Catharina Verschoor was born April 4, 1939 - just when the dark clouds of another World War hung in hemisphere. She was born in Rotterdam, one of Europe's busiest sea ports - the thus one of the first targets of the invading Nazi bombers.
....In total, 1,150 x 50 kg (110 lb) and 158 x 250 kg (550 lb) bombs were dropped. Many of these hit and ignited homes, churches, stores, warehouses and schools resulting in uncontrollable fires in the city centre. Hooton states that bombs ignited vegetable oil tanks on the dockside, which caused fires that spread into the city centre, causing massive devastation. Although exact numbers are not known, nearly 1,000 people were killed and 85,000 made homeless. Around 2.6 square kilometres (1 square mile) of the city was almost levelled. 24,978 homes, 24 churches, 2,320 stores, 775 warehouses and 62 schools were destroyed.
Mom had outgrown her shoes by at least two years before Liberation Day in May of '45.
Imagining the heart agony of having to raise little ones in such a terrifying time makes me especially respectful of my grandmother's memory. All my photo's show a woman with a wide smile or full out in eye squinting laughter.
A seemingly stoic strength --- unfettered by woes past or present.
.... like the way I remember Mom.
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I hope to post My Mom's story incrementally - we are S.L.O.W.L.Y roaming through Mom's house, discovering, holding and savouring both the memory and the memorabilia.
*sigh*
