Here it is Mother's Day - and Ingrid is a happy camper! My kids did their duty as they were raised they should, and someone special sent me the traditional one dozen red roses, along with a little greeting card calling me - guess what? - "Die Mutter der Nation"!
This means exactly what you think it means and is a very great honor indeed. This title once belonged to a great German lady who passed away about a year ago. On special occasions I am wearing a necklace that once belonged to her - and it is of a sheen that is not of this world.
So do I need to give something of value in return? Indeed I do, and here it is.
It was sent to me by a ZGram reader - a poem Adolf Hitler wrote. I happen to know this poem in German, and the English is a bit off-key in translation. Believe me that in German this little snippet of poetry has the proper rhythm and embodies a deep tenderness. So bear with the cadence and the simplistic translation and appreciate the Fuehrer sentiment:
"When your mother has grown older,
When her dear, faithful eyes
no longer see life as they once did
When her feet, grown tired,
No longer want to carry her as she walks -
Then lend her your arm in support,
Escort her with happy pleasure.
The hour will come when, weeping, you
Must accompany her on her final walk.
And if she asks you something,
Then give her an answer.
And if she asks again, then speak!
And if she asks yet again, respond to her,
Not impatiently, but with gentle calm.
And if she cannot understand you properly
Explain all to her happily.
The hour will come, the bitter hour,
When her mouth asks for nothing more.
Adolf Hitler, May 1923"
My ZGram friend even supplied a little anecdote with it that gives me great pleasure to share.
Here goes:
"I showed Hitler's prose to an old aunt of mine a few months ago. She thought it striking in its contrast to what most people are told about Hitler.
"But, apart from that, she simply liked it and had me print out a copy, whereupon she took it around in her purse with her for awhile, showing it to her friends and relatives, in spite of my cautioning her that it probably wasn't prudent to do that.
"This is a true story and remarkable when you think about this sweet old lady carrying around something Adolf Hitler, arch-fiend of the 20th century, wrote on Motherhood . . . "
Let that be your Thought for the Day!
Ingrid