#346

Illinois law mandates that kids in our state are taught about the Holocaust and modern genocide. And so, on Monday, I found myself with Michael and his classmates at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. I offered to chaperone, as I was eager to return after donating artifacts to the museum from M 'n' m's great-grandfather only a few months ago. Our Grandpa Swede, as we called him, was in the 11th Armored Division (of Patton's 3rd Army) which liberated Mauthausen Concentration Camp. He brought home 15 photographs. As you can imagine, they are images of atrocity. Two pictures are of German guards beaten to death, the rest are of emaciated bodies, some living, most dead; all of it because of human-to-human cruelty and brutality. Obviously, this left a mark on my grandma; in his thinking; in his heart. He survived frontline combat also, shellings, minefields, infantry fighting. I donated the photos and a letter that provides context. The curators were grateful. My Grandpa's letters were kept by his mother and passed to me by his wife (my grandma), and there is little I would grab before them if my house was burning down. So I returned to the museum with Michael. It's somber, sobering, very sad, but there's a purposeful spirit also, a message: 'look straight at it, study, remember, don't let it happen again' and never forget that even in the worst human madness, there is triumph; there were 'upstanders' and people who risked or sacrificed everything to do what is right.

I forgot that school buses are built without shocks or suspensions. Holy shit that's a bumpy ride. It's been decades since I had the pleasure. Reminded me of turbulent flights that would've banged my head on the ceiling if I wasn't buckled. Also reminded me of an old puzzlement... "No Standees Permitted?" That just isn't common language. We know what it means, but why not "No Standing?" Wouldn't "while the bus is in motion" be implied, or would smartass kids mock it, argue, who knows, maybe they'd crawl down the aisle? I was nagged and sleepless over this in the '80s; here I go again.

Michael said, "Remember when we were little, and you had to do the hardest Angry Birds levels for me and Megan?" Yes, I remember, I remember fondly, but I hope my legacy as a father includes some uses and importances of, you know, a more significant variety; the lessons I taught, the love and support provided, teams coached, holidays celebrated, bills paid, lousy meals prepared, and so on...