
Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, Aug. 17, 2015: Soviet War Memorial, Berlin
A quiet place, in a peaceful park in Berlin hardly seems connected at first sight to the horrific fighting that took place all over

A quiet place, in a peaceful park in Berlin hardly seems connected at first sight to the horrific fighting that took place all over
Visitors at Mao Zedong’s birthplace Photo: Brucke-Osteuropa / Wikimedia Chinese and Russian tourism authorities

May 27, 1940—75 years ago today—was the first day of the evacuation of Allied (mostly British) troops from the French port of Dunkirk across the English Channel to Dover and other British ports.
” To be honest, I no longer try to calculate how things are going to turn out in this war. No one is going to escape unscathed. One must not be miserly with the little life that we have. Those who are anxious and fearful, they will be struck first….

With the many events held in 2014 to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers of the two World Wars, my visits to the delightful sea front of Weymouth are made more thoughtful each time I pass the memorials erected on the esplanade.

After a brief holiday, I am back to Finding Reiner. I am writing this family mystery as a travelogue ( and as a graphic book illustrated by the fabulous Maria Lebedeva whose illustrations I include here ) for two reasons. First, war stories mean…

I’m deep into last-minute research for my “Finding Reiner” adventure. My suitcase is packed with device chargers, plug adaptors, Swiss Army knives, bandaids, spare batteries, and clip-on, flat water flasks for the trail. But, my desk is covered…

I was born at the very end of World War II and it was a palpable presence in my California home as I grew up. That may be why I generally avoid anything to do with it while still being deeply moved by references to the war. This morning I…

On Monday August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. My son, my elderly German mother-in-law, Lütte, and I were hunkered down in my husband’s office at Tulane Medical School. Our decision to stay seemed smart at the time. My…

A quiet place, in a peaceful park in Berlin hardly seems connected at first sight to the horrific fighting
Visitors at Mao Zedong’s birthplace Photo: Brucke-Osteuropa / Wikimedia

May 27, 1940—75 years ago today—was the first day of the evacuation of Allied (mostly British) troops from the French port of Dunkirk across the English Channel to Dover and other British ports.
” To be honest, I no longer try to calculate how things are going to turn out in this war. No one is going to escape unscathed. One must not be miserly with the little life that we have. Those who are anxious and fearful, they will be struck first….

With the many events held in 2014 to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers of the two World Wars, my visits to the delightful sea front of Weymouth are made more thoughtful each time I pass the memorials erected on the esplanade.

After a brief holiday, I am back to Finding Reiner. I am writing this family mystery as a travelogue ( and as a graphic book illustrated by the fabulous Maria Lebedeva whose illustrations I include here ) for two reasons. First, war stories mean…

I’m deep into last-minute research for my “Finding Reiner” adventure. My suitcase is packed with device chargers, plug adaptors, Swiss Army knives, bandaids, spare batteries, and clip-on, flat water flasks for the trail. But, my desk is covered…

I was born at the very end of World War II and it was a palpable presence in my California home as I grew up. That may be why I generally avoid anything to do with it while still being deeply moved by references to the war. This morning I…

On Monday August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. My son, my elderly German mother-in-law, Lütte, and I were hunkered down in my husband’s office at Tulane Medical School. Our decision to stay seemed smart at the time. My…