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Miep Gies, 1909-2010
"I am not a hero. I stand at the end of the long, long line of good Dutch people who did what I did and more – much more – during those dark and terrible times years ago, but always like yesterday in the heart of those of us who bear witness."
-Miep Gies, who helped to hide the Frank family and saved Anne Frank's diary after they were taken by the Gestapo, died yesterday at the age of 100.
I offer a New Amsterdammer salute.
Ugh, I just looked that up on Urban Dictionary and it is NOT safe for work.
You've got me thinking. What would I have done? It is easy to say I would have helped. But, today if some family whose presence in my home may cause the death of my family showed up-would I take them in? I know I would for a period, but for how long? This woman was an amazing person…I wonder if she prayed for strength, or if she "just did it." I'll have to read her biography.
Try this too.
It is hard for me to treat this death with all due gravity because whenever someone's name is Miep, I immediately think of the Roadrunner and Beaker.
Is it wrong to laugh?
I think she would have wanted us to.
It's okay, in the Netherlands the Roadrunner says "Laura" in a plaintive sort of wail.
Summer of Death followed by Winter of Lesser-Wattage Death.
Current Google adwords on that story:
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Anne Frank
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Dutch Oven Recipes
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The Amsterdam
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Rooms in Amsterdam
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The Vampire Diaries