I enjoyed the ring and floor exercises. I won a gold medal for my floor exercises when I was in Grade 3. Mama hadn’t been able to come, as she had been sick in bed. But she was so proud of me, her eyes shone when I brought the medal home. She let me hang it above our bed on the wall.
That first summer after the wedding, when Papa had some free time of a weekend, he sometimes decided we’d all go for an outing.
“Why don’t we all go to the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam’s Bush)?” We helped cut sandwiches for a picnic lunch, packed some blankets and walked to the park. We sang songs as we walked there, holding hands and swinging the bags of sandwiches and cordial bottles.
In the park was a swimming pool, which was free to the public. This was such a treat. I was a strong swimmer, but didn’t realise that at the time. I just knew I loved being in the water. Papa and Mama never went in, neither of them were fond of water. Papa couldn’t swim, and Mama was more worried about the germs which might be floating around in the water.
They sat on the blankets and watched us with smiles on their faces, while we played with the younger children in the water.
We squealed and laughed and had so much fun together. When we were called out for lunch, we were ravenous from all the activity. Eating lunch we had to fight off the wasps, which terrified me. Then we had to wait at least half an hour before being allowed back in the water.
During that half hour the little ones played in the playground, while some of us sat around telling stories or singing a song together. I have such fond memories of these special family moments.
One morning Mama said, “How would you all like to come to the zoo today?”
The response was one of pure joy. The zoo! Wow!
“I want to take everyone as a special treat. It is my thank you for helping me be part of your family,” she said, with a warm smile.
We were excited, getting ready in the quickest time. While I was helping Mama cut lunches, I asked her, “Can I cut some of the crusts off so I can feed the animals?”
“Yes, of course, but I don’t know if you’re allowed to feed any of the animals. Which animals do you think would eat bread?”
“The birds, I know the birds eat bread and crumbs, because Mama used to put the breadcrumbs out on the window sill all the time,” I informed her.
“Marijke, that’s a lovely thought. You should’ve told me. We’ll also put all the breadcrumbs out on the window sill from now on. If I forget, will you promise to remind me?”
“Yes, I will.” I felt so happy that another one of Mama’s traditions would now be continued, and that I was given the responsibility to make sure it happened.
The day at the zoo was wonderful, and I could see that Papa and Mama enjoyed seeing us have such a good experience. I threw some of the bread crumbs into the birds’ cages, and shared this joy with my brothers and sisters. We also threw some of the crusts to the monkeys, and laughed at them grabbing at the crusts and then chasing each other for them.
When we came to the duck pond, we also gave them some crusts. Then we all sang Papa’s favourite duck song. We danced around and laughed, and Mama and Papa joined in. A few people stopped and watched us, and clapped when we finished.
I didn’t want to go home at the end of the day. I loved seeing all the animals, and learning about them. Especially the giraffes, they looked so elegant with their long necks.
Throughout my childhood I had often been called a giraffe, due to my long slim neck. At first I used to get upset when called a giraffe. Then Mama told me that a long neck is one of the seven signs of beauty. She told me a long neck is elegant. After that I savoured the name, and here they were, my namesakes.
When we arrived home, Mama asked me to help her prepare the evening meal. As I was peeling the potatoes, she said, “Thank you for thinking of the birds. It shows you have a kind heart, and I’m pleased that you told me about putting the crumbs on the window sill.”
I wasn’t too sure how to respond to this compliment, so I looked at her and smiled. She smiled back at me. “I loved today at the zoo, you looked like you were really enjoying yourself,” she said.
“I did, Mama. I love watching animals, and I think the monkeys were really funny,” I said, my face showing my pleasure.
Mama gave me a spontaneous kiss on the cheek, which was not something she did as a rule. I kissed her back. We looked at each other and smiled. Just then, I felt close to her; this was a special moment.
A few weeks later an aunty and uncle I’d never heard of before came to visit us. We were introduced to them as Aunty Rie and Uncle Theo, from Australia. I didn’t even know where Australia was, but it sounded so exotic.
Aunty Rie was a cousin of both Mamas, and had grown up with them. Aunty and Uncle had moved to Australia just after the war, one of many migrants looking to improve their lives from the dismal conditions in Europe.
We gathered around them, listening to the wonderful stories they told us about their life in Tasmania, a small island state of Australia. They told us of the many opportunities there, the beauty of its flora and fauna and the wild animals. They showed photos of wonderful houses you could build and own in Australia.
We listened in amazement. In our small world, we had no idea there were countries so different to ours. The photos of the scenery they showed us were so vastly removed from our flat country. There were mountains, long white beaches, and huge houses. The houses looked like palaces to us in comparison to the small cramped units in Amsterdam.
“Why don’t you come to Australia?” they asked Mama and Papa. “We’re sure you will love living there. If you come to Tasmania, there is a large Dutch community already established. We’re sure you will feel quite at home there.”
We all started speaking at once, “Yes, Mama, Papa, that will be nice,” and, “doesn’t that sound wonderful,” and, “our own house, Papa, we could have our own beautiful house.”
“Whoa, whoa, everybody, don’t all speak at once. It all sounds wonderful, but it’s not that simple. Mama and I will talk about it. If we like the idea, we’ll look into it. It would be a huge undertaking, leaving behind our families and friends. And of course, it is on the other side of the world,” Papa said in his authoritative voice, calming us all down.
When Aunty Rie and Uncle Theo left, we were still abuzz with the possibilities. That night I lay in bed, conjuring up beaches and big houses, it sounded wonderful and exciting. I wonder if Papa and Mama think we should go to Australia. Do I want to go there? It sounds exciting, a new country and a new language. But it also sounds scary. I fell asleep, dreaming of sitting in a lovely big house, on a mountain, overlooking a long sweeping beach.
When I got up the next morning, Papa was already in the kitchen. Whilst we set the table for breakfast, I asked him, “Do you think we might go to Australia, Papa?”
“I don’t know, there are a lot of things to think about. But, Mama and I are going to look into it. If we think it’s suitable, it could mean a new beginning for the family. What do you think, Marijke?”
Papa is asking my opinion? Wow, he thinks I am old enough to give him my opinion!
“I don’t know either yet. It sounds exciting and I think it would be a really good place to live. But it also sounds scary, because they don’t speak Dutch, and it’s so far away. What would happen if we don’t like it there, Papa? Can we come back again?”
“I don’t think that would be