, delegates from Siberia appeared in the club. My guess is that they had probably been sent there by some city officials. Certainly, it was not an accidental matter.
Anyway, the club instructor was told to entertain the ladies with the kids' performance. Since we had not worked on any program like that, it was quite a desperate situation. The counselor asked us (kids) whether anybody would want to/dare to sing/dance or do whatever proper in front of the visitors. I was one of very few who agreed. Well, I just felt how helpless the situation was. What I did - I sang some notes of a popular Russian song about gingerbread cookies. However, I knew only a few Russian words of the song, the rest was la, la, la. I also played one melody on the xylophone (I was part of the club xylophone group then). Since it was all without prior practice, to my horror, I happened to play out of tune as well.
To my surprise, my performance made a positive impression on the visitors. One lady asked me about my name and address as she wanted a Polish pen pal for her daughter, who was about my age. The girl's name was Lena and we later exchanged letters for some time.
Decades later, I was part of an international EU educational program. Then, we learned the traditional songs of all the project partners (in their native tongues). The languages were, English, German, Czech,
Tancuj, Tancuj = Dance, Dance
Slovenian,
Pobelelo Pole = The Field Turned White (with sheep)
Bulgarian,
Italian (Sardinian song),
and Cypriot.
The most important side of singing in a foreign language is the correct pronunciation of the song words. Naturally, understanding the text adds more sense to it as well. During the project, both the prior and the latter were provided by the project partners.
In quite a different program, we cooperated with an Israeli school. From time to time, the teacher and her class sent us some videos and we made some too. I taught my students an old song in Yiddish (of Polish or Russian roots). No, I do not know the language. Just found the song lyrics and their English translation. The rest meaning pronunciation came "by ear". The kids enjoyed singing the song and making the video.
Of course, it is not the video we made.
All in all, singing in German in Texas is not such a big deal. However, I admit it may be found very unexpected. Anyhow, I did learn some German in Poland. Nevertheless, a few years ago, I did not have the faintest idea I would sing in the language here. Mysterious are the ways...
My stepfather P. was born in 1922 in Warkowicze, Poland. The place was then in Wołyń Voivodeship. The area had been incorporated into the territory of Poland after the Polish-Soviet War. P.'s family/ancestors were of Polish descent.
When WW2 started, P. was 17. Where my stepfather lived then, I do not know. P.'s father's name appears on the list of the property owners who left their households/land and relocated before 1938 (1). If I am correct (?), their home was in the village of Kniaże, which was part of Podberezie municipality. Very likely, it was the political turmoil, terror, and
violence spread by nationalistic groups/bands in that area of Poland was
the reason which forced P's family, among many others, to leave their
homes. The abandoned properties were officially liquidated by the Polish
state in 1939.
When P. grew up, he became a driver. On 1 April 1944, the man joined the Polish Army. Later, he was part of the 1st Transportation Regiment that was formed by the Polish Army in September of that year.
P.'s 1st Transportation Brigade Badge - Polish Army WW2
With the Regiment, P. went through the front trail up to the capital of Germany, where he fought in the Battle of Berlin in 1945. The soldier was honorably discharged on 9 May 1945, Victory Day.
My stepfather was a kind and modest man who never spoke about his past. Never spoke about the war either. I wish I had asked him about those days, and showed some interest in that matter when he was alive. Well, I guess I was too young, WW2 seemed ancient history to me then. However, since he never mentioned the war, it was assumed he did not want to talk about that and as such, was respected.
P. and his war-time companions waited for quite long for the official state recognition of their WW2 heroic deeds. In 1966, the Polish Peoples' Republic issued a medal commemorating the servicemen and women who took part in the Battle of Berlin. P. was one of the medal recipients on 5 May 1974.
For his exemplary service in the Polish Army during WW2, P. was also honored with a Medal of Merit for National Defense.
Medal of Merit for National Defense
Stepfather P. was quite a knowledgeable man, you could talk to him on any subject. He was also an honest and reliable person and a caring father. After the war, he worked as a taxi driver. Later, in his mature years, he was a lecturer at a state driving school. Stepfather P. was also the one who taught me to ride a motorcycle.
My stepfather passed away in March 1996. In his life, P. was awarded a few other medals. I will talk about them in separate posts, though.
UPDATE:
From my research
My stepfather's parents, siblings, and other relatives lived in the town of Tarnopol at the end of the 19th century (2).
On 22 January 1944, three persons (a lady and two 4-year-old children), possibly relatives of P's (the same distinctive surname), and over 20 other citizens of the Buszcze (Bishche) village, Brzeżany County, Tarnopol region, were brutally killed by Ukrainian Insurgent Army (3), a nationalist type group, known in Poland as OUN/UPA bands. On the next day, citizens of Buszcze who sought refuge in the local church were burned alive together with the church building. The village was attacked again by UIA also in March and April (4, 5). The citizens of Buszcze were only some of the numerous victims of horrifying atrocities committed by UPA bands.
Considering the time of the tragic events in Buszcza (January, March 1944) and the day on which my stepfather joined the Polish Army (1 April 1944) - the two might have been related - one influenced the other.
Sources:
1. Wołyński Dziennik Wojewódzki nr. 5, Łuck, 3 marca 1939,
The legend of La Llorona (the Weeping One/Crying One) came to Texas from Mexico. This story was probably written in 1550 and has many versions. Here is one of them.
A long time ago, a beautiful young widow named Maria had two children. She also had a wealthy lover whom she wanted to marry. The problem, however, was that the man refused to marry her because he did not accept the widow's children.
One day, the lady went with her offspring for a picnic on the Rio Grande River. There, she unexpectedly came up with an idea - how to solve her marriage problem. She stabbed each of the children, then pushed them into the river so they drowned. Immediately after this event, the widow went to the house of her lover to tell him about what had happened. She was convinced that the man would appreciate her dedication, there were no longer any obstacles so they could get married. However, it happened otherwise. Horrified by the horrible action, the man rejected Maria. He no longer wanted to have anything to do with her. The distraught woman, screaming loudly, ran to the river - she wanted to save her children. Unfortunately, it was too late.
All in all, Maria died a tragic death. Some say that an enraged crowd of her neighbors seized the murderer to punish her. According to others, the woman stabbed herself with a knife and then threw herself into the river. It is said that God will not let her into heaven until she finds the bones of the children she killed. So, doomed to eternal damnation, she wanders along the rivers of southwestern Texas, looking for her dead children. The lady's despair and crying are endless. There are folks who claim to have seen her - punished for her sins, she now has a horse's head instead of a human head. It is also well known that you should not go to the river at night, because La Llorona can drag the night wanderer into the abyss. Each time when the body of a drowned victim is found, it is said that the lonely La Llorona was looking for companionship.
Made of red granite, magnificent and epic, it just is. Where? In Central Texas (the Hill Country).
The rock makes a picturesque view and is clearly noticeable while driving along a local road.
The mountain is an igneous rock (batholith) that was formed under the surface of the Earth during the process (intrusion and turning solid) of changing the properties and state of magma (1). Erosion of the Earth uncovered the underneath pink granite rock. The Enchanted Rock is the largest batholith in Texas and the second largest (after the Stone Mountain, Georgia) in the United States.
The pink Rock is also called a singing mountain as people visiting the area can sometimes hear a strange, humming-like sound there. The rock was regarded as a sacred and haunted one by the Native American Nations. According to the Tonkawas, the strange lights seen near the rock peak were campfires lit by spirits. According to the Apaches, mountain spirits live in the place. Another explanation is that the increased level of some unknown energy produces mysterious lights and sound (2). Well, the energy might be spirits, mightn't it?
We have not climbed it/walked around the Enchanted Rock area yet. When we visit it on foot, I will post an update here.
A visit to the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area requires a reservation. To find out more about it, visit the website.
2. "Weird Texas. Your Travel Guide to Texas's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets." by Wesley Treat, Heather Shade, and Rob Riggs, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 2005.
The topic has faded away a bit (and my interest in it), but since I did the post "70s Inspired Part 1", I complete it with part #2.
This time, just a few pieces of clothing that could be worn both on a regular summer day and a dance night (depending on what shoes and a head cover you choose). All the items which I have chosen are currently available at amazon.com.
Dress/ Top
I like this floral dress. Do not get discouraged with the word "Halloween" in its description. I guess it was probably added to increase the sale around the end of October. Who says it can't be worn in the summer? Perhaps the ones with little imagination? All the dresses on offer are pretty colorful, my choice is the last one in the second row.
If you decide the dress is too short, you can wear it with the white denim shorts (Angerella Denim Shorts for Women/ Folded Hem Hot Short Jeans). The torn shorts version which they have on offer is not of my liking + it would not match the 70s style look.
Another match for the shorts would be R.Vivimos Floral Embroidered Off Shoulder Long Sleeve Short (Yellow) Dress. The shoulders up/on would be my option, though.
Boots
The ones similar to the picture included below were my first choice, but I waited too long with making this post and they are no longer available at the Amazon store.
Nevertheless, I have found a pair of similarly-looking boots with fringes. Maybe they are even better regarding the set of clothing presented above as they have a higher heel.
Beaded Pearl Bangle Wrap Bracelet - the beads are available in different colors and pattern options. The all-grey one seems to go well with silver-tone necklaces.
The last one is a set of 4 cute and rather modest Heishi Surfer Choker 12 Pcs Beaded Layered Necklaces. They could look good as an everyday type of accessory. However, I would rather give the one with the smileys to someone else.
Well, that's all for now regarding the 70s style.
To see all the items mentioned above, that I have found at amazon.com - have a look at my Pinterest board (below).
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