"LIVING IN POLONIA"

JOY OF SUMMER

Some people may revel in the heat of summer, but it is probably true that most prefer the milder temperatures of spring or fall, especially during a year such as this with its feverish intensity. Nevertheless, summer does bring with it a plethora of festivals and special events.

From one end of the land to the other, summertime features a seemingly endless list of Polish American festivities, consisting of Polish and polka festivals, lawn fetes, picnics, banquets, exhibitions, etc.

The events are filled with joy, laughter and camaraderie. Hundreds, or even thousands, can be present, but the main feature is a merry mood among them all.

There is almost always food, and drinks are omnipresent, the latter often being the catalyst for trouble at other events, but rarely in Polonia. The Chicago police will tell you that serving as security at a Polish American event, no matter how large, is almost always a pleasure. There is almost never an instance of fisticuffs or violence. Other nationalities will readily credit Poles with an ability to consume vast quantities of alcohol, but, nevertheless, even petty arguments are uncommon.

What is it that creates this happy and salubrious attitude? It must be something in the air.

To be honest, it is not something that we see throughout the year. Perhaps it is the gray, dreary days of winter that brings out the latent hostility in us. I do not suggest that the darker times produce violent differences, for I have not really witnessed the sort of human explosions that sometimes mar the gatherings of other groups, but there is surely plenty of room for disagreement than in more balmy weather.

It is said that one can place three Poles in a room and get at least four different opinions, and, if we are honest with ourselves, we must acknowledge that common occurrence. Naturally, it is not necessary or even desirable that everyone concur, but disagreements among us can become nasty, if not physically, at least verbally. While I do not recall seeing punches exchanged, I have had the opportunity to observe some rather vicious verbal exchanges over relatively unimportant issues. Amidst discussion of weightier matters, it is good that we no longer carry sabers … sharpness of tongue is enough to shatter our unity.

I’m not sure what all of this comes to. In December, we ordinarily hope that the Christmas spirit would continue throughout the next twelve months. In summertime, it is less likely that we would ask for the festival happiness persist. That might just be a bit too much to expect. On the other hand, just a bit of the summer smile might linger during the monotonous cloudy days of the year. Perhaps, we should have beer stands and polka bands at all meetings of Polish Americans … a nice notion, but probably not conducive to the work with which we are often charged.

Oh, well, let us wallow in the joy of summer while it lasts.