Sunshine on My Shoulder?

Thursday, August 28, 2008

I’ve been in Poland for a total of about eight weeks. I have come to truly enjoy the country and the people I’ve met. I know that I am only here for a short time, so I see myself as an observer but I also know that I come to this place with my own bias. I said this was a journal to share my view of Poland through “Midwestern” eyes. As I think about it; I realize that it is really just me. I call myself a Midwesterner but I’ve lived in the North and the South and on both coasts. I have been most strongly influenced by my Midwestern roots and I’m definitely conservative.
For example, I view the human body as a marvelous machine with inherent beauty. I have enjoyed art that exhibits the beauty of the body. However, when it comes to my own body, let’s just say that I prefer to keep it covered! I don’t wear blouses with plunging necklines, or short skirts (I’m well past the age to do so anyway!), nor do I think the world needs to see my “muffin-top” peeking out between my trousers and my shirt. That’s just me, others are “free-er” in their thinking. My attitude was given a good shake during a recent walk through the park near our apartment!

We were walking home one afternoon when we happened upon sunbathers in the park. The weather was warm and bright so it was understandable that people would be out enjoying the sun. The first pair of outdoor enthusiasts we came upon had quite the little camp set up for their afternoon’s enterprise. They had towels, a couple of stools, and a little table. He was wearing a classic Speedo and she a bikini. They were happily preparing a snack when we came upon them. So far, so good; except that, the two sun worshippers were well past their fifties and quite possibly knocking on the door to the seventies. Add to that, his massive belly that made his brief suit that much briefer. Her body seemed better suited to a muu muu than a bikini. A lifetime of hard work and sunning had made roadmaps of both their bodies. It was a bit of a shock to round the bend in the path and see them but they appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely!

The second pair of sunbathers we encountered caught me even more off guard. They were less obvious and their sunbathing had a more impromptu air about it. At first, I just noticed two people lying on the ground near the path but facing the lake. It seemed that this pair had spontaneously decided to enjoy the sun and just stripped down to their underwear to do so! This pair also appeared to be in the second half of their fifth decade. I have to say, in my 50+ years on this earth, I’ve never had the urge to remove my clothes and sunbathe in a public park. Am I’m missing something or are attitudes just different here?