Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat  –  Vona Kesterson Colyer

January 19, 2008

I am happy to welcome a wonderful fiction writer, Vona Kesterson Colyer to our team of writers.  Vona becomes writer # 453 for Storytime Tapestry.  Please email her and let her know what you think of her work.

MY LIFE AS A JEWISH CONCENTRATION CAMP PRISONER

Vona Kesterson Colyer

I was place in a camp because I am a Jew.  I do not understand what is happening to the world.  I do not even understand my own religion.  The Germans despise me because of my religion and I have been forced to acknowledge I am a Jew.  It is not that I am angry about my religion, I have never paid so much attention to what it means to be Jewish until now.

My dignity and my pride were taken away and I had to keep reminding myself I am a human being.  Stripped of money and possessions, all I have left is my religion and the sense of self my parents instilled in me.  I have no idea where my family is or even if they are alive.  I think that is the thing which is the hardest to deal with, the uncertainty about everyone I love.

I live day by day.  Maybe I will survive and maybe I will get something to eat and drink tomorrow.  It would be easy to sell myself for a bite to eat but the last trace of human pride would also be sold.  But, why should I push survival when it would be better to die and end this living hell?  As I look around me all I see is dirt, poverty, and hate.  Why should I trade myself in for more of the same?  Tomorrow I may die but I will die with the knowledge I am Jewish and have retained the respect my parents gave me.  This thought keeps them close to me and gives me hope they are alive.  If my family sells out, I will understand and accept their decision.

As I remember this today, so many years later, the thoughts still bring tears to my eyes.  I still do not understand.  I am glad I survived to tell my story and that I found my parents alive.  The hardest thing for me to do is forgive.  I still will not go to Germany.  Maybe one day I will.  I know that when I am able to travel to Germany the healing process will be complete.  I have a few German friends but no one who was a Nazi..  I know this inability to forgive hurts me more than anyone but still I cannot forgive and forget.  Maybe today I will buy my ticket to Germany and maybe not.  I still live one day at a time with my pride and dignity.

Vona Kesterson Colyer

vonaredheart@yahoo.com