“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
–Thomas Jefferson
“Get packing. Tomorrow, we go to America,” my greatgrandmother said to her husband. For the full effect, read that first sentence with a German accent. My greatgrandfather was a farmer in northern Germany and my greatgrandma sold what she gleaned from his fields. Unbeknownst to Greatgrandpa, she saved all of the money she earned and bought tickets for the whole family to travel to America.
My greatgrandpa said back to her, “What, are you verrückt (crazy in German,) how are we going to do that?” Greatgrandma told him how she gleaned, sold and saved so they could go to America and have a better life. When Greatgrandpa asked her what she would do if he said wouldn’t go, she answered, “Vell, den, ve go vitout you.” (That must be where I got my stubborn streak:)
They set sail the next morning from Bremen, Germany, on the ship “Hohenhauser.” Yes, Greatgrandpa went, too. Their passage was in the lower deck, or steerage, of the ship with the cows that were being transported. It certainly wasn’t a cruise ship, but dream journeys aren’t always pleasant, are they? Freedom always comes with a cost.
They made it! As it turns out, their cousins had gone to America before them and sponsored Greatgrandpa and his family. Everyone’s intent was to pursue the American dream with the skills that they had. They wanted to live in the land of the free and home of the brave. My grandpa went to New York to learn to make frescos, paintings done in watercolor on wet plaster, and he used that skill in the homes of the wealthy in Cleveland, Ohio.
My ancestors loved their new country so much, that my grandpa was willing to go into the army to protect his new homeland. I am not sure how well you can read that, but that’s a picture of Grandpa’s draft card.
Those are the only details that I have of their story, but I’m so grateful that Greatgrandma followed her dreams! I get to live in the greatest country in the world because of her. What at a great legacy to leave! My eyes tear up when I think about it.
When you read this, I’ll be packing to travel to California to spend the Independence Day with my kids. We will celebrate the fact that we have life, liberty and can pursue the happiness that comes from living our dreams. That, my friends, is in our family DNA. Actually, as Americans, it’s in all of our DNA. Celebrate that with me!
Happy Fourth of July!
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
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