Surviving

I have often asked a question since coming to the United States from Canada in 1971 for school, then choosing to become a US citizen in 1998. Not because I thought of it, because my father told me to. “You chose California over Canada, as I chose Canada over Norway after the war. What’s the point of living there, if you can’t vote?”

Here is the question that I am posing:

How did my father out-ski the Nazi ski patrol and make it to Sweden which was neutral in WWII? His brother had been hauled off to Buchenwald, his little brother had joined the Resistance Movement. Dad was a forester, naturalist, in tune with all living things. A Pacifist. Raised Lutheran, which he thought was dark and scary. His nature was Buddhist.

Only one person has answered the question correctly, since I came to the United States. She is from Holland, and as a nine-year-old girl, left her house and picked wildflowers and make a bouquet to give to Churchill, as he rode by during the liberation. His car stopped to receive her gift.

She is coming ovet tomorrow for Super Bowl Sunday.

Here is the question. What did my father decide?

Build a little fire at my head and feet, so that I will be warm and can go farther the next day to outrun them. Not build little fires, so that I will not be seen?

Feel free to answer. Have a great Super Bowl Sunday!

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