Patrycja, Dora and Pepe.
stories of normalcy #4
WE MUSTRETURN TO APPRECIATING THE LITTLE THINGS AND LIVE MORE LIGHTLY…”
these are the words Patrycja spoke at the beginning of our chat. Talking about more and less, we started by talking about Pepe, her sweetest dog, who really went through a long series of vicissitudes before coming back to brighten the days in Patrycja and Dora, her mom’s home.
Walks, sunny days, the simple things in everyone’s life : the most ordinary things, which taken with the right philosophy and attention, become beautiful moments, to be enjoyed and savored.
A break with a steaming cup of tea in hand, playing with Pepe at the park, walking along the river on Sundays. These are the things that matter to Patrycja, the normal things that make her feel good— the great little everyday things that she, her mom, and little Pepe experience.
Patrycja is a tall, beautiful woman with fine features and a kind soul: a bit shy at first, some initial wariness is evident from her voice. Polish, 34 years old, in Italy since she was 14. She has the voice of someone who has seen so much, the voice of a woman fragile on the outside but strong in her soul.
“My mom, Dora to her friends, is 62.We live together in Italy, but we are not alone here, there are also my cousin And his daughter. My cousin moved to Turin and then so did we, now for 15 years, maybe longer…. “
– His face softens as he begins to tell me about his beloved Pepe –
“since November we got little dog, to whom I had already made By dog sitter long time ago — I love animals. His owner could no longer keep him, so we took him “
– continues with a big expressive smile –
“Pepe – It’s too funny, I watch it and laugh so much! It’s almost perfect, he plays alone, in company, with other dogs, he is very cuddly. You know my mom had a hard time and he changed her life! Pepe is like a little brother to me, he is very vital and brightens up our days! “
Patrycja continues, walking and talking, in what is our walk together under the house, where they walk the dog.
“He was sick, he had become apathetic, lifeless, we couldn’t understand, then we finally understood, after going around a thousand veterinarians. Mother took him to see one of the last times and they put the Elizabethan collar on him. You don’t know how many sleepless nights getting him to drink and keep him from scratching–he is finally better now! He’s regained his energy and vitality, he’s extra cuddly, he’s always making new friends on the playground! “
I ask a little more about her-I like to get to know the people I photograph!
“With mom I have a very good relationship. I moved here as a young girl, severed the relationships I had in Poland and started my new life here. I have historical friends that I get along with, all over the world, not just in Turin. I like to consider myself a citizen of the world, to have comparison–to get to know other countries. I have few Polish friends here, but a lot of foreign friends, of all nationalities. Then here I had different experiences … translator, interior designer, now I am a set designer … I don’t know what the future will hold for me “.
– I see in her a creative woman in the midst of professional and personal growth-a woman who is discovering herself, self-awareness.
“We are different women, but both very strong, like all the women in my family actually! Normally at home I cook, she doesn’t like to cook too much, she kind of adapts.
My mom is very religious. On Christmas Eve, she prepares our typical dishes. In Poland they do 12 courses, we do barszcz and pierogi every time, then just our favorite dishes, also because there are two of us + Pepe!”
We conclude our talk by talking about photography:
“I take pictures, I even had my own exhibition recently, I would like to go back to the analog method and have a physical relationship with the paper, in the darkroom… I am a very visual person. I like to keep my memories, to have them there, at hand when I want to take them back. “
