D has been K’s best friend for as long as I’ve know K, and at least ten years longer. She was K’s guardian angel during our wedding, always fixing K’s veil, K’s hair, K’s dress — always fixing.

Today, we went to the village D and her family now call home: Pyzowka. I could go on and on about this and that, about how it’s such a beautiful village situated perfectly in hills that look on mountains. About how the girls loved the visit, especially the time wih D’s daughter. About how the time with good friends always ends up with smiles and laughter.

I could go on and on about all that, but the pictures speak for themselves.

Pyzowka is a village that in a sense no longer exists in Poland. Villages that used to rely on farming and were powered by horses are no longer either. What has happened? A mass exodus? Demographics? Perhaps a little of both.

My own experiences in Lipnica — itself a time machine — many children paid special attention to English lessons because they promised the possibility of escape.

One former student told me, “One woman I clean for asked me, ‘Where did you learn to speak English well?’ I replied, ‘I had a great English teacher.'” I was flattered, to say the least. And I saw for the first time how I sold the only ticket out of the village.

“It’s better than working in the fields.”

Often I saw my students working in the fields over the summer. For them, a summer break made sense, for they still lived the reality that inspired the summer break throughout the Western world. In the States, I’m not so sure it’s necessary.

And so everyone wanted to escape. And I returned. And probably would return again if the stars aligned themselves.

After all, who could ever think of escaping views like this?

“If I lived in Pyzowka,” I told K, “I would to for a walk every stinking day.”

“I know,” she replied.

“Today didn’t stink!” proclaimed L from the back seat.

Point taken.

Still, if you had views like this, wouldn’t you head out for a stroll as often as humanly possible?

And if you had friends like this, wouldn’t you visit them as often as possible?