A Nostalgic Visit

We recently made an all-too-short visit to Prague. it was our first trip there in nearly 10 years, over twenty years since we lived there (1983-1986) and it was nearly 40 years since our first visit there in August 1969. We saw a number of old and dear friends and missed others. We will stay longer next time! It was a nostalgic visit and one which restored our hope in the future of Prague and Central Europe.

There were many poignant moments, perhaps none quite so as this surprise visit to a monument arranged by Jazz Section leader Karel Srp.



The plaque (seen above) commemorates the planting of trees in the 1980s by several visiting writers to Prague (Kurt Vonnegut, John Updike, Gordon Skilling) and lists Jazz Section supporters at the Embassy in Prague, including the author of this blog and John Brown, Madeleine Albright, Wendy Luers and Sam Westgate. The trees--like the Jazz Section--and Democracy in Prague-- are still alive and thriving despite changes and the pace of history.