Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This is my first entry.  I'm nervous and excited.  I wonder whose mind and eyes will read and think about my writing. . . I hope someone's!! 

I remember, as a sophomore in high school, sitting in English class at Warsaw High School.  The assignment - to read The Diary of Anne Frank.  I had heard of the Holocaust, but didn't know too much about it.  I definitely learned that semester in sophomore English.  From that time on I dreamed of going to Anne Frank's secret annex. . . to see where she slept, and wrote, and dreamed, and planned.  I can still remember where I sat in that high school English class. I was a young girl, who had no clue.

Thirty years later, I made it to the Anne Frank House.  Not only was it a dream come true, my love, respect, and passion for what so many people endured has grown by leaps and bounds.  My own life experience has grown by leaps and bounds as well - I'm hoping bringing some wisdom with it. 

So, I'm beginning my blog - now almost thirty-two years after that Anne Frank seed was planted in my heart.  I hope to share my thoughts, my passion, with some fellow readers and writers.

19 comments:

  1. Wow. How incredible that you were inspired by Anne Frank. Her legacy lives on in so many ways and inside so many people.

    I hope to one day visit the home where she was hidden with her family by Meip Geis.

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    1. Thank you so VERY much for commenting on my first Slice of Life! You have encouraged me!!

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  2. Do you think Anne Frank ever had the same thoughts you just expressed? "I wonder whose mind and eyes will read and think about my writing?" Writing is a journey and I know I will learn a lot from reading your thoughts. Welcome to Slice of Life!

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    1. Thank you so much for commenting on my writing! You have really encouraged me. I love your point about Anne most likely having the same feelings as she wrote - probably thinking she wasn't good at times, just like me!! Thanks again!

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  3. Welcome to the Slice of Life! Loving history and writing as I do, I can understand your fascination with Anne Frank. How wonderful that you got to fulfill that dream of going to her secret annex. Every year I have at least one girl who reads Anne's book and becomes inspired...I'll have to start sharing your story and your blog

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    1. Deb, Thank you SO much for your comment. I was so blessed to travel to the Secret Annex in Amsterdam as well as to the other places where Anne spent her life (Frankfurt am Main, Westerbork transit camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen concentration camp). I will love for you to share my stories with your students!!

      All my best!

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  4. I have been fascinated with your journety - from reading a book and connecting to researching to visiting abroad. I know the stories you will share will inspire and touch many people. I'm so glad you are blogging.

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  5. The Diary of Anne Frank is a fascinating story. I read it years ago. It grows you up some quickly.
    Welcome to blogging.

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  6. Wow, an intriguing blog topic! I hope you enjoy the connections you will make from blogging, and I hope many people become inspired by your posts!

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  7. I will definitely be following your slices, Mrs. Ball. My interest in the holocaust has been lifelong, as my dad (who passed away just weeks ago) was a holocaust survivor.

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    1. Mardie, I am SO incredibly touched and blessed that you would respond to my post. Thank you for sharing about your father and I am so sorry for your loss. I would love to know more about your dad. Where was he from?

      My interest in the Holocaust has been lifelong as well and I continue to be amazed at what I learn. When I visited Anne Frank's Secret Annex, I actually spent a total of 7 weeks in Europe studying the Holocaust. I retraced Anne Frank's footsteps and spent time at the places where she spent her life. However, I took away so much of an impact (on myself) with Holocaust history as a whole.

      All my best to you!

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  8. I taught The Diary of Anne Frank to 7th graders for many years. They always would remark about that story when they were older. It definitely made an impact on them, and you are very fortunate to have visited The Anne Frank House. I always learned something new every time I taught it. Glad to have you aboard.

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  9. I think The Diary of Anne Frank made a lasting impact on many of us. I know it was important to me.

    I also loved your thought, "I wonder whose mind and eyes will read and think about my writing..." and echo your sentiment, "I hope someone's."

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    1. Thank you so very much for commenting on my post. You have actually put a person with my question wondering whose mind and eyes will read and think about my writing! I appreciate it!!

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  10. I just introduced the story of Anne Frank to my eighth grade classes today. We will begin the play version of the story tomorrow. How fascinating that you have first hand knowledge of the Secret Annex!

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    1. Thank you for your comment to my post. I am so glad that your students are reading the Diary of Anne Frank. I honestly think it's a book that one has to reflect on. It gets deeper with meaning as we spend time having experienced the book. I hope your students find that to be true.

      All my best!

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  11. What a special trip it must have been for you having had it in your mind for so long & then to see the real site. Anne Frank's diary is something I urged many students to read before any other Holocaust book, but I also had Miep Gies' book too, someone I learned to admire in my adult life. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your journey. Welcome to the writing community!

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    1. Linda,
      Thank you so very much for commenting to my post!! I am encouraged by your words. You have helped make real for me my question about, "I wonder whose mind and eyes will read my writing." Miep was an incredible person. I am amazed at how she has written and commented about the way in which she really didn't feel like she was doing anything all that special for the Frank family and others in hiding. She explains it as having done what any person would have done. I think there are many, many people who wouldn't have taken the risk she did. She loved Otto Frank like a father and certainly wanted to help protect the family.

      All my best to you!

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  12. Welcome to the blogging community. I can't wait to read more of your thinking and stories. Thanks for sharing with us.
    Ruth

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