Do what you have to do and move on” seems to have been my life’s theme in my early years and it carried through many decades of my adult life. My family left our farm in Croatia in 1943 during WWII when I was less than a year old. After two years of movement as displaced persons, we lived in Austria from 1945-1952.

In Austria I learned the German language and a new culture. Croatia became just word to me – the name of the country where I had been born. However, I know nothing about it. My life there was in the past. After seven years, we emigrated to America and again a new language and a new culture became my focus. At age nine, I did not know much about WWII, and as the years passed, I forgot much of the German language as well as details of Austrian life.

I learned English easily, and by my high school years I had no accent, and most fellow students did not know I was foreign born. There was no reason to mention the past, and it was not the focus of my life…I had moved on. My past, however, is such a basic part of who I am that it is impossible to forget or ignore. Not until my adult years did I think deeply about how my values and characteristics were formed and controlled me.

Friends frequently expressed surprise and interest when they learned about my background and many commented that I should write a book about it at least for the sake of my children. I finally did so and learned much in the process myself. I researched many related topics and came to appreciate my native country for its beauty and the people for their hard work and resilience. I also give my family much credit for the endurance needed to do their best and move forward with hope.