Magyar News, 2002. szeptember-2003. augusztus (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-03-01 / 7. szám
■L. Making friends with “Miss Calf” Taking care of the laundry village style Monika to frolic about with the dog Hector. This pleased me immensely as I'd observed, sadly, how few dogs were in evidence in the city proper and rary a cat anywhere. After many native drinks we had a buffet of cold meats and cheese, stuffed duck eggs (called Parisian eggs) cakes and cookies plus fruit. And more wine and beer’ Ye gods -- out came the Turns’ By the time we finished eating we were stuffed to the gills and overflowing with liquids, yet I noticed that Sándor had not taken a drop of anything. He explained there are severe reprisals if one is caught driving with liquor on their breath. We headed eastward, traversing the famous plain of Hungary, a vast stretch of greensward, dotted with grazing cattle and herds of sheep, here and there a communal farm with bam, sheds and out-buildings. Now and then we passed through tiny villages with a main street, stucco houses on both sides, a church, one or two stores - and that was it. At the last big city to the east, Miskolc, site of the largest steel mill in Hungary, we veered westward a bit, coming to the village of Kelecsény, our destination, about dusk. All the uncles, aunts, cousins and second cousins were on hand as we drove into the yard of cousin Albert and his wife Jolika. A flurry of hugs and kisses from all, and for the first time I was tmly conscious of the European custom of men bussing one another, first on one cheek and then the other. Dinner almost immediately was a very festive occasion, followed by a lord session of gift-giving. It seemed to go on endlessly, and around midnight I was so bushed that I excused myself, but Lou stayed on to talk of family affairs. Les was in a smaller room off the one Lou and I occupied, and he was worried about the chill of the rooms as well as the dampness of the beds (no basements Page 6 under any of the houses) since it was unusally chilly for May. At breakfast the next morning I was confronted for the first time with the country custom of fortifying onself for a taxing day ahead: two shots of pear brandy before so much as a mouthful of food! Races right down the length of one's body and ends up with a BANG at the tip of the toes! Platters of hot sausage, fried pork chops and home fries were passed around; I passed them up but did succumb to a new delicacy: "piritós"- toast. Edge slices of bread toasted on top of the coal stove, next daubed with a thick mixture of chicken fat and garlic, then put back on the stove for further toasting. Result: a wonderful, unique breakfast treat — but, oh, the after results....Thank God for the Turns!!! After breakfast I walked alone on the deserted main street. Nary a car in sight, and only a handful of pedestrians. Soon I commenced hearing a pattering sound mixed with tinkling bell sounds. Soon a huge herd of sheep came into sight, being herded from the communal farm, to the grazing section at the other end of town. The huge group, at least 200, were roving under the capable hand of one shepherd and an alert Puli sheepdog, who was controlled by the whistle calls and hand signals of his master. Cousin Louis' daughter Kati was being graduated from High School that morning, and most of us went to the openair services in a neighboring town. All the graduates, both boys and girls, carried bouquets of flowers, and it was noticeable that many of the "boys" were actually men in their 30's. Evidence that for one reason or another their education had been interrupted, and that they were finishing their formal education later than the girls. Towards five Sándor showed up with his car and took Les and myself for a drive north of the town, to a section very near the Czechoslovakian border and known as the "Pocono's" of Hungary. Wooded and picturesque, it was delightful to drive around, but Les was distinctly uneasy at the sight of border patrols with slung rifles. Back to Kelecsény we sat down at another groaning table of food and drinks, followed by conversation and TV for those who wanted it. Les and I chose to watch a Hungarian station beaming out "Casablanca" with Hungarian dialogue dubbed in. I'd seen it at home a few weeks earlier, and it was weird to hear Bogart and Bergen talking in Hungarian. There was much picture taking this day as most of the family were on hand, and we were even snapped in front of the tiny two-room cottage (with dirt flooring) where Baba, Lou's mother had lived until she came to the States at the age of 16. Then we all strolled over to the house of Louis and Rozsika for dinner. This meant we sat for several hours eating and consuming liquor, with me thinking I'd fast for the rest of the trip! No such luck, because soon afterward Sándor, Lou, Les and myself drove over the "mountain" to the next town of Rudabanya, where we were to deliver some gifts to relatives of Bridgeport people. Thus we spent several hours in the delightful company of a family where the man of the house was the purchasing agent of an iron ore mine, evidently a person of some importance, since the house was tastefully furnished, and we were regaled with glass after glass of the finest Tokay wine plus accompanying cookies, biscuits, cake and the like.... Back in Kelecsény Les and I were so stuffed that we had to take a nap at Sándor and Magda's house, where we were due to consume yet another feast! It was another meal which was almost a duplicate of the one we'd had at noon but, if possible, with
