When I was growing up my best friend (since 7th grade) was Cindy Smercheck. We remain friends to this day. She was from Czechoslovakian ancestry and lived on a farm south of the town I grew up in, near the Czech Church of all things! She went to country school until 3 rd grade and we became friends in middle school. I loved going to her house. It was a big drafty farm house with poor water pressure, poor tv reception, and a warm kitchen where something was always cooking. It was the only room I ever remember seeing her grandma in. My vague memory of her was that she was always cooking. I don't think she lived long after Cindy and I became friends. I believe she met a tragic death from a grease fire in the kitchen where she died cooking for her family. I don't remember her name but I have an image of this tiny little granny with a bent back and pot holder in her hand looking in the oven. And I do remember eating her kolaches. Poppy seed, prune, and apricot I believe.
This morning I thought of her when I ate an apricot kolache in what is left of Czech Village in Cedar Rapids. Czech Village was covered in water in the flood that devastated Cedar Rapids a few years ago and I regret that I never saw it before this morning. The picture here is of the street that runs between the bakery and what is left of the village shops.
Here is sign that I couldn't resist photographing, though I have no idea what it says.
And the bridge that crosses the river that rose to destroy the businesses of Czech village had these cool gargoyles and this beautiful railing . I hope Cedar Rapids is able to re-build Czech Village and I am able to return for another visit someday.
