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| Karolina has braids on top her head & is smiling |
Soon I hope to tell more of Karolina's story. But today, I just wanted to tell why I like this picture. This is is a picture of Karolina at a school for deaf children in Vienna, about 1916 or 1917. Karolina went to this school for 8 years, and learned German. Karolina's family all learned German to communicate with her when she got home. A handicap was deadly at that time, especially if the Gestapo knew about it. And Karolina lived where the Gestapo invaded. Sometimes we don't know why things happen. But I do believe good things can come from overcoming difficult challenges. Karolina's family was able to be part of the resistance, because they knew German. Karolina was not killed because of a handicap, as many were at that time. Many people never knew she was deaf, she had an excellent education.
I am personally having some challenges, and am considered handicapped. I have trouble walking. I also sometimes have problems with my hands. I have leg braces and knee braces and am braced up most my legs. I use canes to help balance, and a walker. Sometimes I just can't walk at all and use a wheelchair. It's now extremely difficult (and some days impossible) for me to walk up stairs. But my house is 2 stories. My bedroom and bathroom are upstairs and the kitchen is downstairs. I never wanted to move again, but I am moving to a one level house in a month. I just got a wheelchair in November. There is so much to learn and adjust to, it is a bit overwhelming some times. Trying to relearn how to do everything from sitting! But when I sit in my office, and see Karolina's smiling picture, it makes me smile. I think that she would have understood. We had to learn different things, but we both have had to learn to adapt and adjust. Karolina is smiling, looking like she might be happy to be on an adventure. I'm happy I get to learn with my family. I think going away from home, to another country for so long, would be hard, but definitely adventurous. An investment in the future.
Many times the people who went before us understand and can teach us from their many experiences. But even more than just people, our ancestors. Often times, when we are doing something hard, someone else has done that too. Maybe you didn't know before, because you can't always tell from looking at someone. Learning more about them, or looking at that picture may help. You can remember they survived the hard days too! Another thing that cheers me up, is that I even have this picture. It's pretty amazing how I got it and the story with it. A relative who our family lost contact with, (many years ago) saw my blog, and reconnected with me. This picture is from Jolanta Piecuch and her father Adolf Sanetra.
