Here, dense trees embrace old houses, thoughts are clearer and compassion louder. In the authentic embrace of nature here, a story once unfolded that still warms the hearts of those who lived through it - a story of mutual help, of humanity and of simple acts that brighten even the loneliest of days. In this little piece of paradise on earth, Mr Silvo Petkovšek also had his place in the sun.
Silvo was an elderly man who life had shaped into a modest and quiet man. His home was a little off the beaten track, at the edge of the forest, where the treetops provided shade even when the summers were at their hottest. He had been out of his mind for several years and could no longer do many things on his own. Nevertheless, he was always smiling and his eyes still retained a youthful sparkle whenever he spoke to someone who had taken the time for him.
His life has not always been easy. The loneliness that was part of the latter required organisation and courage. In summer, when the sun was still warm, Silvo was already thinking about winter - about heating, about wood and about hot meals that might not come. But it was at this time that the hearts of members of the Pristovnik family, who lived nearby, intervened and they decided to help Silvo.
Two members of this family, Lidija and Srečko, brought more than good cheer one day in late summer. They brought axes, a chainsaw, work gloves and a plan on how to cut, stack and prepare firewood for the winter. Combining the useful with the pleasant. Silvo was already touched when they arrived, but the real warmth he felt was when they worked for him with perseverance, as if they were doing it for themselves. They brought a team with them; extra hands to help.
As their hands worked tirelessly sawing, chopping and carrying the wood, the smell of a freshly lit barbecue was already in the air. Homemade delicacies were sizzling on the grates - sausages, meat and a few vegetables from the nearby garden. The rum was good, the conversation lively and the laughter relaxed. It was not all work. It was community and closeness. Silvo sat a little to the side, but more in the centre with each passing moment. Words were superfluous - he was simply grateful not to be forgotten.
Minka, my neighbour, came next door. She is no longer alive today, but back then she brought something special with her - a baked yoghurt cake made from cherries and other authentic homemade ingredients. At the end of the day, she sliced it and offered it to us, and many of us had it deeply imprinted in our hearts. A simple cake that was full of meaning in that moment.
The party went on into the evening. In the silence of the forest, accompanied by the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, eyes met and faces literally lit up with pride. Silvo was tired, but happy. Somewhere between the door and the first step into the night, he said, "Thank you. This means more to me than all of you together can imagine."
Mr Silvo has been deceased for some years now, but those who knew him still carry him in their hearts. His memory is associated with a cheerful spirit, a warm gaze and an unobtrusive wisdom. He was a man who did not need much to be happy - just a little warmth, a kind face and a feeling of belonging. To someone, somewhere... To simply be part of something.
The proverb says: "The hand washes the hand, and the two wash the face"... And it is in moments like these, when we shake hands to sincerely help each other, that not only the face is cleansed, but also the heart. Such actions remain in our memories as imprints, reminding us that we are strongest when we are not alone.
Zala Krupljan, 20. 5. 2025
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