Friday, May 23, 2025
We went to see Lolek, the story of Karol Wojtyla (who would become Pope John Paul II) suffering through Nazi occupation in Krakow during World War II and deciding to become a priest. Lolek was his nickname when he was a kid – Lolek the Goalie. The Catholic boys would play the Jewish boys in soccer. There were often not enough Jewish boys to field a team, and Karol was always willing to switch teams to make things work. Lolek means free man in Polish – he was free to make his own choices.
We were at Open Window Theatre, where they entertain and teach us with every show. I love sitting right in the middle of the front row – almost in the action. It is a three person show, with the guy who is not Karol playing everyone else but Karol’s friend, Halina. Jeremy Stanbary runs Open Window. He also wrote the show and starred in it tonight. He is a talented guy.
I unpacked a box! And put away some miscellaneous stuff sitting around. Things are starting to happen!