by Irene Daniel
Pretty much like the rest of the sane world, I am just shaken and heartbroken by the images coming out of Paris, the City of Lights. Nearly 130 people dead; over 500 injured, 99 of them critically so; 6 separate attacks; and the entire city in chaos. This great city of the western world has not seen this kind of violence since WWII, over 70 years.
I thought about my Uncle John and my Aunt Bertha. Uncle John was a soldier in WWII, fighting in some of the heaviest battles in the European theatre; including D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge and the Remaugen Bridge. He was wounded many times, but always hurried to get back to his unit to fight again. A photo of him and Aunt Bertha greets me every morning with their beautiful smiles. My aunt is so lovely and gracious, and my uncle is dressed in full Captain's dress, with a chest full of medals, including 7 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars.
I thought of them yesterday because one of my favorite stories that my Aunt Bertha and I speak of often is how those two poor Mexican kids from Ajo, Arizona, once dined at the restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower. Uncle John was stationed in Germany in the 1960s as a commissioned officer, and when he had time off, they traveled all over Europe -- post-war, rebuilt, fabulous Europe, where the American dollar was very strong.
My Tia loves Paris. Since my uncle's death 3 years ago, those memories of Paris, as well as many others, bring her much comfort and peace. I've not yet been to Paris, and I still want to go there and experience this city of rich history, the city of my dreams. But I know that I will never know the Paris that my Aunt Bertha experienced.
As France retaliates and tensions mount, I wonder if I am watching the birth of the next major global conflict right from my living room on my TV. It seems almost inevitable. I hope not, but only time will tell.
Copyright 2015, Irene Daniel, All rights reserved.
Thank-you for the glimpses of honor and generosity as seen in your Uncle John and Aunt Bertha. It seems they are a vanishing breed.
ReplyDeleteSadly the world does seem to be rushing toward global war...perhaps it's already begun and we are just living in a temporarily sheltered bubble.