more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday
letter V
Looking in my cupboard for a vase, I found a very old one which I had almost forgotten and which I never use because of its history. I was born in Frankfurt Germany in the middle of WW II in 1943. My mother could move to her parents in the country, because she had a baby. Mothers with children were allowed to leave the severely bombed city, the others had to stay and work.
My father was still working in Frankfurt and lived alone in their appartment. One evening when he came home the street didn't exist anymore the whole district had been bombed and was in ruins. He went there where their flat was supposed to be and amongst all the rubble found only one thing which had survived the bombing without any damage :
this vase
All other things were distroyed and nothing left. He took out the vase and left Frankfurt too. The allied airforces had dropped 12.197 tons of explosives on the city and about 5.500 residents were killed.
I am not a person to keep old things as souvenir, I rather throw them away too quickly sometimes, but this vase I couldn't throw away when my parents had both died it's part of history and it is so amazing that it still looks like new !
That is an amazing story and you must keep it forever and pass it down to your son and grandchild/ren with the story attached like a little scroll inside.
ReplyDeletethis is indeed a treasure keep sake and the story should be kept alive.
ReplyDeleteThat is certainly worth keeping Gattina. Great V word
ReplyDeleteOh thank goodness you didn't throw it out.It is beautiful and holds such a great bank of memories!
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible and a big part of your family history.
ReplyDeleteThe vase is telling a story, glad you didn't throw it away, maybe you can pass it to your son one day?
ReplyDeleteLovely story, how many others might still have so precious witnesses of those dark days?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog.
We live in the Eastern part of Belgium on the edge of the 'pays de Herve', Belgium's Toscana as some call it.
This vase is wonderful and more impressive is its story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Léia
Wow, what a story. And what a cherished family heirloom!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story, thanks so much for sharing, it is a beautiful vase.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful heirlom to pass down!
ReplyDeleteAmazing story about your treasured vase. I like Diane B's suggestion of writing the story on a little scroll and passing it down to your heirs.
ReplyDeleteI can see why that lovely vase is so precious to you.
ReplyDelete=)
Great V post. The vase is definitely something to hold onto always!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful vase. I am glad you did keep it. I have my old German Grandfather's family bible. It's written in old German script, which even Jack cannot read. But to me seeing my Papa's name written in it, means so much to me.
ReplyDeleteLovely V :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing story, Gattina, and of course you've just got to keep the vase and leave it to your son. You should also start telling Toby the story about the vase as soon as he is old enough to understand even a little bit about it. Show him the vase, let him touch it gently but not hold it, and tell him how it survived a war without getting damaged. This story should be part of his heritage, all of his life. Children love to hear stories about things they can see and touch.
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
It is a beautiful piece of family history and I am so glad that it survived and that you still have it.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a history this vase has. How amazing that is survived unscathed! You must definitely cherish it (and how good that your Father was not in the street when it was destroyed!!).
ReplyDeleteGattina, the vase is sooo beautiful! A wonderful treasure to pass down to your son.
ReplyDeleteI am like you--I show no mercy when I am weeding out stuff. At our age, it is much better to live a streamlined existance!!
amazing story Gattina. I'm glad you have this vase to keep with the memories to document...
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing story! I'm glad you still have your vase and the three of you made it through the war unharmed (I should say, I hope...) {:-Deb
ReplyDeleteWow. My dad was a young boy in Holland during WWII. He has many memories of the air raids and soldiers. Thank you for sharing this piece of your history.
ReplyDeleteDana
What an amazing story. And what a treasured keepsake. Love this post. Thanks, Gattina.
ReplyDeleteA vase with a profound history. I would not part with it either, except to pass it on as an heirloom.
ReplyDeleteOh Gattina, what a bittersweet story you shared...I love that you've kept it and hope it will survive a few more generations. Make sure you write it's history somewhere. Maybe on a paper stuck inside of it....
ReplyDeleteThe vase that defied the bombs. I love it!
ReplyDeleteOh Gattina, what a wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteI hope your can print out this story and put it inside of the vase. What an astonishing provenance!
Thank you for sharing this treasure with us.
A+