September 2003 - Nr. 9
Family
Pictures supplied by Rachel Seilern
The last time you heard from me, I was sharing my enthusiasm about culture! I had just taken a better look at my Hungarian background and the experience proved to me that culture was what excited me most.
Since then, I spent two weeks in Austria with my
Tante
Ingrid (Szauter) and I have learned so much. What an incredibly memorable
overwhelming, life-changing experience. Unfortunately, I would fill up all
of Echo Germanica if I started telling you about my trip with all my
thoughts and impressions. (We’ll have to save all those for the next time
you are in the King City area! - I’d be more than delighted to share my
journal and pictures with you.) But what was the highlight of it all was not
the culture or even my happy adventures as much as it was family. I
see now more than ever what family means. It is more special to me than
anything.
All
my Seilern relatives live in Austria except for our little section here in
Ontario. I have never really known a Seilern other than those of my
immediate family.
Having had the privilege of spending some time getting to
know my uncles, aunts and
cousins
this summer has made me feel so much richer. I’ve gotten in touch with the
main branches of my family tree and I feel so special to be one of its
little shoots. And Love is like the bark that binds us now. Maybe the fact
that there is a big ocean that divided our family all these years had made
me not as sure about these things as I am now since I crossed it. I imagine
it’s a common desire in the back of the minds of us youth who have grown up
here in Canada (but feel in some way connected to Europe) to be sure we know
who we are - "where do we really come from" not being only a geographic or
cultural question.
I was also never able to meet my grandfather, Paul Seilern.
But from all the inspiring, moving and delightful sto
ries
I’ve heard all my life, it’s very clear that he was a man worth
knowing. We made a trip out to the towns of Schruns and Tschagguns in
beautiful Vorarlberg, where my grandfather spent a good deal of his life. It
was quite the feeling to hear any store clerk or passer-by we met, talk of
"Herr Seilern, the artist" with wide-eyed wonder and with a sort of piety in
their voice. His memory is very much alive.
I
could have never guessed how incredibly special that quality time with my
relatives would be. I have such dear memories of our being together. They
make me smile, make me feel cozy inside and give me strength for the future.
I can’t help being overcome with sadness at times to think how far apart we
are but I know Love has the strength to reduce oceans to puddles.
Rachel A.I. Seilern
Comments to: rachel@echoworld.com
