See the two special guests who came to visit my Writing for Children class today (they're sitting in chairs at the front of the picture)?
That's my mum and dad.
One of the books we read in class together this semester was my historical novel, What World Is Left, which is based on my mum's wartime experience in a Nazi concentration camp called Theresienstadt.
Because today was a sunny, mild day, I thought I'd see if my parents would drop by to say hello to my students ... and they agreed to do it.
At first, the students were a little shy. To be honest, I had the feeling they were perfectly happy just to look at my parents -- it reminded me a little of old-fashioned show and tell.
I got the questions started by asking my mum whether even though she is now in her 80s, she still thinks about what happened to her during the war. I wrote down her answer so I could include it in today's blog entry. She said, "I walk with a cane, but I can't blame Hitler for that. I 'm deaf and I can't blame Hitler for that. But what's in my head I blame on Hitler."
Reading my mum's answer to that question, you might think it was a sombre visit, but it wasn't... not at all. My parents are both pretty funny. After one student told them, "We've heard so much about you, we feel as if we know you," my dad asked, "Does she teach you anything in here?" And when my mum was talking about my dad, she said, "He's better than I expected."
Before they left, I asked my mum whether she had any advice for my students when they face obstacles in their own lives. First, she told them to save money... but then I explained to her I didn't mean that sort of advice. She thought for a moment longer, then told them, "You know what you need? Luck. And the most important word that got me through: hope. You have to keep hope and you have to keep your decency."
Just writing this entry and remembering what happened in class today makes me happy. I'm lucky to have wonderful students, and also wonderful parents. Bringing them together today... well... it made good magic.