I’m usually eager for Autumn to get her come late August. I’m a big fan of the pumpkin flavored/scented craze, the cooler nights, windows open while baking apples coated in warm cinnamon. It’s a favorite time for many with some of my friends and family already out on adventures to the local Target or Homegoods to find just the right Halloween paraphernalia to decorate their homes for the season.
I’m pretty sure I’ve aways felt ready around now. Eager to swap my tank tops with sweaters, trade in my seltzers with lime for a warm pumpkin spiced latte. I’m ready to change all the little things to match the changes around me.
It all seems a bit superficial as I write this. We are emersed in this society of social media posts showcasing a fully done up gal in plaid casually shopping for pumpkins, as well as, advertisements encouraging our transition to the next big Holiday. It’s pretty impossible not to dive in.
I’m not feeling it this year. Not yet. I’m sure I will eventually. I’m not sure why. I’m holding on to Summer. Perhaps it’s because Summer has been so wonderful to us this year. We traveled abroad to Poland for almost 3 weeks and had, what I would say, was the trip of a lifetime. We explored old cities, swam along the Baltic Sea, and most importantly – visited/met with close family.
The trip incorporated a shifting momentum from a rapid pace of exploration in historic places to a more relaxed experience visiting my mom’s hometown. Both speeds were enjoyed in different ways, and as usual, the best memories were somewhat unpredictable.
Despite seeing the largest salt mine in Europe, taking a horse-drawn carriage through historic Krakow at night and jumping in bounce houses on the shores of Gdansk, my children most enjoyed the feel of multiple pigeons on their arms as they feed them in the medieval square in Krakow. Apparently, this is not uncommon. Families and groups of children gathered in the square throughout the day and even brought bird feed to entice these feathered friends. Ironically, for my children, it seemed that no other experience could quite live up to this one.
When asked about their favorite part of Poland, both of my oldest children eagerly reply, “Feeding the pigeons!” Not only this, but they subsequently held their hands out in hopes to attract pigeons throughout our adventures abroad. They were fairly disappointed to learn that trying to attract pigeons and feed them is generally discouraged, as pigeons carry diseases and are not typically as friendly as that Krakow bunch.
Life can be quite simple if you want it to be. My children didn’t care too much about the deep history of the land they were exploring. They are at a time in their lives when they live for the experiences. They live for the feelings of the moment and simple acts that bring pure joy in their hearts and make them feel good. It’s really very heartwarming when you think about it.
They similarly didn’t are too much about the history surrounding Stancyzcki – the tallest bridges built in Poland. As we explored the site with my cousin, his wife and their children, all my little folks cared about was playing tag along the old train tracks that once transported goods from Poland to Germany during the times of WWII. My oldest son was most intrigued by the warning signs for snakes in the forest surrounding the bridge. As we trekked down the trail to get to the ground, he kept searching the forest and excitedly shrieking “I see one! There’s a snake!” Thankfully, I think this was all in his imagination, but it was enough to scare our other littles and similarly bring me joy as I admired his curiosity and eagerness to explore.
There were many such experiences exploring historic places. My memories were perhaps a bit more predictable. I did love learning the history of these beautiful historical landmarks. Poland is where all of my family is from – literally, all. I am an American and grew up in the city of Philadelphia among American culture. My mom always says she made us stir fry and bought us American albums with nursery songs in English before she even spoke the language. She did this so we wouldn’t be “the odd kids in school.” She read about American culture and observed those around us so that we wouldn’t be the only ones at school with Kielbasa for lunch or who didn’t know classic American fairytales.
Despite her best efforts, my upbringing was emersed in Polish culture. We learned Polish as children as my mom was still learning English herself. We learned Polish dance and classic polish phrases from our large and frequent family gatherings. My mom still wanted us to know about our culture thus we went to Saturday Polish school for most of my childhood. I also grew up two rowhomes away from my closest cousins and most of my Dad’s family was about a 5-10 minute drive away.
As we explored Poland this Summer, a familiar sense of home overwhelmed me. I grew up witnessing the mannerisms and values of the Polish people, as well as their sense of pride and overwhelming hospitality. I felt like I belonged. I felt like a kid again, experiencing the culture that I was raised upon. Walking through the old cities brought me a sense of belonging as I imagined my ancestors walking there. We rummaged through the forests of Goldap, just along the Russia border, as I pictured my young mom running around as a child, picking blueberries and searching for mushrooms for dinner. There was something magical about it.
I am so grateful that we were able to give my children these experiences. I’m grateful that we were able to explore my culture and create new memories. My kids were able to envision a different way of life and understand that our differences make us interesting and bring beauty to the world. It all made me appreciate my background and my childhood rich in culture- one that is largely defined by experiences with those around you.
As we settled home from our trip for the remainder of the Summer, we made multiple other beautiful memories. These revolved around trips to the Jersey shore and Pocono’s with my husband’s family. They were classic Summer adventures filled with ample family time, laughter and love. I like to think of certain Summer experiences as traditions and experiences that we look forward to from year to year. They produce memories that my children will remember forever which are part of their culture. I imagine that one day they will take their littles to the Jersey shore and feel that sense of belonging that I felt in Poland.
Reflecting on Summer makes me truly appreciate the significance of experiences and interactions with others. Life seems less and less about recalling that we saw Wawel castle in Poland but more about the laughter we shared as our children spread out on the benches in the castle, tired of looking at the King’s ancient rug collection. It feels less about the must see magical pirate ship cruise in Gdansk but more about the pure fun we had watching an impromptu dance off between my youngest son and a German man along the beach in Gdansk.
Granted, these things set the scene. They make the setting and engage our interests. We go to explore history and appreciate those before us. We travel and explore to learn and grow and appreciate the diverse world we live in. All in all, it all goes together. Somehow, through it all – when I reflect on Poland – it’s the people and the feelings that come forefront.
One of my mom’s favorite sayings is that from the great Maya Angelou. She proclaimed, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” My mom likes to remind me of this from time to time, especially when I am encountering a difficult obstacle in my life.
Just as I reminisce and try to capture our Summer experiences in words, I know that those certain feelings and interactions will remain strong in my mind for future recounting. In similarity, perhaps I’m not ready to jump into the “things” of Autumn yet as I am holding on to the feelings from Summer. As I watched my littles take off for their first day of school today, I felt the speed of time. Our recent travels are becoming more distant by the second. I know that as they grow, the things my kids chose to remember will also change. My only hope is that they remember how their experiences made them feel and that they can carry feelings of happiness, self-awareness and appreciation for others with them as they go.
Breath sounds and bubbles 