The Inspiration behind my Motivation

My Opa was a Russian Romeo who fell madly in love with my Oma, his German Juliet. This love they shared was strictly forbidden, since Russia and Germany were not on good terms. Had they gotten caught there would have been serious repercussions. I wouldn't even exist and would lack the ability to tell you this story. Nevertheless, they were married and raised three children together in Germany.

When my mother was 20 years old when she decided to move to the United States and attend college. This is where she met and married my father. but once she became pregnant she returned to Germany.

My Opa passed away two days before I was born and even though I never got to meet him, I am proud to be his granddaughter. When I was approximately six weeks old my mother flew back to the states and reunited with my father. I was raised in the swampy state of Louisiana until my 14th birthday. My present was a one-way ticket to Neufarhn, Germany where I was to meet and live with my Oma. It was over the next 3.5 years that I had the privilege of getting to know my Oma, the woman that continues to inspire me to this day.

A few days after my arrival, my Oma showed me a photo that she had taken during WWII. In the photo was Adolf Hitler, Dr. Josef Mengele and various Nazi Generals, laughing and smiling while eating dinner in our family restaurant, which is still in business. They were seated at a large round table with a miniature christmas tree as the centerpiece. She tells me that, unbeknownst to the Nazi’s, there was a Jewish family hiding beneath them, in the basement.

Tears fell down her face as she spoke about how terrified she was of being caught as she would sneak them food and water. Listening to her stories of war, poverty, and struggle, I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt her arms embrace me and squeeze tightly , while she kissed my tears away and hummed her favorite tune.

A few days later my Oma shows me another photo taken during WWII. Two young boys stood with a young girl between them. All three of their expressions were solemn and they were dressed head to toe in Nazi uniform. She tells me the photo is of her when she was my age (14) and the boy on her left was her identical twin, while the boy on the right was their older brother by two years. The boys were forced to participate in the Nazi Youth Unit because during that the war membership to a youth program was made compulsory. Sadly, they were both killed in combat.

It wasn’t until I got older that I was able to fully understand what my Oma endured. Although I know very few details about her younger years, I do know that she overcame so much in her lifetime. I also know she contained enormous amounts of strength, knowledge, and courage to have survived the realities of warfare as a teenage girl. Such qualities are rare in the world today and I am proud to say that my Oma was one of the wisest, most courageous people to have ever existed.

Her ability to keep her head held high no matter how negative the circumstances has always encouraged me. She was always so understanding and gave the best advice. She was such a hard worker and even helped to support her family long before the feminist movement made this a common occurrence. She motivates me to be a better person and to make the most of my life. Every thing she did was done with style, class, and grace. She was the true definition of Elegance. She taught me that when times get hard and there is no where to turn, to trust my inner strength and it will always prevail.

Overall, she taught me what it means to BE a woman and how to enact my strength and femininity. I certainly would not be the person I am today, inside or out, without the influence of my Oma upon my life. I can only aspire to imitate her stability, her work ethic, and her refusal to be silenced by other people's disapproval. To do things out of the kindness of my heart without any expectation or personal gain.

I never spoke to her of my appreciation and admiration, I just assumed she knew how I felt. Unfortunately, she passed away a few moths ago and I will never have the opportunity to thank her. My mother assures me that Oma is watching over me and lives in my heart always. I like to believe this since it comforts me. “Oma, if your listening, I love you and thank you for all the good advice you gave me, every hug, each kiss I can still feel on my face and all the good morals and values you taught me. I hope to meet you again one day in Heaven.”