My Life and Times · Chapter 6 of 10

Meeting Papa

I met Papa as follows. In the summer of 1937, I was practicing in the pharmacy at Jaunjelgava. Besides me, there were two other students from Rīga. One was Papa, who was engaged in surveying the area around the Daugava, because there were plans to build a hydroelectric plant there. The other was a veterinary student (female) who worked for the local veterinarian. To get to Jaunjelgava, it was necessary to take the train from Rīga to Skrīveri station. From there it was still several km to the Daugava, where a raft carried people across the river to Jaunjelgava. One day, both Papa and the veterinary student stepped off the raft. She walked ahead with Papa some distance behind. Suddenly she stumbled and Papa hurried up to her to help. So they became acquainted and walked together. The veterinary student invited Papa over the next evening for pancakes. Since I was another one of the same sort (i.e. students), I also received an invitation. I remember that the lady of the house could hardly keep up the cooking, we ate so fast. She did not skimp on butter either; it was very tasty. After dinner, Papa walked home with me and we agreed to meet again. In Latvia houses often were surrounded by a fence with a gate which was locked in the evening. To get out, I had no alternative but to go out of the window, onto the street. It wasn’t long before the neighbor Jewish woman saw me and reported me to the drugstore owner. I don’t remember any more how the subsequent conversation went down. Papa and I continued our walks along the Daugava. We also visited a park across the Daugava. This park was famous for its unique trees and bushes. A previous owner of the land had planted only trees that were not native to Latvia, but were able to grow in Latvia’s climate. Schoolchildren came here on day trips as well as people who were interested in unusual things. On the other side of the Daugava was also Aizkraukles castle, which was the scenario for Pumpurs’ epic of Lāčplesis (Bear Slayer). Around Jaunjelgava were many interesting places. We also did canoeing on the river. Even though Papa did not know how to swim, he was not particularly afraid of drowning. So on one fine afternoon when we were both sitting on a hillside and watching as the sun was slipping down toward dusk, Papa took my hand and said I was his love. Later, he figured that if the colors had not been so beautiful that day, he might not have felt that way…

So fall arrived and everyone left for their respective schools, Papa to Jelgava Agricultural Institute and I to Rīga and U. of Latvia. We made plans to meet later in Riga, and later Papa did come to visit me. But in Rīga somehow I did not have the same romantic feelings as in the beautiful surroundings of Jaunjelgava. I was careless with my words and presented an indifferent if not hostile attitude. Papa had his feelings hurt and left. Left by myself, I suddenly felt lonely. I decided it would be better to meet and talk things over. I knew where he was: At the Jelgava train station waiting for the train. I went there and saw Papa among a group of people. We talked things out, made up and so stayed together for more than half a century. Later when we had fights and arguments over this and that, Papa would ask “Then why did you run after me at the Jelgava train station that time?” I would answer “But I think it was a smart thing to do. If I had not done that, you would not have Pēteris, Līga or Kalvis.” Yes, kids, where would you be now had I not run after Papa? That is a big mystery. So I began to date Papa. He was a pleasant and attentive friend. I never forced my will on him. We went to the theater, opera movies (those were in fashion then). Once time in the opera, we were sitting in the loge (that was unusual because usually we bought standing room tickets along with the other students) because we had seen that no one was in those seats, so we sat down. Papa took my hand and held it. Beside us happened to be an earlier boyfriend of mine, who was looking at us with wide eyes. I felt some satisfaction, because I had given him plenty of opportunity to get closer to me, which he passed up. So during the day we would each go to our separate lectures but would meet in the evening.