19-V-1968.

Municipal math competition. Zmaj is the team champion, me individual. I remember I had a keyring fob with a bit of a metallic heart in translucent plastic that I got from E. Served me as an amulet, I thought, in a tiny fit of self-importance.

The music teacher got us (as far as I can see, two of us, don't know the others) into a city level accordeon orchestra. We were all happy that this was an one time event, because who'd haul all those instruments around town, even with dad driving me in fića. We just had one rehearsal, to come together on a few songs we could all play, and then pereformed at some larger event at the Hala sportova. Were it not for this photo, I'd never remember this ever happened, and even with it only this much, only because the comrade on the photo is not our teacher.

The date is approximate - it must have been springtime, that's when all these events are held and the angle of the sun. The year, however, could as well be 1969, but then judging by my haircut and the turtleneck I was wearing, I'd rather say 1968. The turtleneck was synthetic and didn't last a year, had an accident with ironing and melted a bit. We still used the same iron that my parents bought early on, and it didn't have a thermostat, no buttons, nothing. Perhaps it had one inside, but I don't remember ever hearing it tick. Don't know how long it lasted, perhaps deep into seventies.

Elections in Italy won by Aldo Moro's demochristians (+9 mandates), communists successful too (+27). Explosion on the railway station in Belgrade, 14 wounded (Ivan Jelić executed on 2nd of november).

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Mentions: 08-VII-1982., fića, Zmaj, in serbian

5-VIII-2019 - 15-I-2026