Friday, February 1, 2013

The Dutch family



This is my favorite photo from childhood.  I think the three of us are delectable, but especially Gerard.  Look at the way I have my arm around Janie--my hand comes up under her armpit.  She has the sweetest expression.

This is the Dutch family.  The pre-immigrant family.  The never-heard-of-America family. This is the Dutch-is-my-first-language-family.  We are home in the land of our ancestors, in the landscape of our imagination, in a culture that we seek to recover the rest of our lives.

This may be the last time I felt safe.

6 comments:

  1. What an intriguing question: when was the last time you felt safe?

    Please keep it coming, Louise! At your own pace, of course.

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  2. I love these posts. Your brother - all of you - look so photogenic. Is it the black & white? Is it the Dutch? (I am of Dutch descent, but certainly not so photogenic.)

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  3. I love seeing someone I love so much be a little person. Lujza? Lluïsa? Look at those bangs, the twinkle in Gerard's eyes.

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  4. The quote about recovering your culture for the rest of your lives brings to mind my own but it also begs the question how did your "Dutchness" come out in America? I want to hear about that.

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