One such person is Karel Barbarič from Krašči in Goričko. I've known him since childhood and nothing has really changed since then. He has remained the same – willing to help one way or another.
I remember one day he came to visit my family, and my mother was lamenting that she wanted to make mushroom soup, but she had run out of mushrooms. And lo and behold – when Karel came to visit the next time, he first Straight from the forest with porcini mushrooms in hand. Of course, I don't need to tell you how happy that made Mum.
This is not an isolated case. In the autumn, when he gathers chestnuts, he gives some to my family, and my mother even bakes and peels them for him. »This winter he even helped me crack walnuts,« my mother praises him proudly. When she thanks him and asks how she can repay him, he always says, »If I didn't want to bring them, I wouldn't, but I'd gladly have a little drink of Schnapps.With these words, the conversation is concluded.
Karel, or Karči in his native tongue, not only delights people with such nice surprises, but also likes to take on the harder physical work. He has often helped my hosts with firewood harvesting, and this year was no different. Since they couldn't do it all in one day, Karel came back the next day and - without telling anyone - finished the job himself. Only after the work was done did he call at the house and say, »Well, the firewood is stacked. Now we'll have a cup of coffee and Schnapps, and then I'm going to light one up.«
That's just how neighbour Karel is; a simple, modest, and kind-hearted man, which is expressed through his words and deeds. And when someone asks him why he likes to help so much, he simply says: »Because I like to do things if I can, and if I can't, then I can't.«
The last time I visited my parents, Karel was there too. He asked when the stable whitewashing was planned, because he'd like to help get the job done as soon as possible. And again, simply, as his nature is simple, he said: »If I can, I'll help; if not, then I won't.« This conveys the essence in a straightforward and understandable way. Thanks, Karči, for being a good person and a good neighbour.
Jožica Kous, 4 March 2026
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