Moments with Marilyn: November 2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Warsaw Ghetto Wall

Because I have read so many accounts of the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II, I was most anxious to see it, as were most of our group. Our Polish guide was somewhat reluctant to include this on our tour. Our Fun For Less guides and our local guides discussed this most all of the day. One conversation I heard between a fellow traveler and the local guide may explain his reluctance. As they were talking our American friend referred to the concentration camps as "Polish Camps". The local guide was quick, and a bit angry as he pointed out that they WERE NOT Polish but German. I do understand his concern that we not remember his country solely on the extermination camps. Also the Jewish Ghetto was totally destroyed by the Germans so there is not really much to see.

I'm happy to report though that we did get to see a few locations. Here is a marker showing where one of the walls of the ghetto once stood. The ghetto was about 1.3 square miles and the number of Jews who were forced inside the walls was about 350,000- 400,00.

Starvation and disease sent a great number to their deaths. Thousands more were transported to death camps. It was when the Germans made their final push to 'liquidate' the ghetto that a Jewish 'army' resisted.. For just under a month a small number of Jewish freedom fighters held off the mighty German army. In fact they actually expelled the Nazis from the ghetto for awhile. In the end, of course, they were defeated and were killed.

One part of the original Ghetto wall survived and we were able to see that.

We also had a short visit to the garden located on the spot where the first armed resistance by Jews to the Nazi army took place. The monument to the heroes of the resistance is pretty impressive.

"Though it be to die we will fight....not for ourselves but for future generations. Although we will not survive to see it, our murders will pay for their crimes after we are gone. And our deeds will live forever" Izhak Katznelson Ghetto Freedom Fighter - executed at Aushwitz.

Polish Bubbles

In the pursuit of HAPPINESS:

Don't expect the worst.

Happiness is a bubble

and negative thoughts cause it to burst!

To the delight of children and tourists visiting the town squares of Warsaw and Krakow there were bubble makers aplenty!

These entrepreneurs had huge homemade bubble makers. They were actually quite simply made from fishing poles and cord.

Several of us tried to buy the already made contraptions but nothing doing! Although they did say that anything was for sale at the right price!

I gave it a go! It was not hard and was actually quite fun! I wonder if I can find a pattern to make my own on Pinterest!

Fun and Culture in Minsk

Never thought I'd be spending a day in Minsk, Belarus! When I was in high school attending the Model United Nations I represented Belorussia. It was easy to know how to vote on anything. All I had to do was watch how the delegates from the USSR voted and do the exact same thing. I never imagined that I would someday actually go to Minsk.

When Nikita Khruschchev visited Minsk soon after World War II he asked to be taken to the old city. When he was told that their old city had been destroyed by bombs during the war, his comment to them was 'well build another one'. That is what they did! And they work hard to make a visit fun for the tourists. Two actors followed us around all day pretending to be a thief and the sheriff. We learned the story of the thief's crime and subsequent rise to prosperity. At the end of our tour there was an opportunity to join them in a traditional dance and a photo op.

In America when taking a photo we might say, "1, 2, 3 CHEESE". In Belarus they say "3,4" and then everyone shouts "Hohh!"

After all this fun we were ready for some culture so we went to the beautiful Bolshoi Ballet house.

I learned that 'Bolshoi' actually means large! The Soviets didn't like ballet at first as it was considered decadent. All that changed when someone wrote a 'socialist' ballet! I don't know exactly what that would be like but if it worked that is great! You can still see the soviet influence in the decorations of the great hall

It was so fun to see a rehearsal but we were not allowed to take photos. One of the principle dancers seemed to be having a bad day. She kept making faces and stopping in obvious distress. After looking at the slippers they wear so that they can stand on their toes, I understand this distress. Finally the director took her aside and talked to her for quite awhile attempting to comfort her. I know that the term prima donna refers to the opera but I think it might apply here too!

And of course any self respecting Catalan would have to have their photo taken with St. Jordi - even if he is called by his Russian name!

Auschwitz

Forever let his place

Be a cry of despair

And a warning to humanity

Where the Nazis murdered

About one and a half million

Men

Women

And children

Mainly Jews

From various countries of Europe

Auschwitz - Birkenau

1940-1945

Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Gratitude #13 - LHS Class of 1971

I'm so grateful for the amazing group of people that graduated from Lonoke High School in 1971. When you live in a small town and go through school together you get close....and when you have had reunions every 5 years for the last 45 years you get even closer.

I often say that during the first reunions after HS graduation everyone worries about impressing classmates with how successful they have become. By the time you are in your 50's and 60's and attend reunions you're just so glad to be alive and healthy and able to hang out for a couple of evenings with life-long friends. Friends who knew you when you played little league and when you joined the band, who remember the class floats and the football games and who know the crazy, embarrassing stories of the teen-aged you! Friends who have known you literally all of your life. You just can't replace friends like that.

I loved it at our reunion when the photographer said, "OK, first I'll take one of all the 'boys' and this group of guys stepped out. Even though they are gray haired and bald, to me they will always be the 'boys'!!!

And then the 'girls'! Yes we are grandmas but still the 'girls' of the class of 1971.

Here we are the Lonoke High School Class of 1971 celebrating the 45th anniversary of our graduation from high school.

I am grateful for each of them, the boys and the girls!!!

Centennial Soccer

Scott got his first head coaching job this year at Mary's old high school - Centennial. His team won districts and headed to state as the #1 seed. Unfortunately they lost in the semi-finals. Scott says that the other team made one shot and it went in. His team had 30 shots and one went in....then they lost in penalty shots or as they are supposed to be called 'shots from the mark.' Soccer is frustrating like that! The opposing team did what lots of teams do when they play FC Barcelona....they 'parked the bus' which means they played defense the whole time. I don't like to watch games like that but it often is successful.

It still was a great year for Coach Scott and we are very proud of him.

Not so Grateful #12 - Floods

On Monday Matt and Scott went home to our house in Eagle to find 4 - 6 inches of standing water in our basement. Not good!

Seems the hot water heater in the storage room had broken and water flooded our basement. Of course we had cardboard boxes on the floor in the storage room.

Lots of STUFF in those boxes. Most of it isn't that important but John's mission scrapbooks were soaked. I am so sad about that.

Matt and Scott's bedrooms are down this hall way. A lot of their treasures were on the floor. I'm not sure what all was destroyed! I do know that Matt is trying to dry out his comic book collection. Their bathroom also had extensive damage.

I'm not sad about getting new carpets but I'm not looking forward to all the work involved in such a disaster.

Matt and Scott have been wonderful taking care of things until George and I can get over there. I am trying to remind myself that it is all just 'stuff' and can be replaced. This scripture comes to mind:

Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust (and mold and water) doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

My real treasures are safe and planning to come to Portland again for Christmas! For that I am grateful...oh and for insurance!!!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Gratitude #11 - Together at Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving dinner was last Saturday the 19th since we won't all be here on the actual day. It was a perfect celebration!

Started out with a nice walk along the river. Isabella was all prepared for our Portland weather and enjoyed a little nap!

Next was craft time.

Everyone enjoyed making some cute turkey decorations.

No matter how big or small your house happens to be - the kitchen is always the gathering place!

Finally it was time for our Thanksgiving Feast.

Lots of yummy food, even if I do say so myself!

Isabella slept through most of the meal.

But she did wake up in time to try some mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes.

We ended the day with a new game. Monica's English is getting to be so good.! She was great at the games - both the new one and our family favorite of "Apples to Apples". She was the champion of that game this year!

I'm grateful for Thanksgiving and a family to share it.

Gratitude #10 - Thanksgiving Surprise!

We knew that Matt, Johnny, Monica, Isabella and Scott were coming to spend Thanksgiving with us. What we didn't know was that they would be bringing a big surprise! Our daughter Mary! We were thrilled. Johnny and Monica didn't join us until later in the week so we had a few days to show Mary Portland!