prompt for last week of December — Roots:

Who am I in reference to my ancestral roots?

(scene of a deep black forest one might find in Germany)

I envy those who know their family history going back several generations. My birth family didn’t speak of their childhood. I don’t know how they met or why they married one another.

I do recall a harsh Dutch grandfather who had a beautiful flower garden. Why did he emigrate to America? He owned a candy shop. His chocolates and Christmas ribbon candy were delicious. He forced my father to leave school and help out with the business.

My father never finished high school nor get his GED. This limited the jobs he could get to support his family. He might have been dyslexic. He loved history and was an amateur artist. He had difficulty staying employed. He was tall like his father. He was also a clown, making us laugh.

(pink tulips in a field, typical of sights seen in Holland)

My mother’s father emigrated from Germany. I recall her saying they came from the Black Forest region. I don’t remember her father. We did visit a stepmother at times. Mom worked for a Jewish family who sent her to Nursing School. They felt she was too intelligent to be a housekeeper.

Her family didn’t realize her poor hearing ability. She trained at a three year hospital program. The students were part of the nursing staff. They noticed she didn’t hear the babies crying.

They gave her glasses to correct her eyesight. She received dentures also. She must have been neglected as a child.

Characteristics of my ancestral roots

Since I don’t know my grandparents well, I researched my known heritage. The Dutch are a disciplined, hard working people. They tend to be practical. They value cleanliness and organization.

They are pragmatists and have a strong work ethic. They have some of the tallest people in Europe. They’re known for their tulip bulbs, cheese, windmills, and canals. The countryside is flat so people bike everywhere. They are very healthy and enjoy physical activity.

The Germans strive for perfection and precision in every part of their lives. They’re stingy with compliments or admitting faults. They tend to be thrifty and sensible. They hold on to conservative values and are private individuals.

Both cultures rely on meat and potatoes in their meals. German pastry is phenomenal. Their beer halls are superb. They love their festivals.

Do you know that German Americans are the largest immigrant group in America?

My travels to both countries

My husband and I visited the Netherlands while our son was an exchange student in France. Their expertise in managing canals was evident. We toured Amsterdam, saw tulip fields, and went to the home that hid Anne Frank.

When a trolly hit a cab disabling it, the passenger hopped out the back and flagged another one at once. It was almost comical to watch. No one stopped to stare like they would in the States. The business commenced as usual. The locals were friendly. The streets were clean.

I’ve been to Germany many times. We visited military friends stationed there. They were members of a square dance club and had invited them for dinner. After the meal, they passed a drinking boot around. Everyone tipped the boot, took a swig, and gave it to the person next to them.

Broad smiles were on everyone’s faces. I knew something was up, but didn’t catch on. I tipped the boot preparing to drink when the contents flushed my face and soaked my shirt. Hoots of laughter echoed throughout the room. I joined in their merriment, shrugging my shoulders. “What just happened?”

The tip of the boot had to lean the right way. Otherwise, air got trapped and beer would gush forth. My son had to bring one home. He thought it was hilarious and wanted to try it on his friends.

While climbing in Germany our group visited local beer halls. The food and festive music are outstanding. Female servers can carry eight huge mugs with no trouble. We joined in singing and danced between and on the tables. This behavior was common to tipsy patrons.

During a visit to the Black Forest region, I wondered, “Were my ancestor's avid hikers in the surrounding mountains?” It is a beautiful area of Germany. I felt a kinship with the energy of the quaint towns. Did my hiking and climbing inclination come from their genes?

Our history begins before we are born. We represent the hereditary influences of our race, and our ancestors virtually live in us. — — James Nasmyth

I now have a better understanding of who I am. I carry the genes of those who came before me. My facial features, body structure, and height resemble my ancestors.

I love to be in nature and thrive when in the mountains. That comes from my Black Forest forbearers. Did they give me my thirst for adventure also?

I glory in starting and nurturing garden plants. That is my Dutch ancestry. I love flowers of every shape and color.

I have a strong work ethic and am definitely a pragmatist. I have artistic leanings and have tried many crafts. I love to bike long distances and relish the sense of freedom it gives me.

I have a perfectionist tendency and am conservative in my own values.

Wow, I am a living, walking image of my ancestors.

Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

This article is written in response to the Reciprocal Nature prompt of “Roots” suggested by Dr. Preeti Singh.

I recommend the following posts by other Medium writers:

Josephine Crispin delights in revealing her roots to anyone who wants to know.

Leonard Tillerman writes of an episode in his life that taught humility and grace.

Ali Hall writes a great article on respecting a woman’s right to be childfree.

Thank you to the Reciprocal editors Sahil Patel, Dr. Preeti Singh, and Yana Bostongirl for challenging us Medium writers.