Chapter 13: Pilgrims

December 20, 1938

            Well it has been a while since I last wrote.  We have really been busy.  Our family has been traveling around Europe singing songs.  We have actually been getting a lot of money recently because everyone wants to hear Christmas songs.  Oh it has been so lovely here.  I have never had such a fun Christmas.  Mother is full of holiday cheer.  She is even more hyper than usual even though she is four months pregnant.  For the most part she seems to be feeling fine.  The only time she really gets down is when Father decides she needs to rest.  I think he is concerned for her health.  I think ever since Gretl's birth he has been scared of childbirth because of Mother's sudden death shortly after Gretl was born.  It is funny because I remember Mother was always usually in bed sick when she was pregnant, not Maria though.  She has been up doing stuff with us and singing in every concert.  I would have to say Father really found his equal in strength.  Maria is a very strong person. 

            It surprises me that two people as strong as Mother and Father could be in love with each other.  You would think they would get on each other's nerves, but they don't.  Well not anymore anyways.  I am smiling as I write this thinking back to when Maria first came here.  Ha!  It is so funny to see how things change.  I can't wait until Christmas.

December 26, 1938

            Today was the best Christmas ever.  This year we did not get presents.  We did not have enough money for that.  We did however go to a homeless shelter.  Maria and I cooked this wonderful meal for them and we sang songs around the Christmas tree with them.  We spent most of the day just making them happy and talking to them.  They were all very happy to have us there.  Mother had suggested we do that and everyone had a great time.  We came home and had a meal and then sung some more.  After dinner we sat by the fire and read some stories.  Father and Mother tucked us in and left for their room.  So even though we had no presents this Christmas time really felt like Christmas.  I suppose it was because it feels better to give than to receive. 

January 3, 1939

            Oh dear we have been caught.  The Nazis know we are here.  We have to leave, but where to?  We are leaving this house today.  I will write as soon as possible.

February 18, 1939

            For more than one month we have been hiding in England.  This is really hiding though.  We keep moving around so no one will suspect anything.  We can't sing anymore because the Nazis will find us then.  So we have no money as of right now.  Father is beginning to get concerned with Maria.  She is looking more and more weak everyday. 

March 1, 1939

            Today I overheard Father and Mother talking.  They were talking. 

            "Maria my love, today Max called and we got papers to leave Europe."  He said.  "I just need to run them by you." 

            "Leave?  Why would we leave?  It will be fine here in a few years and we can go back to Austria."  She said.

            "Maria will not allow you or my family to live like this.  I didn't tell you where we would go did I?"  He asked.

            "No, Where are we going?" She sighed.

            "We are going to America, my love."  He answered.  "And my lovely wife will finally get to see the sea."

            "Wait, you told me we couldn't go to America, even if we wanted to."  She said.

            "I didn't want to get your hopes up.  Now are you going to be okay on the ship?"  He asked smiling.

            "Of course I am, why are you asking a silly question like that?  Are we leaving soon?"  She asked.

            "Yes we are going tomorrow.  Soon we will be in America!" He laughed at her quick change of emotions.  Maria smiled at him.  

            "I love you Georg."  She whispered.  He took her face in his hands and kissed her fully on the lips.

            So I guess we are going to America.  America?  Am I hearing right?  I am so excited.  We get to go to a land where everyone is free far away from these terrible Nazis?  Sounds good to me!

March 8, 1939

            Today is our last full day aboard ship!  The first day we had no problem packing our small belongings into one bag and leaving Europe.  Not a tear was shed.  Maria was very amazed at the beauty of the sea.  Father wanted to show off the beauty of the sea to her so they have enjoyed many romantic days together just walking around the boat.  Maria has only been seasick once.  She says luckily the baby seems like it likes the sea as much as it's Father.  As for the children…oh dear.  Kurt and Friedrich are the biggest pests ever.  They just don't know when to stop.  They seriously harass Brigitta to no end.  At least we get off in a day. 

            Father grew tired of us asking when we would get to America so he told us that we would know we are in New York because there is a gigantic statue in the harbor that symbolizes freedom.  It is called Liberty Enlightening the World, but is shortened as The Statue of Liberty.  Hmm…I wonder how close we have to be to see it.  I have only seen a few statues in the church.  Father says it is much larger.  I can't wait to see it!  Maybe it will be as tall as our villa!

March 9, 1939

            Oh my goodness!  That statue is as big as our villa.  Actually it is about ten times the size in height.  I could see it from a mile away.  It was amazing!  We came in and saw the harbor and there in our sight was a giant statue with a torch in her hand welcoming us.  It was very impressive.  Everyone came to the top of the ship to see it.  Everyone was cheering, somewhere even waving American flags.  I was in awe.  I think everyone else in my family was too.  Even Kurt's jaw dropped open when we sailed close to the Island it stood on.  Father and Mother were gazing at it, but they were soon gazing into each other's eyes and kissing.  We reached another Island right by Liberty Island called Ellis Island.  Ellis Island is where you go through all these things so you can go into America.  We heard lots of horror stories of people not getting through there.  Fortunately we got through it in a few hours.

            We took a ferry to the mainland called New York.  When we got there we found a cheep hotel.  Well it was not cheep, but it was the cheapest one we could find.  Our family has almost no money.  We are using it sparingly and trying to come up with ideas on how to earn money.

April 10, 1939

            We have been in this hotel fro a month now.  We did figure out what to do though to earn money!  Some agent came to us one day and asked us if we would still like to do a singing tour.  Well I think it was an agent anyways, I am not sure what you call them, Managers?  Father and Mother discussed it quickly and told him we would love to.  I could tell Father did not really want to tour, he really hates his family singing in public, but it appeared to be the only way to get money.  So we start the tour in about three days.  We are going to travel around America in this huge tour bus!  I for one am excited.  It should be fun.  We are planning some songs and plan after the summer to start singing Christmas ones. 

            The only concern now is how Maria will fair.  Father does not like the idea of her having to ride the bus, but she insists on going.  There is really no other option.  Father would never let Maria stay in New York alone and he would not let just the kids go on the tour so we are all going. 

April 15, 1939

            Today was our first concert!  It was tons of fun!  The crowd really liked us!  We sang the normal songs like My Favorite Things and Do-Re-Mi etc.  The end song was Edelweiss.  The crowd loved it.  After the performance they asked if it was our National Anthem in Austria.  I don't know how that rumor got around, but we told them it was just an old folk song.  The strangest thing was when some boy about my age came up to me and asked me for and Autograph.  I looked at him confused.  He handed me a pen.
"Please sign this."  He mumbled he held out a program.  I stared at him blankly. 

"What for?"  I asked.

"Because I think you are a wonderful singer."  He answered.  I was very scared.  Maria walked up to me and whispered I my ear.

"Liesl, it is what people ask for in America.  They like to have famous people sign pictures for them" She said.

"We are not famous though Mother."  She laughed and left my side.  I smiled at the boy and signed my name on the program.  He was so happy and excited, everyone else was so happy too.  I don't understand why it is such a big deal.  We are just regular pilgrims like them.  Well actually we should be less than them.  They already probably have homes and land. 

At the end of the day we decided we would tour until Maria had the baby then take a little break and keep touring.  The due date is supposed to be exactly May 16.  Oh that is convenient to know exactly which day the baby is going to be born.  So I started planning the days when we could go back to New York and stay in the hotel.  Mother and Father just started laughing at me hysterically.  They said that that is an approximate guess and most babies are not born at exactly nine months.  Mother says I was born so early that Father was away on business and had to rush home.  So they told me not to plan any dates yet. 

April 30,1939

            Touring is going super.  The places we play at are full and the crowds are loud.  Maria is doing very well for being due any day.  Father is even impressed.  He says that he has never seen anyone handle being pregnant as well as she has.  I would say Mother is the strongest person I know so I am not all that surprised by how well she is doing.  I and my brothers and sisters are all getting very excited in anticipation of this baby arriving.  We have been talking more and more about names.  Of course this leads to the argument of what it is going to be.  Father is almost sure it is going to be a boy, but I certainly hope it is a girl.  We will just have to wait and see I suppose.

May 8, 1939

            Today we were giving an afternoon concert in Vermont.  The unexpected happened.  Mother started to have contraction pains during the second to last song.  She finished the song grimacing, then left the stage.  Father was very concerned and whispered for us to sing Edelweiss than met them outside.  So we sung the song.  It was interesting because I have never sung it without Father.  We finished and the crowd cheered.  We greeted people for a bit, which was difficult because usually Father and Mother were the ones that kept all this under control.  After a while our manager person told us he was going to take us to the hospital because Mother was having a baby.  Eight days early, hmm.  I was stunned when we went to the hospital.  It was very nice everyone had separate rooms and it was quiet.  In Austria you would usually have your child at home, but I suppose that is not the way it is here. 

            We sat in this waiting room with nice chairs.  Gretl was very scared for Mother.  She wanted to know why Father was not out here too.  I told her he was helping Mother along surly and he would be out when the baby was born.  She seemed content and no sooner had we all grown quiet Father came out into the room with a huge proud grin on his face. 

            "Children, you have a new baby sister!"  He cried excitedly.  "Do you want to go in an help name her?"  Any disappointment from the baby being a girl was gone in all the men's faces in my family.  Father didn't seem to care at all, naturally.  Kurt and Freidrich were jumping up and down with the rest of us excited to go in.

            "Is Mother all right?"  I asked Father with a little bit of nervousness in my voice.

            "She is wonderful Liesl.  The doctor said he has never seen someone deliver a child that smoothly.  She was so calm, I really did not even have to be in there for her."  He smiled.

            "I am sure she was grateful you were there."  I stopped at the door.  Mother was sitting up in bed holding a small bundle.  She was beaming.  Her smile lit up the room.

            "Hello Children."  With her statement the kids ran to the bed all giggling in awe at the baby.  I came and glanced at her.  She was adorable.  I don't think I have ever seen a baby that cute.  She was tiny and had these sparking dark blue eyes.  She had dark brown hair.  I looked down and smiled at her.  She made a funny noise and smiled back.  Her smile looked like a combination of Father and Mother's.  I don't think I have ever seen a baby that cute.  Brigitta, Marta and Gretl were all cute, but not as cute as her.

            "Well what do you think about the name?"  Father started.  We had all discussed this before.  Father had always said that if it was a girl he wanted to name it after Maria.  Mother was hesitant because she thought it was a bit odd to name her child after her.  So we have been stuck on girl's names. As I looked down at her dark blue eyes I finally came up with a solution.

            "Well how about Rosemarie?"  I asked.  "Mother you said you didn't really like the name Marie, but it sounds pretty when you put rose in front of it.  Also it will be named after you in a way because Marie is close to Maria and it won't be confusing."  Maria smiled at me. 

            "Well I like the name how about you all?"  She asked looking up at Father. 

            "I love it."  He smiled and bent down and kissed Mother's head.  The children nodded in agreement.  We now had a new little sister named Rosemarie.  The children and I went and stayed in the hotel.  Father told me to take care of everyone and he was going to stay with Maria in the hospital.  Tomorrow we are going to New York and staying there for a week.  Then we will continue to tour.