Memories of our childhood; Ljubač/Sjećanje na Ljubač našeg djetinjstva

When my brother and I were little, we would go on vacation every July or August to the village near Zadar, where our father came from. These were happy holidays that we always looked forward to as children, and in a way, we waited for them all year. It was looking forward to enjoying the sun and the sea on the beautiful beach in nearby Ljubač, which was clearly visible from our hill. But there was much more to it than that. Our numerous relatives were eagerly awaiting us, and I am thinking of the children of my father's brothers and cousins. Of my father's brother Mile, I loved Zdravko the most. He was a quiet, kind boy who always worked hard, but he found time for us and pampered us by bringing us various fruits, četrune, as watermelons are called in that area, but also figs, plums, and melons.

Zdravko

I saw Zdravko again this summer after more than 15 years. He is still quiet and sweet and, like when we were children, he picked figs for me and grilled fish. Zdravko has a lovely wife and a wonderful daughter, whom my Sara and I had the opportunity to get to know better this time.

This summer I also saw my Elvira, the daughter of my father's other brother Grgo.We remembered our childhood and discussed the various destinies of people from our extended family. Our hugs were firm and long after many years.

Elvira

A special place in our hearts and in our lives is held by the children of our father’s first cousin Šime and his wife Anka, Marićka and Zoki.

Anka, Maricka, Zoki,Sara

My brother and I were particularly close to them in childhood and although we saw each other once a year in the summer, we would correspond all year round. My brother wrote to Marićka and I to Zoki since we had spontaneously divided by age, Marićka and my brother were the same age, as were Zoki and I. They have a family house on a hill in a neighboring village and as children they would wait from that hill for our car to appear. And that's how we love each other to this day. Marićka invited my daughter and me to a wonderful, Sunday family lunch where my Sara and Marićka's daughters Antonela and Patricija had the opportunity to get to know each other better. Love found its way even in that generation and our girls opened their hearts to each other. After lunch, Marićka and her husband Frane drove us to Ljubač to the beach. It was a fairy tale, that wonderful, warm sea on the sandy beach of our childhood. We also visited Uncle Šima and Aunt Anka, and Zoki played the accordion for us, just like he used to do long ago. Thank you for the wonderful memories.

We love you all.

Love,

Kristina

Wednesday, August 13^th, 2025

Sjećanje na Ljubač našeg djetinjstva

Kad smo brat i ja bili mali odlazili smo na ljetovanje svaki srpanj ili kolovoz u selo pored Zadra iz kojeg je potekao naš otac. Bili su to veseli praznici kojem smo se mi kao djeca uvijek radovali, a u neku ruku i čitavu ih godinu isčekivali. Bilo je to radovanje suncu i moru na prekrasnoj plaži u obližnjem ljubču koji se sa našeg brijega dobro video. Ali bilo je i puno više od toga. Naši su nas brojni rođaci željno isčekivali, a pritom mislim na djecu tatine braće i bratića. Od tatinog brata Mile najviše sam voljela Zdravka. On je bio jedan tihi dobrica koji je uvijek puno radio, ali nalazio je vremena za nas i mazio nas donoseći nam raznoliko voće, četrune kako u tom kraju zovu lubenice, ali i smokve, šljive, dinje. Zdravka sam ovo ljeto ponovo vidjela nakon više od 15 godina. Još  je uvijek tih i drag i opet mi je, kao i djetetu, ubrao smokve i ispekao ribu na gradele. Zdravko ima dragu ženu i divnu kćer koju smo ovaj puta moja Sara i ja imale priliku bolje upoznati.

Ovo sam ljeto vidjela i svoju Elviru, kćer tatinog drugog brata Grge. Podsjetile smo se našeg djetinjstva i pretresle razne sudbine ljudi iz naše šire obitelji. Naši su zagrljaji nakon dugo godina bili čvrsti i dugi.

Posebno mjesto u našim srcima kao i u našim životima imaju djeca tating prvog bratića Šime i njegove supruge Anke, Marićka i Zoki. Sa njima smo brat i ja bili posebno bliski u djetinjstvu i iako smo se viđali jednom godišnje i to ljeti ljeti, dopisivali bi se čitave godine. Brat je pisao Marićki, a ja Zokiju i tako smo se spontano podijelili po godinama, Marićka i brat su bili iste dobi kao i Zoki i ja. Oni imaju obiteljsku kuću na brijegu iz susjednog sela i kao djeca su sa tog brijega isčekivali kad će se pojaviti naš auto. I tako volimo se i danas. Marićka je mene i moju kćer pozvala na divni, nedeljni, obiteljski ručak na kom su se moja Sara i Marićkine kćeri Antonela i Patricija imale priliku bolje upoznati. Ljubav je i u toj generaciji našla svoj put i naše su cure otvorile srca jedne drugima. Nakon ručka Marićka i njezin suprug Frane su  nas odvezli u Ljubač na plažu. Bilo je bajkovito, to divno pretoplo more na pješčanoj plaži našeg djetinjstva. Posjetili smo i strica Šimu i strinu Anku, a Zoki nam je kao i nekad davno zasvirao na harmonici. Hvala im na divnim uspomenama.

Sve vas volimo.

S ljubavlju,

Kristina

Srijeda, 13. kolovoza 2025.