10 Comments
User's avatar
Yael's avatar

The story of life seems haphazard don't it. I now understand (after reading your 21 year old recall) a lot more about it all as I've never been there but I feel it. My dad is a holocaust survivor too. Did you ever read or see Everything is Illuminated? THANK YOU for this one Mark.

Roger Bohn's avatar

Well done Mark - every paragraph gave me something to ponder

Judith Buckman's avatar

Having been there, and reading your description of the town, how you felt and how you changed….. it was really a thought-provoking piece . As always, thanks for sharing❤️

Laura Degrandis's avatar

Hits close to home. Literally and figuratively.

Charlotte W's avatar

Profound ⭐️🙏♥️

Cindy G's avatar

So powerful: It made me wonder what the Kellers knew, and what they had decided not to know, and whether that kind of not-knowing was something you practiced or something you inherited.

I'd like to know if you ever talked to them about it.

Mark Rothschild's avatar

Thanks Cindy! We didn't speak about it, but when I told the 17 year old I was riding to Dachau (it was my second or third visit) she said, "To go to the swimming pool? It's so fantastic!" When I explained that no, to visit the concentration camp, she gave me a blank stare. She finally understood when I used the term, "the prisoner of war memorial site." I would later learn that she was an expert on America's civil war, but hadn't spent as much time studying WWII.

Me's avatar

Well said

Mike Epperson's avatar

Excellent prose; quite thought provoking.. I'll be ruminating on this post for a while.

Mark Rothschild's avatar

Thanks Mike, appreciate it.