My mother’s grandparents were from Alsace - Lorraine. According to family legend, grandfather was too short to get into (or out of) the military. He would have probably not survived because the German military didn’t really tolerate those vertically challenged. One of the things he never would have been able to do was run up behind a horse, place his hands on its rear, and jump on to the animal. Instead, his family sent him off to the USA. As the story goes, he joined up at the dock with a family that had a whole lot of kids. One more didn't matter. He never saw his German family again.
Now, his wife, my great grandmother, was apparently a different challenge
altogether.
She got caught with her sister’s fiancé and was promptly shipped off
to America. I think I would have
liked her.
My mother wanted to explore her roots and we headed off to Europe together.
In one of the little German villages we explored, we met this chimney
sweep. Of course, it made sense
that they were still needed, but I didn’t know they still dressed like Dick
Van Dyke.
We knew there was a Roth family home in the little town of Gundershoffen.
It made sense that it would most likely in the town center because it
was built so long ago. However,
we just didn’t know where to look.
I thought it made sense to check things out at city hall.
Well, it was a good idea, but they were closed.
I had no other options.
I failed.
Continue on to Europe Image 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 or back to the Portraits Home Page.