New Year
Ilona Cole, Story 72
My First Short Story at the Woodlands by Forrest Lake


I have lived here almost five years and not felt inclined enough to write a little tale. Entertainments and get togethers have not been allowed or encouraged by management for all tenants since Covid 19, and still now we are asked to wear our masks and keep the distance when we leave our apartments. A good ruling and policy, we can be proud, not having had any Covid cases. I have made quite a few friends here, gracious and friendly ladies who are interested in conversation with me about Germany during and after WWII, since I lived there during that time. Music and books we like. The camaraderie is nice, and I feel good and safe living here.
In the beginning of this month, a little note showed up by my front door about a competition for a d
Ilona Cole, Story 71

My Last Christmas with my Beloved Hal, 2016
Like the Christmas of 2015, I made my Hal
Ilona Cole, Story 70
A Christmas Wish Fulfilled

The Lufthansa plane was descending over the countryside north of Frankfurt/Germany and soon we will arrive to be greeted by my sister Friedl and her husband Georg. My husband Hal and I will look forward to spending another Christmas in Germany. After we received our luggage and passed the customs check we finally got to hug my sister and my brother-in-law. We left the Rhine-Main airport in Frankfurt and drove to Darmstadt, Friedl
Ilona Cole, Story 69
A Shower
Ilona Cole, Story 68
The Christmas Carousel

It was 1948 and my sister Friedl and I were invited to the Christmas Holiday to be Aunt Katja
Ilona Cole, Story 67
Celebrating Bastille Day

After I retired I thought it to be fun going back to the Bellevue College and take a course in French. I studied it many years ago at the University, but not using it often, one forgets. During several quarters of our French lessons, five of us became good friends and called ourselves the
Ilona Cole, Story 66
My Doll Named
Ilona Cole, Story 65
Out of the Ashes
Ilona Cole, Story 64