The most startling fact about the younger generation is its silence. With some rare exceptions, youth is nowhere near the rostrum. By comparison with the Flaming Youth of their fathers & mothers, today's younger generation is a still, small flame. It does not issue manifestoes, make speeches or carry posters.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Generation)
On the other hand, I identify with the baby boomer generation while sharing traits of the silent generation. The onset of television, Chubby Checkers, the Kennedys, the Vietnam War, the Beatles, and the turbulent 1960s, when I was a UW Madison student, are just a few of the influential events marking my journey into adulthood. I did not join the Vietnam war protests while being very aware of its impact on me and my fellow students. My deep need to climb into the middle class and away from what I then considered my rural impoverished background, influenced me to remain focused on completing a Master Degree in Political Science and afterwards, teacher certification.
I don't recall any of my fellow Political Science graduate students being involved in the protests. My major professors were members of the silent generation. Several years ago, while reading David Marniss' book : "They Marched Into Sunlight, War and Peace, Vietnam and America", I learned that Dick Cheney was a Political Science teaching assistant when I was a graduate student. I suspect he was a TA for undergraduate courses. Liz Cheney was born on July 28th, 1966 in Madison when both of her parents were UW students.
Neither can I remember any substantial discussion of the Vietnam war in my classes, even though we were tear gassed on the way to those classes. Yes indeed, we were rather silent.
My life experiences since my UW graduate school days are those more aligned with the boomer generation. I have been involved in political campaigns for years, including canvasing, active at the neighborhood level, active in our church, and joined protests such as the huge 2011 one against Act 10. The Act eliminated collective bargaining for Wisconsin teacher unions.
So what does all this have to do with Prospect Gardens, other than perhaps that I continue gardening despite my advancing age? I choose not to dwell on that. Instead, I celebrate my recent pleasant experiences while tending Prospect Gardens with individuals from Generation Z, those born between 1996 and 2010. I then look back in time in this entry and comment on my family's lineage.
On June 30th four members of West High School's Leo Club joined Ann, my wife, and me. Misha, far right, arrived at 8:15am ready to work as did Sydney( next to Misha). Annabelle, and Charlotte arrived later.
Misha, Sydney, Annabelle and Charlotte became a team that removed several different species of weeds. Misha with her quiet and cheerful demeanor, was in actuality the team leader. The early spring heat and rain helped create an explosion of weeds plus supported the rapid spread of an aggressive broad leaf daisy, which the team also thinned out.
At least a decade ago, I planted one or two of the broad leaf daisies which now have spread throughout the Regent side. Unless thinned out they will become the dominant species and reduce the Garden's diversity, which I value.
By 11am, the team cleared the Regent section of the Gardens. Once again passersby can see the beauty of native plants such as the yet to bloom, golden rod, the red cardinal flower, and red-purple Joe Pye Weed.
Here we are during a well deserved break. I so enjoyed working near them and listening to their laughter and conversations, some focused on being a high school student in 2022. These members of Generation Z can work, talk and enjoy each other all as the same time.
Being with them on a warm late June morning gives me hope for the future. I wish them well and look forward to perhaps another work session with them before winter returns to Prospect Gardens.
Thank you for your hard work and joyful spirits. May you all enjoy the remaining summer season. Keep enjoying your high school years. Those are precious years.
Nearly a month later, on a sunny mild July 25th, another older contingent of Generation Z tended the Gardens. Once again I welcomed a crew from Operation Fresh Start (OFS) led by Taylor, seated in the center. To her left is Kobea, Manny on the top left, Donte to my left, and Don lower right, leaning against the rail. Not pictured is Colty. The five young men joined Operation Fresh Start as a step towards self-sufficiency and achieving their their life goals. See https://www.operationfreshstart.org
Colty, who I nicknamed "Rock Man", is interested in geology. Colty was immediately attracted to the rocks after he arrived. He pointed out several types of different rocks. His enthusiasm for rocks reminded me that the rocks of Prospects Gardens, which I often consider a nuisance, are loaded with information and have their rightful place in the universe.
Thank you Taylor, Colty, Manny, Kobea, Donte and Don for your hard work. Special thanks to Maddie Dumas, from City Engineering, for providing access to OFS crews.
While working with the crew my interests in Tai Chi and Qi Gong somehow came up. Somebody asked if I could show them how and one thing led to another. So after enjoying a break of chocolate chip cookies and grapes, I led a short session for those who wanted to join in. Peace and quiet descended while we went through a few gentle Qi Gong movements.
We returned to work and finished just before noon. One of the young men suggested that I post a before and after picture. Sorry, I don't have a "before" one. Here's an "after."
Unfortunately Bishops Weed, as most gardeners know, returns. More drastic measures may be needed. Removing all rocks from some of the affected areas, digging to remove as much of the roots as possible, and then replanting is one option. Smothering Bishops Weed by covering the now denuded areas is another option. The nuclear option is Round Up, which I am reluctant to do. Then, I just may accept Bishops Weeds. Right now, I am uncertain about which option I will take.
After finishing work, we hung together on the steps before the crew left. I noticed Donte's flip phone, an artifact from another generation. He received the phone from his Grandmother and I asked if I could see it.
As the picture with Donte indicates, I did a short commentary about the phone. The picture does not capture the humor and laughter we shared as a result of my little act involving a flip phone.
We said our goodbyes and several of us shook hands. Ann and I are very grateful for your help. We wish the very best to Manny, Colty, Don, Donte, and Kobea as they complete OFS programs and move into the next phase of their lives. You all have much to contribute to our world. May our paths cross again.
Last May 30, Dominic Wayne, my great grand nephew joined my family. I think he is the youngest member of my family tree that now spans from the silent generation to the current alpha generation. The proud parents are Brian and Trisha, and the proud grandparents are Steve, my nephew, and his wife, Karen. Dominic's picture is from a Facebook posting.
According to my millennial daughter, Emily, Facebook is no longer widely used by her generation. It's now for old folks like me. Emily and I don't subscribe to TikTok, the latest social media platform. Neither am I a frequent user of Twitter.
Jozefa's first husband and my Great Grandfather Michael Blaszczyk, with the title of Vogt, died on January 16, 1880. The title of "vogt" refers to Michael's position as the overseer and manager of all laborers on a large manor owned by a German noble near Ciosna, Poland, which was then part of the Prussian Empire. Poland was divided in the late 18th century and did not exist again until after World War 1.
Michael's job put him in the unenviable position of being between the owner (a noble) and workers who were often dissatisfied. In short, he was the enforcer. According to Michael's death certificate, discovered by a Polish genealogist from Poznan that I hired, Michael died from being crushed in a machine. My older sister Jenny was told that Michael was murdered by his workers, which suggests Michael was pushed into the machine. The Polish genealogist was unable to verify if it was a murder. You could say we have a family murder mystery waiting to be solved.
The story continues and becomes equally important. Jozefa, with six living children, on February 28th, 1881, just a year after Michael's death, marries Thomas, a bachelor. He is 20 years younger than Jozefa. About three or four years later, (1884 or 1885 depending on which record) Jozefa, Thomas and three Blaszczyk children (Mary, Josephine, and Frank) leave Ciosna and eventually settle on an farm near Angelica, which is near Pulaski. Two of her other sons (my Grandfather Leo and Peter) arrived in the early 1890s.
Travel costs to emigrate to America, according to my research, were reasonable. Major obstacles were psychological and emotional in nature. How did Jozefa and others like her summon the courage to leave family behind, knowing that they may never see them again? Her oldest son apparently remained in Poland. Community leaders, including influential Catholic priests, often opposed immigration. How did Jozefa and others respond to the charge that they were abandoning the centuries of efforts of keeping the Polish culture alive in the face of constant pressure to totally assimilate into the German culture?
I tell this family history to underscore that many ancestors of Dominic's generation are immigrants with lives that required courage, tenacity, and overcoming adversity; along with a good dose of adventure.
With courage and optimism, Jozefa and her family left Cisona in a cart, made their way west to either the ports of Hamburg or Bremen (at least 450 miles), boarded a ship, and eventually reached Wisconsin.
My family is grateful Jozefa's journey succeeded. She and her second husband successfully established a base that allowed my Grandfather Leo and his brother Peter to join her. Grandfather Leo and Grandma Julia bought 40 acres in WI in June 1899 from Julia's father, a month after they were married and eight years after Leo emigrated. Both cleared the land and established a farm and in 1913 bought another 40 acres. In 1923, my Father, Anton bought the 80 acre farm, less than a year after he married my Mother, Anna. He expanded it to 120 acres. Grandma Julia and Grandpa Leo lived with my family until their deaths; he in 1943 and she in 1951. Grandma Julia worked in the fields throughout her life. My Mother sold the farm in 1962 and moved into Pulaski. Incidentally, Jozefa lived to be 93 years old.
I end these reflections about generations and family linage with Carl Sandburg's poem, a favorite of mine.
LET LOVE GO ON
Let it go on; let the love of this hour be poured out till all the answers
are made, the last dollar spent and the last blood gone.
Time runs with an ax and a hammer, time slides down the hallways with
a pass-key and a master-key, and time gets by, time wins.
Let the love of this hour go on; let all the oaths and children and people
of this love be clean as a washed stone under a waterfall in the sun.
Time is a young man with ballplayer legs, time runs a winning race
against life and the clocks, time tickles with rust and spots.
Let love go on; the heartbeats are measured out with a measuring glass,
so many apiece to gamble with, to use and spend and reckon; let
love go on.
