Loving History

Being the eldest meant that by the time I was 12 years old I was given most of the household chores which somehow made me a homebody on my adolescent age. Staying at home was like spending most of my time on television and books. I remember that at the onset of my teen years I got hooked on a tv series called Homefront. The story was based on the period after WWII.  It was well written and each character was well acted. It kept me returning each week and stay up late to see every new episode. I wonder who among my age group had even heard of  this. I got no one to talk about the story during that time since most of my friends were absorbed with Pinoy tv series. Though I watched them once in awhile but I have no eagerness to discuss after each episode because it’s very apparent that you can guess what’s going to happen next. 

Now in my thirties, I am obviously far too young to have lived through World War II. However, I grew up with my grandparents who have experienced the war. Some of them were anxious to tell me what they have gone through.   How they fought in the war and how they have struggled through the utter destruction it had caused.   Recalling those days made them feel they were more patriotic and I was never been prouder that I was born of valiant ancestors. Those stories engrossed my very young mind about History and Wars. It always made me mused on how countries miles and miles away from each other could even arise some contradiction.

At school, I got nothing but admiration and respect to my History teacher who had delivered the subject matter well. I’m sure my high school classmates would agree that Ms. Sullivan (bless her soul) was one of the most brilliant teachers in her time. 

Those stories at home and History lessons learned from school ignited a spark of interest in me that has blazed brightly all these years. It resulted to cramming and collecting on books about historical events like The Diary of Anne Frank and Adolf Hitler: Mein Kampf. Also made me long to watch again those great movies from Schindler's List to Pearl Harbor to Life is Beautiful (this one made me cry). Curios as I am, I was surfing the net about World War Themes, particularly how Hitler set the world on  aggression when I accidentally came across an article about Hitler being related to our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Sounds like a crazy idea but they based it on some theories that our hero had been in Europe or somewhere in Austrian border when Hitler was conceived and evidence of Rizal’s picture hanging on the wall of Hitler’s room. Well those of you, who are surprised about this, try to goggle about it. Gather theories, interesting facts and try to make your own conclusion.

(More interesting facts here)

You see how fascinating our History is. How the things started and got connected in every way. I have moved out from my folks and have a family of my own. My colleagues are around my age level, and I even hang out with friends younger than me. I am adrift from older friends ripened by time and gripped with History that I have no time to converse with them since I am occupied with my responsibility of being a mom, a wife and a career woman. That’s why I am just counting on my books to keep my fascination ablaze throughout my lifetime. 

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