I just finished Michener’s Poland and I realized again how troubled this nation’s history is. It has rebuilt time after time: Tartar invasions, Teutonic “Christianizing,” the partitions, the Nazi devastation–each and every time the Poles rebuild their country, only to have it destroyed again in a few generations. I am in Poland now at another time of rebuilding. The Communist destruction was not physical (Warsaw was not leveled, again), but psychological. Yet again the country finds itself in charge of its own future instead of its fate decided by some foreign power. The question is: Will Poland once again be conquered? If so, how? Will the world let it happen again? Russia is certainly in no position to do such a thing. But I remember the apprehension of many Poles during the Russian election.

The creek that runs through Lipnica is flooding. This is the highest the water has been since 1975. Already some houses have 1.5 meters of water in them. And there is more rain on the way. When Danuta and I left for the mayor’s house this evening, I was shocked at how furiously the water was rushing by. The small stream is now a vicious river. I would not be surprised if some of the smaller bridges were pulled away, leaving families stranded.

The sound the water makes is awful. I thought when I first arrived in Lipnica, “I wish I could hear that creek . . .” and now I am thankful that I cannot–I would be such a bundle of nerves. Those who live by the stream must be unable to rest–their nerves . . . I can only imagine, and I am sure that I cannot do that well . . .