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My father was born in Bosnia. When he was ten years old his family was killed by the Ustasha, and he was sent to a concentration camp in Germany. His mother, his father, his brothers and sisters — gone. Only an older sister and an older brother survived. I did not know any of this…
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We were on holiday in Venezuela, Isla Margarita, all inclusive. Our son Stefan was ten. He was bored — not many other kids his age, too much sun, too much poolside. The hotel offered activities every day and I usually ignored them.One day the activity was volleyball. The hotel’s team against the guests. Stefan wanted…
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After changing schools, one of the first places I went was the library. That was not unusual for me. Wherever I went, the library was where I oriented myself. It was the one room that felt the same everywhere. The library was small and usually empty. It smelled of dust and old paper, and most…
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This morning, as I went to the kitchen to make coffee, I noticed the dishwasher had finished its cycle and needed emptying. I can do that while the coffee brews, I thought. But a voice inside me said: No. That’s boring. I don’t feel like it. So I made a bargain: I’ll just start with…