The war

The horses are pulling a wagon behind the front line. They carry a food supply, or maybe, a machine gun. They left millions of dead behind them, thousands and thousands burned down villages, blown up bridges, murdered families. The horses keep steady pace. They have long way in front of them, and much longer way back... Better do not think about it now. The soldiers are discovering Europe and on the evenings they share the bread. How Europe will accept us? Vlasov's army is marching to the death. How the World will accept us? Father, I didn't have a chance to know you. Copyright (c) 12/1/08 Pottsville Marie Neumann

The snow

It is still deep night. The bird's clock on the wall chirps four o'clock. It runs on summer time. The cold is seeping thorough the windows. It is still and quiet, too quiet. Something changed in the air. The cat is sitting on the window sill watching the first snow of winter. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville 12/12/09

Outhouses

It is cold winter night. Everybody in the house is asleep. I woke up, because I had to use a restroom. It was warm under the comforter and I didn't feel like to crawl out. If I will ignore it, maybe I will not have to go. That didn't work. It was getting stronger and stronger. "Sandy, Sandy", I call my older sister. "I have to go." "So go, you don't have to wake me up." "Come with me, I know you have to go also." "I am not going anywhere. Go by yourself." "I am scared." After long time, when my sister found out she will be not able to get rid of me, she moved out of the bed, and both of us, in the cold night, just in our nightgowns, walked outside. The outhouse was a part of a storage shed and the laundry building. Sandy used her right of an older sister and was first inside. I waited outside, jumped on one and then another leg, tried to keep myself warm and a need to use a restroom was becoming unbearable. Finally my sister was done and I could get inside. Sister waited for me outside,and when I was done, we ran back to the house and under the warmth of our comforters. I remembered this story when I visited coal mine village not far from Hazelton. There were abandoned outhouses behind the row of old houses. Nobody used them for long time. In the Schuylkill County I met my first doubleseeter. I liked it very much. I wouldn't have to wait outside in those cold winter nights of my childhood. The outhouses are part of our history also. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville 11/30/2009

Milch cows

In Erath County there was one wise farmer who came up with the idea do not keep milch cows in the shed all day long but let them out. He built tall iron fence and placed feeders outside of the fence. The cows could walk freely around, chew on their cud, watch the cars passing on the road (my friend told I am wrong, when I said the cows actually count the cars), congregate and gossip as much as they liked. Anytime, when they were hungry, they could walk to the feeders and have a snack. Feeders also attracted wild animals. The cows were eating on one side of the fence and deer, rabbits, and other critters were dining on the other side. Everybody was happy. What about farmer's expenses? I didn't ask. Copyright 11/30/09 Pottsville, Marie Neumann

Christmas and Jesus

In Czechoslovakia it is Baby Jesus who brings Christmas presents. The delivery time is Christmas Eve. Also Christmas Eve is main holiday with Holy Supper. The night has magic. Evening is full of expectations and soon to be fulfilled wishes. Children believe in Baby Jesus the same way as we believe in Santa. He is real. The statues of Virgin Mary holding her baby are in each Catholic church. First years after we came to United States we celebrated Christmas like in Czechoslovakia. We still celebrate Christmas Eve today. One Christmas the older child wished we could celebrate the same way like in the old country. Baby Jesus flew over the ocean to bring Christmas presents on Christmas Eve. Younger child, born in U.S.A., accepted presents, but wanted to be sure Santa is also coming and he will not skip our house. He will be here. What now? The presents were already delivered, opened, and enjoyed. Older child excused himself, went to visit freshly separated father and came back with the box full of gifts for children. We didn't have time to wrap them up in to nice packages with the name and ribbon on. Children dug out their presents. Grouchy younger child also took from the box what was hers and then complained: "Why Santa brought this year so little and that Czech guy who was here yesterday, brought much more?" Since that Christmas the presents brings only Santa. Children do not get their presents twice and everybody is happy. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 11/15/09

Risk

Don't take a risk, you will ruin your disk. Avoid phishing, spoofing, and spam. Don't take a risk. Tell me how? Have your firewall on all the time. Install all protection against hackers and viruses. Avoid the spam. Lock your laptop or computer. Dumpster diving: I shred everything I have. I have no personal memories, not a scrap of a paper. Don't take a risk. My identity was stolen. I had to call my credit company for the bills I didn't receive. I don't have a single credit card. I don't need it. Don't take a risk. I had a shadow copy once from my employer. It asked me for my mother's maiden name. I used a state agency computer that day. I gave it away. How should I treat a fishing source? Delete? Is it enough? Don't take a risk. I behave as an ostrich, the head in the sand and a behind sticking out. Can you draw me a picture of one with the arrows in his bum? Don't take a risk. I have a follower on my blog. He deletes words: death and blood. What can I do with him? One day he will die, the same as I. Copyright (c) Marie Neumannm 11/9/09 Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Pottsville, 10/18/2009

November

It's raining, it's November. It's gloomy day. He walks under the wet trees, shaking off the rain and leaves, feeling like a shadow of somebody's cold hand is touching his face. It's November. Copyright (c) Marie Neumann Translated by memory Geza Vcelicka. Listopad. October 2009