Archives for January 2020

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 16

January 31, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

There were many instances on this trip I wished someone was following me with a camera or that I had a driver so I could shoot photographs as the car rolled along country roads. The morning of 29 October was one of these instances as I left the hotel after a beautiful walk in the woods where the trees danced with joy, to make my way back to Ammerzoden. Today, I was determined to find this silver ring.

The drive took me over rolling hills as the sun shone brightly amidst the trees of red, orange, and gold. As I drove down a hill toward a piece of road covered over with a cathedral-like canopy, it felt like today, 29 October, was a very important day in one of my past lives. A day on which I married someone I loved very much. The energy was sweet and intense and I knew today I would find my ring.

My car drove itself to ‘s-Hertogenbosch about 15 minutes from my B&B in Ammerzoden. I asked a friend the day before if he knew of any antique stores in the city and I had an address. When I arrived in the city, I only had a couple hours to spend there because I had to be on a Skype call that afternoon. Parking was easily found and I took a walk into the center of the city. I found a café and had some hot tea before going off in search of this jewelry store.

Only it really wasn’t an antique store and didn’t look like it would have what I was seeking. I kept moving through the city streets and came across another jewelry store. Browsing the items in the window I spotted it. An amethyst ring with tiny diamonds. White gold so it looks silver. I tried it on and it fit. Without even thinking about it, I bought it. The energy swirled and the universe sang with joy. The ring links me to someone from the past and also someone in the future. It feels like something I received lifetimes ago, but this version is much simpler and smaller. Perfect.

With only five days left in Europe, I had finally found the ring. Secure in the knowledge I had done almost everything I was supposed to on this trip, I made my way toward the Sint Jan Cathedral to spend some time with the spirits and light some candles.

The Cathedral was incredible. Statues of Saints lined every aisle. Beautiful art hung on the walls and were contained in the stained glass windows. There was a peace in the cathedral I had not found elsewhere. Some areas of the cathedral were very cold, as if people from beyond had congregated in those spots. This is one place I must return to on my next trip because in one visit you cannot possibly take in everything there is to see there.

The rest of my day was spent with my colleague John Boeren as we did an In-Depth Genealogist IDG Chit-Chat session with Shannon Combs-Bennett. You can watch that here. Afterward we walked to the bakery in the village for something yummy with our tea and coffee and had a long conversation about life and work. My evening was quiet and perfect. I again counted my blessings as I later drifted to sleep. Tomorrow would be the day I gave my final program in the Netherlands.

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 15

January 30, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

Today was the day I was going to find the silver ring the universe kept saying I needed to find. And where was it going to be? Nijmegen!

After a leisurely morning of sleeping in to recover from the prior two days and prepare to speak again tonight, I thought I would head toward Groesbeek and stop in Nijmegen to look for this ring. So I drove along beautiful roads and got to Nijmegen and felt like that was not the place to find the ring.

Hungry and a bit frustrated about this voice in my head, I decided to ignore it and continue to Groesbeek and find lunch. It was a bit cloudy and grey but people were out and about and there was a happy atmosphere in Groesbeek. I found a little café to have lunch where I ate a delicious sandwich and relaxed over coffee afterward. Discovering there was only one jewelry store in town, and the owner was on holiday, I took a walk.

I discovered a lot of Liberation Route signs all over the town which depicted scenes from the Operation Market Garden time period of September 1944, and pointed out points near the signs so you could get a then and now perspective. Walking along I thought it would be a good idea for the next trip to actually figure out where all these signs were in each town so I could go on an adventure and find them all!

Then and Now

On my walk I did find a chapel and was able to light some candles and sit for a while and contemplate life. Then when I was finished there I did a bit of shopping and headed toward my hotel for the evening. I was staying at the

Hampshire Landgoedhotel

, where Rense Havinga, the curator at the

National Liberation Museum

where I was to speak, recommended having dinner. Apparently their restaurant is top-notch.

On the way to the hotel I stumbled upon the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Of course I had to stop even though it was a drizzly day at this point. The soldiers called out. There were moments when the sun tried to peek through the clouds and shine light down on us.

The cemetery is beautiful and peaceful and situated on a hill overlooking fields and forests. Only a couple of people were there when I arrived and one soldier was near the Cross of Sacrifice. I spent a lot of time looking at the stones and photographing them. The CWGC stones all have a quote or prayer or something on the bottom. They are unlike our ABMC stones. As I walked I even passed a bench with soldiers just hanging out and talking. They were enjoying the quiet. It was the perfect way to spend some time that afternoon.

I checked into the hotel which was situated near a forest and some fields with sheep. Even though the day was gray and misty, it was peaceful and beautiful. My room was gigantic and the back doors opened onto a small patio which was against the field. Just a short walk across the field of sheep and I could be in a forest. I spent the afternoon relaxing and writing before I had to get changed for my program and dinner beforehand.

Rense was not wrong when he said the restaurant was highly recommended. I had the most delicious, savory roast duck, vegetables, and salad for dinner. Because of timing I had to rush a little, but oh my, it was delicious.

I arrived at the museum and met two Facebook friends, Herman and Bob. These kind gentlemen carried my box of books and made sure I made it in the dark from the parking lot to the museum. We met with Rense and got me set up in their theater. Then it was off to the café for tea and meeting people before the program.

Several people I knew were at the museum that evening, including Helen, Hans and his two sons, Bob and Herman. The theater was half-filled and people were very receptive to the stories and information. When the program was over, many of us gathered in the café again for coffee and conversation.

My third program in the Netherlands had ended and the experience was great. I met many wonderful people who shared their stories with me and gave me information so I can share it with others.

Later when I returned to my hotel, the moon was rising high in the sky. I opened the back doors in my room that led to the patio and watched the moon rise as the clouds floated by. I heard noises in the forest as if the soldiers were wandering around or settling down for the night. You could feel their presence so intensely. After wishing them light and love and bidding them goodnight I closed the doors and drapes and soon headed off to dreamland. As I counted my blessings and thought briefly about the following day, I was determined to find that ring. And so the next day………

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 14

January 29, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

Forgiveness and healing can arrive at the most incredible and unexpected moments.

Throughout this trip I knew I was healing and releasing things from medieval past lives. I also knew I had to work through some forgiveness for myself where my soldiers were concerned. And there needed to be the release of my soldiers to move on. We can’t stay stuck to each other forever. I’d had many conversations about this with my friend Mary, who has helped guide me on this spiritual journey. She had said once I had to let them go and forgive myself for not being able to save them all. Little did we know what form that was going to take.

On 27 October Helen Patton and I joined John Boeren for a day of Liberation Ceremonies. We again saw Matt and Gerrit and many others we had met the evening before when I spoke. John took us first to a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery for a ceremony to honor the British forces that liberated Tilburg. The event was in the British forces cemetery and we could not have asked for a more perfect day. The sun was blazing high in the sky, shining down directly on the graves in gorgeous healing beams of light. People gathered and bagpipes played as those who participated in the ceremonies marched into the cemetery toward the podium.

The ceremony was in Dutch, but it didn’t matter what language it was in. The sentiment was visible to everyone. Honor those who gave us our freedom. Children helped dignitaries lay flowers at the Cross of Sacrifice and then it happened.

Release. Healing. Forgiveness.

A woman got up to sing Vera Lynn’s song, “We’ll Meet Again.” In English. At that point I felt the tears well up in my eyes and it was as if I was saying goodbye to my sweetheart during WWII and taking care of all those WWI soldiers. I could see it flash before my tear-filled eyes. I could feel this man I said goodbye to so many years and another lifetime ago, standing next to me. But he wasn’t. I knew where he was though – not far away from where I was in Europe.

The grief become uncontrollable as the tears slipped faster and faster down my cheeks. The sun was shining brighter and warmer on us as we stood near the graves and I could hear my soldiers saying to me, ‘Forgive yourself and let us go. It is time for us to let you go too.’ And as the song ended, we all said goodbye until another time and place when, We’ll Meet Again.

Release. Healing. Forgiveness.

After the ceremony, Helen and I spoke to a woman who was 12 years old during the war. She told us a few stories about her life and what it was like to be in a town occupied by the Germans. I wish we would have had all day to listen to her stories as they were sad, distressing, but also fascinating.

2nd ceremony2 — Jacoba Pulskens memorial

Thankfully we had a fantastic lunch after this ceremony and before the second one. I needed a bit of a break from all the energy. The second ceremony was for Jacoba Pulskens, a woman who hid Allied Airmen and later was sent to a concentration camp after the men were executed. The ceremony was short and a few people spoke near the memorial in Tilburg which honors her. Some members of her family attended and spoke.

When the ceremony ended, John took Helen and I to the home where Jacoba lived and then gave us a tour of Tilburg. Our final stop was a beautiful chapel where we sat for a time after lighting candles. Then Helen and I went off in search of coffee and a snack while John attended to other business.

We had a lovely dinner with John and Matt and then made our way to the final ceremony of the day, which honored the Scottish Brigade who helped liberate Tilburg. John was dressed in his St. Sebastian Guild attire because they were to lay flowers at the monument. The ceremony had melodic bagpipe music and many short speeches before children helped the dignitaries lay flowers at the Scottish Monument. It was a beautiful ceremony, again in Dutch, with some wonderful bagpipes to accompany it.

3rd Ceremony Scottish (22) editedJ, J, H — Jennifer, John, and Helen after the final ceremony.

After ceremonies such as these, the Dutch gather together for coffee and cake. We participated after the first and last ceremonies of the day. It gives people a chance to talk and enjoy each other’s company over food and drink, before they return home. It is a nice thing they do and I was able to meet many other people.

Before 9:00 p.m. I was heading back to Ammerzoden and to bed. The next day I would drive to Groesbeek for the day, lecture at night and drive back on Thursday. The past two days had been quite an experience and I was grateful for the healing that I was able to help with and receive. Who knows what the rest of the trip would bring and the question remained, where was this silver ring the universe kept saying I had to find?

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 13

January 28, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

Throughout the trip I kept hearing, ‘Buy a silver ring.’ I had no idea what this meant but I was on the hunt for it. Somewhere. This was also the week I was giving a lecture every other day. I have never before given so many talks in that short a time period. It was quite an experience.

On 26 October I slept late. This afternoon I was to drive to Goirle, Netherlands to meet my colleague John Boeren of Antecedentia. He arranged for me to give a talk for the Tilburg Netherlands Liberation Ceremonies, three of which would be held 27 October. I slept a good 12 hours and finally by 8:00 a.m., the soldiers were banging around the B&B as if to say, ‘Rise and Shine already and look at your email and Facebook!’

What did I see? In my email there was an invitation to speak at the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in Springfield, IL in August 2016. This will be my first national conference and honestly, I never expected them to pick me. My name never appears on any “rock star” genealogy lists and while I’m known in the Chicago area – that’s it. But they did, so the conference will have some WWII programs!

Then I checked Facebook and found John Boeren tagged me in a post with photos of the Goirle sign with my name on it – IN LIGHTS! It was so exciting to see! I always wanted to see my name in lights.

In the afternoon I drove to Goirle to De Roovertsche Leij, where I was going to spend the night after giving my talk there. I was to meet with John, who had impeccable timing. I arrived early so sat in the restaurant with coffee and a piece of apple pie. I had just put a piece of pie in my mouth when I looked up and there John Boeren grinning at me. Upon swallowing and wiping my hands, we had a proper introduction.

We chatted and then met Gerrit Kobes, a local historian. The two took me on a long walk in the woods and then along large fields, out to an isolated area. It was a beautiful walk as acorns and colored leaves fell from the trees. The sun was still high enough over the field to produce light with incredible shadows.

In an area of the forest not far off the road, were the graves of some resistance members and a memorial to those who were shot by the Germans during the war. A forester had heard the shots and later found the bodies. He reported it but was told to keep quiet for three years. It wasn’t until many years after the war that people really knew what happened in that forest.

Dutch resistance graves memorial (1) — Memorial for the executed resistance members.

As we walked toward the memorial site and while we were there, Gerrit told me about the history of the area, the resistance, the executions, the Liberation, and about a local factory owner who agreed to work with the Germans so his employees would have jobs and be allowed to remain in Goirle. His other option was to close his factory and everyone would be shipped to Germany to work. Apparently people still debate whether or not he was a Nazi sympathizer or was trying to protect his family and employees.

That event during the war begged the question, “What would you do?”

Before you answer that question, consider the events in historical context. This means to look at what was happening through the eyes of those living in that time period. Do not judge based on what you believe to be right or wrong, good or bad, today.

What would you do?

Jennifer Holik, Gerrit Kobes, Helen Patton.

After our walk back, the three of us headed to the restaurant to meet John’s husband Matt and wait for Helen Patton to join us. Helen told me when I met her on 17 October, she would attend two of my programs.

My program for the Tilburg Liberation Ceremonies was “Stories of Our Past.” This was a new program which I felt was never going to write itself. In fact, due to the way things developed the last month and a half before my trip, I finished this program as I got on the plane to fly to Europe. What is interesting, is I had been writing it in scattered pieces since my trip to Europe in April-May.

The program was about the stories we can tell about the war. But not just as an American talking about a soldier. I asked the audience to consider the major themes of war that affected everyone. I gave examples of ways stories could be written. I told stories and read a letter from a British soldier to his mother before he was Killed In Action at Operation Market Garden. I read the end of Michael Kokoska’s story when he is coming home after the war, not walking off the train, but carried off in a flag draped casket. And I told the story of how love can heal all wounds across time and space when hearts meet in the perfect moment.

In the end, the program was a success. Several people shared their stories with me after I was finished and the following evening after the final Liberation Ceremony in Tilburg, a Dutch man spoke to me. He told me he attended the talk and was inspired to write his family’s stories about the war.

A lot of people think if you can’t move the masses to do what you want, change will not happen. I have always been of the opinion that if one, just one person, leaves one of my programs or reads one of my books and feels inspired to research or just put their story on paper…..I have done my job. You never know where that one person will take what you shared with them or who they will tell. That one person – pebble you dropped into the water – may spread so far out you never know exactly what effect it really had. It doesn’t take an Army to move a mountain. Sometimes it takes just one soul.

My evening finished off with a delicious beer and great conversation with Helen. We stayed up really late talking about everything. It was the perfect way to end an amazing day.

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 12

January 27, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

In the Netherlands, daylight savings time came a week earlier than in the U.S. This was good because I got an extra hour to roam around Amsterdam. The anxious energy from the morning however, had returned after I got back to my hotel to sleep. It was a long night of strange dreams and wondering if I was going to get up when I was supposed to. I had plans to meet another friend. When I finally woke up in the morning, I was so NOT myself I had to cancel my plans. The energy had shifted to sad, anxious, uncertainty, and a general feeling of unease. The best thing to do was be alone.

After breakfast at the hotel I made my way back to Ammerzoden determined to be alone and deal with the energy swirling everywhere. I met a lot of people from the past the day before, a couple who really touched my heart. One in particular left me with a lot to think about where the future is concerned.

The owner of my B&B had pointed out several places I should try to see in the Netherlands and one of them was on my way back to Ammerzoden. I saw what appeared to look like a castle from the highway and a sign for Zaltbommel. The car kind of pulled itself off the highway and toward village center.

I found a great parking spot behind a castle and near a forest. It was a quiet Sunday morning as I wandered into the center of the village. I found buildings which had stones on them from the 1500 and 1600s. Near one was a café with outdoor seating. The air was crisp, but the sun was shining and a calm breeze was blowing. It was a perfect morning to sit outside and enjoy a bit of tea and light lunch.

After lunch I strolled through the village and found a gorgeous church. It seemed all the original entrances were closed and locked but I heard the most beautiful choir singing as I walked past taking pictures. The building was beautiful as were the buildings surrounding it. I continued my stroll on cobbled streets to the village gates to see the harbor.

As I headed back toward the car I saw a cemetery. I love cemeteries. Most of them have very calming, peaceful energy. Two people were talking at the gate of this one so I chose to not enter but walked the forest path around the cemetery. The sun shined brightly through the trees as colorful leaves and acorns fell around me. I saw the most beautiful ancient tree in the back of the cemetery. The kind of tree you just want to hug. Since I couldn’t go into the cemetery, I found a tall, old tree on the path to lean against, ground myself, and draw power from. I took the most beautiful selfie by that tree as the sun beams swirled around me.

When I felt the energy had grounded enough for me to move on, I headed back to Ammerzoden and took a walk into the village to again light candles in the chapel. Lighting candles was becoming a peaceful routine for me. It gave me extra time to be still and think about the trip, my life, where I had been and where things were headed. And, most importantly, make another wish that I hope someday comes true.

In the evening I stood outside my B&B as the almost full moon rose above the fields. Full moons have power and allow us to let go of things and accept new things into our lives. As I stood under that moon making wishes and declaring intentions and releasing things that no longer served me, old stories surfaced. I ended up going back inside to write a story about a past life and another great love. Maybe it was a sign that someday a great love will show up in this life.

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 11

January 26, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

There are days you know will change your life and nothing will ever be the same. You can feel the energy building, passion for what you do rising, and excitement for what the day may bring (and possibly a bit of panic,) reaching a crescendo. I knew this day I was going to meet someone important from a long ago past life. Then, he was Henry and I was Elizabeth. Now I knew we had a connection with war. I already had a good idea of what our souls had agreed to do in this life and felt we had done most of the work. Elizabeth told me bits of their life together in stories I wrote over the summer.

I woke up that morning early with the intention of driving the hour to Amsterdam and having breakfast at the hotel where I was going to stay that evening. As I prepared to leave I was both excited and anxious for the day. I told myself to calm down, it was just another speaking engagement and I have given this talk a bazillion times and it was all going to be fine.

The universe laughed and said,

‘Yes but you know this is not just an ordinary speaking engagement. This is no ordinary day and the people you meet will change your life.’

CRASH 40-45 Museum (44) — Outside the museum after my talk that afternoon.
I was a bit tired.

I was grateful for the hour drive, alone in the dark, to Amsterdam. It gave me time to clear the anxious energy and settle down. I enjoyed a nice breakfast and made my way to the CRASH ’40-’45 Museum where I was to speak later. There I met two people from the past. Henry and a soldier I took care of in another life during a war.

The soldiers I have cared for as a WWI nurse or in other lives, show up all the time. I recognize their energy by their behavior which is always very sweet and kind. Quietly wishing them light and love and releasing them allows both our souls to be at peace. And one thing I learned on this trip is I have carried through thousands of lifetimes, the heavy guilt of not being able to save so many of the soldiers. Sometimes their bodies and sometimes also their souls. Little did I know the healing and release that was about to come for all of us in a most unexpected place.

The energy at the museum that morning was crazy and I’m sure my energy just added to it. While there weren’t a lot of people from the museum there when I arrived, there seemed to be a lot of voices. The bell over the door kept ringing when someone opened it. It felt like too much all at once in a small space. But I kept clearing the energy and breathing deeply and after a few hours and before I spoke, it died down a bit.

I had a wonderful tour of the museum given to me by Ed the museum coordinator. He showed me the main highlights of the collection and told me a lot about the history of the WWII air war in the area. We had a light lunch and then prepared for the program.

Once the program began, the energy died down. The room was ¾ filled with people who wanted to learn more about researching American soldiers. My talk was similar to my program, “The Day That Lived in Infamy” which I give at home. In all my programs I tell stories rather than run down a dry list of facts and figures. Stories capture people’s imaginations. Stories make people THINK and FEEL something. The main difference between my talk in Europe and the one at home is the ending.

At the end of my program in Europe I read the final pages of Michael Kokoska’s story from my book, Stories of the Lost. The end of the story could apply to anyone’s soldier, any war, any time period, because Michael’s father talks about his son coming home after the war. Not walking off the train, but in a flag draped casket. The story allows us to see how connected we are regardless of time and place. It brings to life the very real pain and love this father felt for his son and his sacrifice. And it provides an example of how you can take all the research and put it into something people will remember.

When I was finished reading Michael’s story, many people were crying. Breaths were held and I had to tell the audience to breathe. The impact was made.

The last of my afternoon at the museum was spent meeting people, selling and signing books, and seeing the larger pieces (an airplane!) in the other part of the museum. Then it was off to the hotel to have a bit of quiet time and freshen up so I could spend the evening in Amsterdam!

CRASH 40-45 Museum (61) — Jan, Jennifer, and Ed seeing the airplane and larger plane pieces in the second building.

Speaking at CRASH 40-45 museum (1) — Jennifer talking to a young WWII
researcher of the 1st Infantry Division.

My evening in Amsterdam was a night I will never forget. As I stood at the bar in an old pub in Amsterdam drinking a Trappist beer, marveling at how incredible my life is, I almost had to pinch myself repeatedly to make sure I was really there. The rest of the night, well let’s just say it was amazing, and I found a lot of crocodiles and peace on my journey through ancient streets and canals.

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 10

January 25, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

Ammerzoden and Well walk (10) — Traveling the curvy road to see where I end up.

Some days are just meant to not be shared with anyone. Days where we must just be present and quiet, not running all over among the masses. Calm days to just process the energy and shifts and prepare for the big things coming. Friday, 23 October was such a day. Not once, but now twice, I made the decision not to go into ‘s-Hertogenbosch to the museum and see the city. I slept in that morning and took my time checking email and having breakfast.

During the morning before I left my sweet, cozy B&B, someone contacted me about something and the energy shifted in a negative direction. Every day I was in Europe I had used White Angelica essential oil for protection. I knew I would be in places where battles occurred, blood was shed, and anger, hate, and negativity reigned. I didn’t want all the negativity attaching itself to me. My job was to bring light and love and healing to these areas not increase the darkness. That morning, I had not put it on. The energy took over my hideaway and I had to open the front door and go outside and ground my energy for several minutes and clear the negative away.

It is often surprising when that kind of energy hits me. The more I shift and transform, the more aware of the different energies I become. This day though, I was not expecting it. After I cleared the energy enough to be still again, I took a long walk.

I left my B&B and walked toward the center of Ammerzoden and turned left to go down a street that led to the dike. When I reached the top I walked to my right to see where the winding road would take me. The sun was shining and it was a warm day with a crisp breeze. The trees were beautiful in their colors and the wind gently blew away everything that was no longer needed, including the negativity.

Ammerzoden and Well walk (32) — Walking past Slot Well.

I walked more than an hour and ended up in a town nearby Ammerzoden called Well. There I saw a castle. I had no idea this was there, and it was not open for tourists. It seemed to be well maintained and I wondered what stories it held. Did the ghosts wander the stone stairs in the mists? Were battles fought here? Were the inhabitants happy? I took a lot of photos and then began my walk back toward Ammerzoden.

On my walk I passed a field with horses and people who seemed to be taking lessons. I walked down old forest paths as the wind pushed the acorns and leaves off the trees, giving it a magical feel as I walked beneath the canopy. Eventually I found myself back in town near the church. I stopped in the chapel to light some candles and the energy swelled inside the small room. I said some prayers, did some energy clearing and left. Of course after a long walk, one has to stop at the bakery for something yummy and to do some writing.

I tried the Bosch Bol, this chocolate, whipped cream, decadent dessert. Apparently if you get one in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch,) they are much larger than the one I had in the bakery. The chocolate covered a small puff pastry type ball filled with whipped cream. The chocolate was dark, dense, rich, and while I finished the dessert, a small one was more than I needed. I enjoyed my dessert and coffee while writing. Writing in this bakery was something I was doing almost every other day. It was a peaceful, warm, and welcoming place to be.

Negativity dispelled, the energy crackling for the dinner with the owners of my B&B and my first program in Europe the following day, I walked back to my B&B in peace. Wondering again, who would I meet the next day that would change my life? Sometimes you just know people are going to show up. The question becomes, how are we meant to help each other in this life?

Spiritual Journey in the Soldiers’ Footsteps Day 9

January 24, 2020 by Jennifer Holik

Overassault Monument (7) — Overassault Monument

Friday, 22 October, I planned to meet my friend Frank, who teaches history and is a historian and author for the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR.) The plan was to meet in Overasselt near Arnhem. I was almost over my cold, and the next day I was going to give my first World War II program in Europe. It was a rainy, foggy day when I set out to meet him at 9:00. The only problem was I, I didn’t double check my itinerary (which had changed so often) to see we were actually meeting at 10:00.

I arrived an hour early and after I realized what I had done, Frank suggested I go see the John Thompson Bridge at Grave. I took a drive and didn’t realize I had already driven over it on my way. I stopped at the monument which honors the Airborne. The energy there was so intense as if every Airborne soldier had shown up. My body was vibrating from all the energy. I stood at the monument and cleared a lot of energy before taking another drive to find a cup of hot tea before I met Frank.

Frank and I visited the Nijmegen Bridge and Airborne Monument at that location. He told me a lot of history about what happened in that area during the war. After lunch we went to Oosterbeek to visit the cemetery. I wanted to visit the grave of British soldier Ivor Rowbery, who I had become aware of about a week before I flew to Europe. Ivor wrote a beautiful letter to his mother prior to the Operation Market Garden mission, knowing he was likely to die.

The rain began falling heavily when we arrived at the cemetery. Thankfully we had cover near the front of the cemetery where the Memorial Book is kept. The energy at the cemetery was not as intense as it had been earlier in the day. It was beautiful and peaceful to watch the rain fall over the cemetery with tall, colorful trees lining the edges, and listen to the acorns fall.

When the rain subsided we walked through the cemetery. Frank knows the stories of most of the men buried there. He brought them back to life as we walked. We located Ivor Rowbery’s grave and took a few photos then walked through the cemetery gate and walked along the forest edge to the field where the men had been.

When we exited the field we walked along a magical fairy road, along the city cemetery, as light fog hung in the air. I’m quite sure the fairies hang out in this area and magic abounds. Frank had no idea the cemetery which was laid out across from Oosterbeek, extended that far beyond the main area. After we found a gate to get into the far end of the cemetery, we saw some interesting Russian grave stones. It was quite a walk in a beautiful area.

Our afternoon ended with hot tea and a gigantic piece of apple pie that was impossible to eat in one sitting! Delicious.

As I drove home the energy was crackling. I was soon to meet someone I knew a thousand years ago and give my first talk in Europe. The question was, how would life change in the morning?

Recent Posts

Archives

Archives for January 2020