He had special love for the Tatra mountain region and its people, the “górale”. The following quotations taken from my years long correspondence with him illustrate this. “Please convey to your fellow highlanders my warmest regards and genuine respect for their tradition of independence, initiative, patriotism, and courage. I have always been attracted to the “Górale”, so keep up the good work”. “Whenever I think of Poland, I think of the Tatra Mountains, when I think of the Tatra mountains, I think of you”. ” You were a great “fellow traveler and I enjoyed the trip together (to Zakopane) especially to the Castle (Niedzica), to the old church and joint hike up the (Tatra) mountain”.
I think that Zbig would have appreciated the song that górale sing (quoted in Rev. Józef’s “Philosophy, Highlander Style” Filozofia po góralsku “ upon the passing of their close ones. “When we leave this place, it will be a pity; In the mountains and valleys, the waters will be crying”. ( Kie pudziemy z tell, to now bedzie skoda, Po górach, dolinach płakać bedie woda.)
Zbig, may you rest in peace. Cześć!
Dr. Thaddeus V. Gromada and Jane Gromada Kedron, co-editors. [email protected] & [email protected]
The photo of Thad Gromada and Zbig Brzezinski in highlander hat was taken in Zakopane in June 2000.