Family History

Here I am at age 10, still with my “Bubikopf:”
    
      The best times were when our paternal grandmother (“Omlo” pictured below with her dog) came to visit and brought lovely presents. Fortunately, Dada did not object to my spending time with her in the guest room. My 10th birthday present was to visit her in Munich for a week—a big occasion. I had a train compartment and I changed trains by myself. Albertina (“Tante Lena” who was Omlo’s sister and sister-in-law) and her daughter lived next door to Omlo. The housekeeper was Babette. She served lovely cookies and cake at tea.  I had my little Brownie camera and I took pictures—we did something every day and I took pictures at the zoo and the English garden. I was into Dr. Doolittle and they got me a new book in the series everyday.  

 
    By 1931 we were settled and I was now in the 5th grade/Quinta. Most typical days I got up at 7 AM, had breakfast of hot cereal, bread, butter, jam and cocoa, then a short walk and ride on the streetcar. We wore skirts, blouses, sweaters, and knee socks to school (not a uniform or those uncomfortable matching dresses made for us for our formal portraits). School started at 8 AM. All the Quinta had the same curriculum: German, French, math, geography, and natural science everyday. Twice a week we had religious instruction from Herr Dr. Eiffle, a stern and sour priest (protestant kids had a minister and Jewish and “frei religious” had a study period); 70% of the Freiburg population was Catholic, and we even had a small chapel next to the school. At around 11:30 AM was recess in the lower grades. We would rush home for soup, etc. Then we went back to school until 4 PM. Back home then, we had “tea” served in the upstairs children’s study and then home work under Dada’s stern eyes. This was also the time she tried to teach us piano! Mother often joined us for lunch or tea. Supper was in the children’s dining room around 6 PM. The parents would eat when Dad got home. We might see him long enough for a kiss, that is when Dada who cozied up to him, did not tell him of a misdeed by Stasi or me. Then wash up time, shoes in front of our door, school clothes ready for the morning, obligatory prayer and bed. We had no chores other than getting good grades.
    On Saturday there was only half a day of school, leaving some time in the afternoon for play in the garden, not encouraged by Dada because I got Gretchen and myself dirty. Gretchen and I had dolls, but mostly we played “house” and she was my “little Lottchen.” In Freiburg, Stasi had a group of friends at school “die Ecke” (the corner). They would stand there and gossip, which Dada thought was improper. Stasi felt our mother should have been on her side. Stasi went off to dancing school. I remember her cute Marie Antoinette outfit for Fasching. The main street went out to Guntestahl out toward the lovely Loretto Berg. Our street, the Silberbachstrasse, had the large houses were. Her friends Inge and Pia lived on the streets toward town.