The Bell
rang, we are dismissed, school is out, and summer begins.
Anemone
As much as
my sister Friedl, 10 years old and I, Ilona, 8 years old loved school, when
summer started, we always looked forward to our four weeks of summer vacation.
Especially the trip planned for us to go to the Isle of Ruegen with Mama, Mrs.
Kramer our governess, Friedl and I. The Island of Ruegen is on the Pomeranian
Coast, of the North Sea (Baltic Sea) of Germany and is the largest Island of
that country. It is a beautiful Island, white chalk cliffs, white sandy beaches
with beautiful hotels, homes, and little towns. Our
This last couple weeks, I have been deeply moved by how many of my dear friends and family members reached out to me or took me out to celebrate my birthday which was a little more than a week ago. It’s a “meh” birthday number, nothing special, not one of the biggies, and yet, my loved ones and friends sent love and greetings via social media, mail, email, ecards, phone calls, texts, and long-overdue in-person get togethers full of laughs, food, and drink.
I didn’t know how much I needed all that love and connection after a very long pandemic and a sense of isolation on my beautiful little island (Vashon, Washington). But it turns out I really did. I feel so much brighter this week as a result of that precious community (both online and in-person community connections).
Though I am still anxious about Covid and the risk of getting sick, or people I love getting sick, and though I am now angst-ridden and worried about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and fears for the Ukrainian people (and all of us!)–especially as a person whose childhood was flooded with the fears caused by The Cold War with Russia and the fears of a Nuclear War and the “Duck and Cover” drills we did in my elementary classroom (as if a plastic classroom table top would protect me from a nuclear bomb dropped on our school!!)– I realized how very fortunate I am and how much I have to be grateful for.
A few weeks ago, I was reading a cheesy but good mystery novel, and in one of the last chapters, the main detective said something like “Money can buy you space, but not comfort or happiness.” So I really thought about that.
Money can buy you bigger spaces, houses, cars, first-class airplane seats with much more leg room and maybe even a bed to stretch out in during overnight flights…but it can not buy you mental comfort or comfort of the heart…or love! Which is more important? Of course we need to have our basic needs met, a safe place to sleep/live, food, etc., but lots of money doesn’t usually make people happy–in fact, some studies show that the very wealthy are often very unsatisfied and unhappy. After our basic needs are met, then, like in the illustration above in Maslow’s famous Hierarchy of Needs illustration, we need a sense of belonging and community (love from without) and also self-esteem and actualization (self love and peace with the self) to be fully happy and self-actualized.
The older I get, the more I appreciate what I have and the more I am content with myself and my life and the choices I have made, and I realize more than ever that the most important “things” that I have are not things at all (though I do enjoy my things, wink): it is people! My loved ones, family, and friends.
I am rich indeed. Thank you for that, my beloved friends and family.
The city of Darmstadt was my home until 1954 when I came to
the United States. While working at the Northern Area Command Headquarters,
General Eisenhower
My father, a former cavalry officer, was so very proud of me
today. It was an equestrian exhibition, a jumping event I took part in and got
a ribbon for 1st place. I was the pride of my father, only fifteen
years old, a long way to the Olympic Games in 1948 I was being groomed and
trained for. I have been training for this, since I was six years old.
I own my second horse now, a Trakehner, a Prussian warmblood,
named
For those of you who have ever been involved in a car accident, you know how scary and strange that experience can be. Here’ a poem I wrote about one I am happy I survived with just a bit of lasting neck pain over the years. Marcie
This little tale is about a young lady in occupied Germany
three years after WWII ended. Graduated from a private University with the
degree in Commerce and International Law she found no jobs, her City was destroyed
completely by Allied bombers 09-11-1944.
Mailing a letter in a
make shift Post Office, I was attracted by a large sign at the entry reading:
Note: This is the last of the stories that Ilona had written for us for this little project where I posted her stories as a guest writer. If she writes any new ones, she has promised to share them with us again. So, after this, I will be posting a few poems and stories and blog/memoir insights on this page of my own writing, and if Ilona sends me another story, I will post it, and we will be sure to let you all know. Thank you all for reading these wonderful stories from Ilona and for giving Ilona so many wonderful comments along the way. Marcie
February 26 is My Anniversary
That was the day I arrived at the Sea-Tac airport after I
received my visa and entry permit. November 1953 I married the wonderful man I
had met while working for General Eisenhower
As a child growing up before World War II my parents, my brother, sister
and I being of Lutheran faith went to the beautiful Chapel by the Castle in my
home- town of Darmstadt on Sundays. When I was eight years old, I was asked to
join the choir. I felt honored to sing in the choir I loved the atmosphere
which surrounded us in this serene and charming chapel filled with fresco
