Wednesday, April 12, 2023
I met the Germans when I was nine years old. I was a fresh air fund kid. Ii was my first time going away to "camp". I was stayed with them for two weeks and they had me back the next year. I was treated just like they treated Laurie. Laurie and I would watch the adults from the bathroom window as they lounged by the pool. They took me to the assisted living home their daughter worked in, I think it was in big bear. They taught me how to ride a bike. I crashed into the tree at the end of the cal de sac. I had thick glasses and they broke right down the middle. The Gekens took great care of me. They took me to the clubhouse and tried to teach me to dive n swim. Several belly flops later we quit that. I will never forget how kind they were to me. I named my daughter Frances after Mrs. Gerkin. Most importantly I met a Holocaust survivor which I believe was a next door neighbor. I will always treasure my time with them. Went to movies to see Pinocchio also went to see The Sound of Music.
