Cracking Open a Book For Once: Reading Gruenfeld
For a few years now, I’ve been collecting books, but not reading them. Only dipping in here and there, before running back to the thrift […]
genealogy
Chasing the “Somewhere”
Last night, I spoke about Mennotoba in front of an audience. I was terrified. I’m an awkward speaker. I forget what I want to say, all […]
The Great-Grandfather of All the Reimers: A Visit to Abraham ‘Fuela’ Reimer’s Grave
I feel like Christmas wasn’t that long ago. Over the holidays, I missed time with family (because pandemic). And, I notice it’s been little while […]
The Story of Maria Braun: Return to Schoenwiese
WEST RESERVE Not an email. Not a phone call. There was only one way for Karen Peters to tell me this story. We had to […]
Jakob’s Final Resting Place (After Being Booted Out of Osterwick)
When I first read Peter Brown’s book The Brauns of Osterwick, I never expected to actually see the gravesite of my great-great-great-grandfather Jakob Braun. It […]