Granny Leah, confined now to a wheel chair, shook her head at the stuff piled in the garage.
“Ach, ve haf too much dese days!” Her grandchildren rolled their eyes, knowing they were in for another episode of Back in My Day.
“Ja, ve had nossing in da camps. No shoes, no Unterwäsche. No mitts for da hands. Ve came mit nossing, und ve go mit nossing. Nossing to pack und carry ven ve left.
Granny Leah glanced up at her grandchildren. Grinning, she said, “Und das is alles! Wir gehen.”
Note: Unterwasche is underwear. There should be an umlaut over the “a” but I didn’t know how to find it. Und das is alles, wir gehen means, and that’s all. We go.
Another note: I figured how to do an umlaut on my Mac. Easy, when you know how 🙂
Just Writing! 
Granny is wise, if spartan
LikeLiked by 1 person
And she knows exactly what her grands think of her stories 🙂
LikeLike
It’s a whole ‘nother world now, for sure The grands won’t get it until they’re forty-ish and start reading more. A few days back, reading about old radio programs, I had to wonder if kids nowadays even know what a radio is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I still use the radio in my car. Don’t the young people do that?
LikeLike
Right. This was talking of the old box radio every home once had, but yes, there’s still the car radio.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah they’d better listen to Granny!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Brilliant Linda, I couldn’t help but read it out loud to myself!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Terry’s grandmother had a strong German accent. She was talking in my head as I wrote :). Thanks, Keith.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like they are used to such tales from Granny. I hope they take heed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe someday. I hope they realize what a treasure she is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often wonder what I’ll bore my grandkids with when I get to Granny’s age! I think those kids are interesed, really 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think so. I’ve always tried to wait until someone asks me about a specific time in my life before I start unloading my memories, and I also tell them to stop me if they’ve already heard it before 🙂
LikeLike
Brilliant ‘voice’. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have it so easy. What a character!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I’ve met Holocaust survivors whose sense of humor was still intact. That’s real strength!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think humour pulls people the darkest hours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For starters, I had to read this… My Granny’s name was Leah. 🙂 ❤ Although she wasn't Jewish, she was one who kept things. Not a hoarder, just a very frugal and conscientious person. "Waste not, want not" was her modus operandi. I learned her lesson well. I don't have much, can pack my house in a few hours, and be on the road within an hour if needs must. So much I learned from her, How to survive on so very little and yet be so happy of heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thanks for sharing this with me, Bear 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
i’m afraid she’ll sound like a broken record shortly. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi loved that and was so pleased that I could still understand it so my German ‘ O’ Level did not go to waste! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like Granny is more of a treasure that all the ‘things’ put together! I’m glad she is self-aware
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Linda,
Your story was über sweet. 😉 I could hear Granny Leah’s voice. My Grandpa Sam shpoke mitt a tick eksent, too. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rochelle. Terry’s grandmother came over from Germany before WWI to marry a man she’d never met–an arranged marriage. She was 16. I had no idea that she had tried very hard to rid herself of her German accent because she didn’t want anyone to think she supported Germany in WWII. When I met her for the first time, @1968, I told her I enjoyed her accent. She was horrified, and I was informed by Terry’s mom that I had committed a terrible faux pas. Great way to start a relationship. 🙂
LikeLike
At some point, we all need somebody like Granny Leah to remind us of how good we have it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True! Nice to see you back, by the way. Love the picture of your little dog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thank you, and Hershey thanks you.
LikeLike
I love the accent, it was so well done. I think kids enjoy the stories from back in the day, they just pretend they are bored. They are cooler if they look bored lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’re right!
I’m almost finished reading a book about the experience of one Jewish family in the camps during WWII. Title: “We Got the Water.” Very significant title, but I won’t explain why–that would be a spoiler 🙂
LikeLike
You did a great job with the accent. It’s wise of granny to remind her grandchildren from time to time. We all need reminding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, we do. I’m reading a book right now called “We Got the Water.” If you love history, you’ll love this book.
LikeLike