Thank you everyone for your kind words. They truly mean a lot to me. It means my mom will not be forgotten. As I said I don't know how my mom stayed so kind and sweet, she couldn't stand to see suffering in anyone or anything. She always said she had seen enough. I remember her eatting cold food, not warming it up. I would say to her "mom do you want me to warm that up for you?" and she replied "no honey I am just glad to have some food". She so enjoyed the smallest things, a warm cup of coffee, a cool drink, a gentle breeze. They were all small miracles to her. Mom took nothing for granted.
She came to America at 34, learned how to speak and read English, worked her entire life until she died of a car accident. She had so little joy. I never understood her pain, Mother's Day with no mom. Christmas, Easter, her own grandchildren and no family to share it with. Who can imagine losing everyone you know and love at 21, along with your home. We as a people must never allow this to happen again. My mom was born in 1925 and her generation is slowly dying out. Soon no one will be left from that time. I hope that we have the compassion, intelligence and kind heart to never forget and never repeat what happened in Germany and all of Europe. These people truly were a great generation. They worked, loved, fought and raised their families with all the love they could after having been through horrible times. Our World War 11 vets are all heros, lets not forget that.
If you are lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent from that time please talk to them. Write down information they have. I wish I know my grandmother's maiden name. I wish I know my aunts and uncles names, what they looked like, what they dreamed off. I know I had an uncle Bruno with red hair. And an aunt Lillian. I wish I know the name of my mom's pony and dog, what her bedroom looked like. How many sisters shared that room. What her favorite meal was as a child. Her favorite holiday memory. So many questions I never asked, so many she couldn't speak of because of the pain. Now lost forever. I have no pictures of my mom's family. The Nazis took their farm their house and all their possesions, I have no pictures of my mom as a child, or her family. I would pay all I have just to see one picture of my grandparents aunts and uncles. If you have pictures of your grandparents I hope you treasure them. It's been 13 years since my mom died. I miss her everyday, but I am now also able to laugh and smile about some good times.
All the good in me, is from her. My love of gardening, flowers and pets.
I live on in my mom as do my children. She would be proud I think.