Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wednesday Writings from Pam

Not long ago, Pam over at Country Mouse, City Mouse posted this picture on her WordlessWednesday page. She had us all wondering what on earth it was. Turns out it is a picture of a kiln at the cement factory in her hometown. I was fascinated with the picture and decided that I would write about it. That thought led me to commit myself to Wednesday Writings from Pam. We'll see how it goes.

The Kiln


I wake early in the morning, just as the sun is peeking over the horizon and for a minute or two I am happy, peaceful even. It's only when I get out of my bed and go to the window that I see it, and my heart and soul are filled, once again, with dread.

I wonder, will I ever be free of the haunting sight of that specter of death? My friends say, "Petra, it's only a kiln. It is nothing. I can't hurt you. It's a kiln, nothing more. You must get over it. Put the past behind you. Move forward with your life."

The words come easily to them. I know they love me; care for my well being, want the best for me, desire my happiness. And in my head, I know what they say is true. It is just as they say, a kiln, a drier for the cement factory. The factory that supports many families in this town. It is not a bad thing, it is not evil. It cannot hurt me. Every day my head tells me to turn away, to smile, to see it for what it is, a cement factory kiln. That is my head. My heart and soul is another thing.

You see, my friends didn't live in the camps. They didn't watch as the soldiers separated crying children from their mothers. They didn't stand by as the guards beat the old and lame who could not walk fast enough or work hard enough. They didn't go to sleep hungry in the lice infested straw of a freezing barracks night after night. And most of all, they didn't see the hopelessness in the faces of the hundreds of human beings as they marched to the furnace where they would soon become the smoke coming from the ovens of death.

Today, I'll try again. I'll look out that window and say, "Petra, forget it. Put it behind you. It's only a cement factory kiln." And who knows, maybe today will the day I can really begin to believe it.

I hope you'll forgive me it this little writing seems heavy. I think I posted before that Jim and I have just seen the movie Defiant. It is still very much in my thoughts and when I saw this picture, this is the story it conjured up.

Have a wonderful day. Next Wednesday I'm thinking of something lighter to write about.

~Hippo Hugs~

7 comments:

Winifred said...

Oh my that's powerful.

Memories and fears are hard to shift. When I was little I used to be terrified of people speaking German. Must have been due to watching the World War 11 films when I was little.

Nancy said...

Gruesome...but true! I just couldn't imagine that happening to us when our kids were little, can you? But, unfortunately, it did happen to so many mothers! And the older people being beaten....that's us now! I just can't imagine!!!

I have 3 awards waiting for you on my blog! I am giving them to everyone who reads my blog, so stop by and grab them, Pam. You and your blog are so deserving of them!

((( HUGS )))

Dana said...

wow! What a way with words you have. I'm looking forward to next week's Wednesday Writings from Pam!

Monogram Queen said...

Hard for me to imagine too but always good as a reminder that we must be ever vigilant that it not happen again!

Faye said...

That was such a horrific time in history and I can well imagine how those memories would last a life time.
Pam, you have such a way with words...good stuff!

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

What a wonderful gift you have.

I am very honoured that you chose my picture to base your story on.

I would like to link your story on my blog, is that okay with you?

BTW - I am totally jealous of your trip in seven sleeps!!

Cheryl Wray said...

What a wonderful idea the Wednesday Writings is. Your passage was great!!

(I'm reading The Book Thief right now, which is set in Nazi Germany times.Have you read it? VERY powerful.)

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!