Asking the Red Cross

I just found this letter in the Arolsen Archives, a major source of Holocaust information.  I hadn't looked at it too directly before.  An American soldier, Alfred Schwab wrote a letter to the National Tracing Bureau, an agency working with the Rec Cross looking for displaced people.  And there were a ton of them.

But, if you were looking for somebody, you contacted the Red Cross.

This soldier is another of my mother's second cousins.  His letter dated June 1945 asks about the whereabouts of his uncle, aunt and cousin, David, Marta and Lothar Baumann.  Last address 6 Sloestratt Amsterdam.  He has not heard from them since late 1941.

Yes, the same family that we placed with stolpersteine memorials in 2022.  

The Red Cross replied about a year later saying that the members of this family were transported from Westerbork (the transit camp) to Sobibor and Auschwitz.

So they knew.  David Baumann's siblings and their families knew.  But not clear if the information got to the cousins. Or they listened.  If they knew.

But it's getting closer.
 

Christmas brunch

Ilana was in charge of the annual Christmas brunch at the day homeless shelter in Bloomington.  For about 100.  Her synagogue puts it on and Ilana has had a great time in the past.  First she had to fund-raise.  Ilana never minds fundraising.  So she raised $400.  So should she buy turkeys?  She did help from the other ladies.  Turkey or turkey breast?  She was going to buy it from Sam's Club.  I suggested that she go to Sam's Club early just to check out what they had.  She does that and discovers they have NO turkeys, none, zero.  What to do.  Ham was out.  Brunch panic ensues.  Then she goes to her local Krogers and finds they have 11 frozen turkey breasts.  She buys them all.  "I realize that I've created a problem for somebody else.." she muses.

But all the other ladies come through.  They put together the green bean casseroles.  Some bring pies and cookies.  Ilana had bought some pies at Sams Club.  They have canned cranberry and gravy.  They also have the center's professional cook to makes sure it happens.

So it all got put together.  Those turkey breasts from this morning look good.  If they have leftover, they can use it on Friday.

Frank and Ilana at IU basketball game

Ilana took Frank to an Indiana University Women's Basketball game.  He loved it!  He also got to meet the Bison mascot (not shown).  They both had a great time (according to reports).

 

Phil and Dennis

Dennis with his birthdad Phil on a recent visit.  They live on a huge bluff overlooking the Auburn Valley including the Emerald Downs Racetrack.  Much of that is flooded but not where they are.

And not where we are either in Lake Forest Park, just north of the Seattle City Limits.  But it's cold and nasty.

Phil's stepdaughter decorated the antlers with lights.  I like it!

They do have a cool house but they really shouldn't live there,  They are on a waiting list for a senior living place.

Subsequently Dennis and Susanna went down there and Susanna took a lot of the kids from the basement.

2025 Thanksgiving

 

Our Thanksgiving dinner this year.

And thankful I am for family members and our ability to gather around a feast.

Naomi and Stephen hosted.  Stephen especially was eager to put on a big family event.  In their (new to them) house.  I think setting up the two tables in their living room worked just fine.  The host couple are in the foreground.  The guests were Naomi and Stephen's immediate families plus Papa, Stephen's grandfather at the end,  Their house is great because it's level entry.  The empty chair was where I was sitting.  Stephen insisted on two turkeys though it wasn't necessary.  We brought over boxes of serving dishes, a full stuffed turkey, a pan of gravy, gravy, a flower arrangement (thanks to my neighbor), one of the main tables, a smaller table with an electric knife and cutting board, tons of stuff.

We had a lot of food, no question.  Then we had to break it down, figure out what to do with the food, help clean up and bring all of that stuff home.

But the families get along great (give thanks, that is not always the case)  Everybody came.  The hosts did great!

Crossword!

 

Suzie and I did this crossword puzzle.  The whole thing!  Together!

We were all proud.  We took a picture to show it with Scoutie.

Science Fest

I heard they held a big Science Fest at Indiana University yesterday.  Family Friendly.  My 4 year old grandson (in blue shirt) is IN.  All kinds of science activities in many buildings.  10-4 and he was enthralled with the whole thing.  According to reports.  Did chemistry.  Did biology.  Did archaeology.  Did all of it.  The whole time.  Ready for more.

Some kind of chemistry thing going on here. 

My new sign

My new sign.

One thing that you can say is that it looks home-made.  No doubt about it.

 You can almost see my old sign "No more Extortion" underneath.

Since we are standing on the side of the road and cars are driving by, it HAS to be legible.  I also thought I would add some color.  So I taped pink copy paper over what I had.  Only a few words. Notice, I do have a stick.  Some old molding attached to back with clear wrapping tape installed by my thoughtful husband.

Remember, they do not have to be super durable.  You can use them even in the rain.

I wanted a 'B' word.  'Bread' can be interpreted many ways, money, food

So, we are in an atmospheric river rain situation.  More coming.  We lost our power for 8 hours 2 weeks ago!  Then there was a big storm a few days ago; a lot of people lost power but not us.  INCONCEIVABLE!

So, as I'm working here, I hear that all too familiar sound.  BOOM!!  A transformer explodes.  But we still have power.  What?  Our transformer is the one that explodes. Then, I consult the most popular winter website.  The City Light Outage map.  It always tells you what you need to know.  I long since learned that their time of restoration is aspirational.  There are two power outages nearby.  One is to the west and one is to the east.  And our little street is spared.  So far.  What?  We're always the ones with the prolonged power outage.

The unseen hand....

Weekly Demonstrations

 Dennis and I participated in both No Kings Day rallies in Lake Forest Park.  The reported attendance for the October rally was over 2700.  Not bad for a small city just north of the Seattle city limits with a population (2020) of 13,360.

But this is another smaller rally.  Every Sunday, there's a rally for an hour at a busy intersection in Shoreline (right next to Lake Forest Park)  We have our signs and we wave and people wave to us and honk our horns.

There's not a lot of of people there.  This picture is from the Shoreline Area News (used without permission) from last Sunday.  About 50 people come.  Dennis and I are in this picture but we're kinda hard to pick out.  It was dark skies.  Anyway I'm the person seated (on my garden bench) with my new blue jacket on and Dennis is right next to him.  I don't remember the lady on the left being so close to us but she was.

There's usually people on 4 corners.  Corner of NE 205th St and Aurora Ave (Hwy 99).  The blue jacket was an impulse purchase from La Conner at a travel store.  Why did I need a new rain jacket?  Would I ever wear it?  Um, just all the time, I'm wearing that jacket.  It's really well made and, honey, you do not get wet.

But folks, I need help with my sign.  I made a sign months ago "No more extortion!" and it's still good.  But maybe a new one.  I want to word "Ballroom" in there.  Healthcare not Ballrooms?  Doesn't have a snap.  I would like a B word.  Suggestions welcome.

Please help!