Family History---Ann's Past

I suppose this is not all that unusual but I find it, at least, entertaining, in part because of the distance, in part because of odd bit of chance, and touch because of nostalgia.

My charming wife as a child lived in Vienna. It was just after the Big War and just before the cold war and her father being a German speaker, was involved in the occupation of "intelligence" gathering. They lived in a small home that had been previously occupied by an entertainer who was in great favor of the Fuhrer. As a result, the home held a very elegant Steinway piano. The past "schauspieler", the Hitler crony, still lived in a hovel in the back yard but was in no position to regain his vaulted position in 1950.

Ann was fortunate to have piano lessons on this Steinway, the same Steinway the Hitlers entertainer used. Ann's family lived under a false name as her father was incognito and not distinguishable from the local populous. This was, again, in 1950-53 while she was just 5-8 year as of age.

While this is all very cool, in a historical way, the event of note, or of the moment is different. A few weeks ago Dave and Denise visited Vienna and paid the address a stop-in, took a few pictures and sent them to Ann. At the same time, Ann was looking through old photographs taken in Vienna and the very house visited by our friends. While the recent shots were taken from the front of the home and the older ones were in the yard in the back, our eyes caught an interesting feature.

Behind Dave some 50 yards is a yard urn or pedestaled pot. In looking through the old photos there sits the same ornament right next to my future wife. Sixty two years and it is still there.

A letter is going to go out soon to see, if by a remote chance, the Steinway still sits in the main room. Maybe she could go back for a few lessons.