The day it really begins. The almost whole week went in just gathering and getting to know the place. We meet Elvir, who gathers us in the telegraphy classroom (actually the only one we had), with a key installed for each seat. He gives us a speech about this or that, and mentions that we are gathered here specifically to fullfill the needs of our territorial units for later, when we go home and become reserve. Yeah, right, there were four of us from my city and one from a village about 30km away and then practically no Belgraders or anyone from any major city. But we had three locals, who could get home in a matter of hours, both within 100 km range.
The guys from my city - well, we never met before, or at least didn't know each other.
First, Blaja. Funny guy and generally a good pal to have in company. Graduated musician, actually an opera singer (in a choir of the theatre in Novi), worked as both a music teacher in the elementary and as a tavern musician, sometimes both on the same day.
Then a true peasant. A city boy, finished gimnazija but being generation of 1959, he finished the last year in Belgrade, because he severely broke his nose dismantling a tractor wheel hub by force - and it hit him squarely when it gave. Had a gift to get wounded in most stupid ways, anyway, at least once a month. Five years later, my dad bought a vineyard next to his dad's. Then I met his dad there many times, but never saw him again.
The third guy is a thin hungarian guy from 3rd gimnazija, whom I also didn't see again until the 40 and 45 year parastos. We even spoke briefly the second time.
The guy from the village is interesting. He did finish some higher school, and then went on to FON (organizational sciences) to graduate, and even brought books. At some point he urged Elvir to grant him a leave of absence of just three days, which he wouldn't use to go home, but rather to Dubrovnik, where his love interest was spending the winter. She was married to some guy who was absent most of the time. Saw a picture, real beauty.
2-V-2021 - 21-III-2025