Attended the Sts. Cyril & Methodius 45th Annual Slavic Heritage Festival in the Houston Heights, today. Kick-off mass was played by my mother Catherine, and the mass was said in many tongues. Festival sponsor was the Slavic Heritage Alliance of Greater Houston, composed of factions four: Croatian, Czech, Polish, and Ukrainian. Elyse and Raoul got their first taste of a "Czech fest," which I used to catch when I could, back in the day. Sister Rose and Dad Win attended, as well.
Festival highlights included aromatic, mouthwatering ethnic fare; traditional costumes and music; folk dancing by young and old alike (including a scarf dance led by Fr. Paul Chovanec, who married Raoul and me 24 years ago come December); and an appearance by the lovely and talented reigning Miss Harris County Czech-Slovak Queen 2008. Veteran Czech Heritage Singer Rosalie Leonard posed the rhetorical question: "Accordians, Czechs, and beer: How can you beat that?" Rosalie, an accordionist for the singers, led the grand march at Raoul and my wedding, lo those many years ago. It's great to see that she's still going strong.
The festivities were temporarily interrupted by the sudden arrival of the Houston Fire Department, dispatched to put out a fire on the roof of the SBJST Lodge. Never a dull moment, when you're running with the Slavs! Hope to create a photo album with photos from the day: Truly, not your run of the mill Sunday afternoon follies!
Zivio ("a votre sante," comme ils disent en France!)
