The Butterfly

I just returned from the Northwest Reno Library where I had the privilege of hearing Ela Weissberger, a holocaust survivor, speak. Ela is one of 100 children (out of a total of 15,000) to survive the concentration camp at Terezin. She was invited here to Reno during Artown by the Nevada Opera. The Nevada Opera is presenting a children’s opera called Brundibar! which was written at Terezin and performed by the children of Terezin. Ela played the cat in all 55 performances during her 3 ½ years at Terezin. She also wrote a children’s book called The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin.

Ela Weissberger is another example of a hero in my book, an inspiration, and a role model. Someone to remember when I’m having a bad day or things aren’t going my way. Imagine living everyday anticipating you were going to be shipped off to die. She spoke of saying "see you later" to her friends as they were taken away. She said she never would (and still won't) say "good-bye". During her talk today she had such a positive attitude and told so many stories, some happy, some sad, but all inspirational and educational.

She also recited a poem by Pavel Freidmann who was also at Terezin. He was killed at Aushchwitz on September 29, 1944. For me, butterflies have always symbolized joy, and I think maybe they did too for Pavel Friedman, at least for one fleeting moment.

The Butterfly

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun's tears would sing
against a white stone. . . .

Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly 'way up high.
It went away I'm sure because it wished to
kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I've lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.

That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live in here,
in the ghetto.

-Pavel Friedman 4.6.1942

Kayaking on the Lake

Our latest adventure was a sunset kayak tour along the south shore of Lake Tahoe. This trip was arranged through our community and led by Kayak Tahoe. We were fortunate to meet some new neighbors and spend time together in a double kayak on the beautiful lake. The skies were a bit smoky but we still had a great time. Before setting out on the water, we were given a brief kayaking lesson and then we headed out towards the sunset. Part way through we were quizzed by our guides on Lake Tahoe trivia. As the evening went on, it got a bit windy and the lake got pretty choppy, testing our rowing abilities, but we made it back in one piece and fairly dry. Don't forget...GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY!!!

My first wild orchid

June 28, 2008 was one of the MOST memorable wildflower days of my life. I've never hiked the Tahoe wilderness areas during the peak of the wildflower bloom until June 28, 2008. On a field trip with the Lahontan Audubon Society, I was introduced to a variety of new wildflowers including my first orchid, the Rein orchid (Platanthera leucostachys) in a beautiful (almost dreamlike) meadow at Blackwood Canyon. It was only about 6" tall and hiding in amongst the grasses but our guide new that it should be in bloom and found it for us. It was an amazing day. I learned many new wildlflowers and also added a few bird species to my life list (calliope hummingbird, Clark's nutcracker, and pine grosbeak).

Let Freedom Ring!

Happy

4th

of

July!