Reawakening this blog

Last time I wrote in this blog, my life was so different.  I'm grateful for the rise in confidence and the growth of adventures I have had in the past five or so years, and it is time to start blogging again.

It's odd; back when I started blogging, Facebook wasn't so prevalent in my life.  I began blogging before my sister Mel passed away, and it was actually her coma and eventual death that brought me into the social networking community.  Blogging was a way to mix diary writing with social interaction.  It was a way to keep my diary writing thoughts "safe" in an era when my childhood family was changing so drastically.  This blog helped me say goodbye to my sister and my grandparents.

Now that years have passed, I am always and ever connected to Mel, Nana, and Papa...but I have a different reason for writing.

I'm about to embark on an immense emotional journey, one that I am honored to share with the world.  I will be heading to Poland in a few months to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  This is an intense honor, one burdened with sorrow and hope and prayers of "Never Again".

As I do the research in preparation for the journey, as I set out to Warsaw, as I freeze in the Polish winter and return home both stronger and weaker than before...I will use this blog as a conversation point.

This link, from the USC Shoah Foundation, shares a little bit about my purpose in taking part in the Past is Present adventure.  Robin at USC really put together a poignant article.  (I focus more on all the joy and luck I've been given, rather than the intolerance-- but I guess the school bus bullying and swastikas on my house would be signs of intolerance....)

http://sfi.usc.edu/profiles/emily-bengels

So, here goes an adventure!

Thanks for joining me on it...


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