60 years ago

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz concentration camp’s liberation and the beginning of the end of the holocaust.
The people who survived are fading from our history. Those still alive were just small children and have to be reminded every day how close they came to death when they look at their bare forearms with the tattoo marking them for possible death. I was only about 6 or so when I lived in Germany and visited Dacau, another concentration camp.
My brother was born while my father was on his first tour of duty in Germany in the late 60’s. Yep, my brother’s a Kraut. They lived on the second floor of a dairy farm. Naturally, the owners of the farm became his godparents and, my surrogate grandparents after we moved back. Needless to say, my ties to Germany are not just from reading books. Even though we were small, my parents wanted us to see and learn as much as we could while we were there. I learned not to ask for seconds at Mama Beckert’s house. She remembers the war and Sunday dinner is a luxury. I learned about feather blankets and hot water bottles. About garden gnomes and castles. About wooden shoes and walking sticks. …And about Nazi’s.
You’d think a kid wouldn’t remember going to a concentration camp. But I do. I remember the open field where the barracks used to be. I remember thinking what a great time we could have if we were allowed to play on that field. Instead we were kept back by a barricade. I thought it was a shame that we weren’t allowed to play on it. I thought it was odd that even though we were outside, we had to hold my father’s hand and be really quiet. The museum with photos of piled bones and piled shoes and articles of clothing. A pile of eyeglasses. And the ovens. I’ve seen the ovens. I remember talking to my mother about the ovens that day. I related it to Hansel and Gretel and the witch who wanted to cook them. This was exactly the size oven she would need to cook children. Strange how children’s minds work. Oddly, I remember it was a day like today. Not a full rain, more like mist the whole time, overcast.
Not until I got older did I really understand what I saw there, and I don’t regret having seen it. I regret the reason that I had to see it. I regret the lives and souls lost because of one man’s ability to sway the thoughts of a nation. The systematic, planned slaughter of an entire race of people. They sat at a table and planned this. It wasn’t a Tsunami that cared not how and who it struck. It wasn’t terrorists aiming at buildings not caring or knowing who was inside, getting it all over in one fell swoop. These people were picking off Jews. Specifically. Quietly.
Those sick F*cks. Cowards. Some lowly soldier had to carry out their bidding. Had to look into the frightened eyes as they crowded into the poison showers. As their bodies shriveled over time from starvation. Once proud people being taken down notch by notch to nonexistence. We can’t let this happen again.
We can’t let people say this was just a story. We can’t let people deny it ever happened.
I haven’t seen anything about Prince Harry going to Auschwitz. People say it was just a joke, but symbols are powerful and have powerful effects. I optimistically think he will understand when he gets there. Innocent ignorance will give way to knowledge and Knowledge is Power.

Welcome 2005

Things are gonna be betterer this year.
Gonna get my act together and try to stop saying that I'm gonna do something and actually do it.
What I see in the future? Selling my Jeep. Saving lots of money. Sharing the load with my family. Stop wasting time. Travel a little and not just to San Antonio all the time. Find adventure. Cut down on my cola habit. Be conscious of the things going on around me. Participate.
Don't let fear get the betterer of me.
:)

...and the countdown begins.

**Saltina's Meme thing, dohickey:
2. Add a button addCombo which should add the selected items in the List Box to a ComboBox control.

Happy New Year

Ringing in the new year was a good time at Tina's. I'll let you know when and where the pictures are posted. Being surrounded by friends was fun but I did miss all the people who could not be there.
I didn't have anyone to kiss at midnight, but I did have a very sweet dog named T-bone become my friend. (Although I did not seek her out at midnight)
I learned that figuring out how to turn up the volume on an iPod is a pain in the ass.
I learned there's always room in the fridge for more beer.
I learned I'm not a fan of fancy scotch. Hand me a beer and keep me happy.
I learned that running from the cops cuz they might take your firecrackers away can be done at any age.
I learned it takes much more than 52 tries to get a playing card to slice a banana.
I watched a guy pour scotch and tea into a glass of beer-- and follow through and drink it.
I saw that the biggest kiss of the evening (in my observation) was between a gay man and a lesbian woman.


Overheard:
"Wooooooooaaaoaoh!!!!! 2005!!!!!!"
"I've got double D's"
"Will you marry me?"
"BFF!"
"We met in 2004 and plan to marry in 2005"
"I have corks in my butt"
"I hope 2005 is betterer."
"This is a table --=Slam!=-- Show me God."
"When you burn a poker chip -- it reaks!"


What I think will happen in 2005??

Work will begin in "The Book of Hirsut" to help future generations get a clue that she does not have their answers, but that they are to find their own.
I'll age one year.
I can now to go to the grocery store to get alcohol when in Carrollton.
I'll grow in mind and spirit.
We'll see compassion for humanity magnified.
I will find the good in everything around me.
I will accept the challenges and hurdles placed before me and do my best.
I will try.
I will become financially liquid. (Check me on that one next year)
I will take more pictures.
I will study harder. ...okay, I will study.
I will read things that will help me grow, not just help me escape.