Dear Anne Frank,

We just got done walking through the Holocaust Museum – it looked so familiar. And, for the life of me, I cannot remember if we had gone to it or not while touring DC in 8^th grade.

The best part of the Holocaust Museum was the remembrance room with all of the lit candles and quotes. My favorite quote was “Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully. Lest you forget the things your eyes saw and lest these things depart your heart all the days of your life. And you shall make them known to your children, and to your children’s children.”

Walking through each exhibit at the museum brought me chills. I was reminded of a dream that I had on February 20, 2010. I was either born a Jew in a concentration camp or we Americans had one here. It was really scary and not fun waking up after that. Plus, must I mention, that every time I watch a Holocaust movie with the Germen siren sounds, my heart stops and rush of panic overcomes me. I HATE that sound and would rather not hear it, as did you guys when it came around the area of which you were.

Ever since having read your diary long ago, I felt close to you and I hold what happened in the Holocaust dear to my heart. It was absolutely heart breaking to walk into the Holocaust Museum to physically see more of the proof of what was done to you and others.

As we entered, it actually fell right into a time that we could be behind the group that had a tour guide. There was a movie presentation in the middle of the tour so we stopped to watch. A few minutes into it, some ladies walked passed us saying, as rudely as they could, “We can watch that on the history channel!” It took everything in me not to turn around and slap her.

And, right then and there, it was at that VERY moment that I decided it made perfect sense to write this story to you, my dear parallel-thought friend.

Your friend,
Karen-Maeby

"Sometimes I believe that God wants to try me, both now and later on; I must become good through my own efforts, without examples and without good advice." 
— Anne Frank (Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl)

Dear Anne Frank,

As I’ve said before, after reading your diary years ago, I felt close to you. I could say that you are the reason I began my love for non-fiction books (and writing in diaries). In my opinion, as much as reality hurts sometimes, it is far better than some sugar-coated fiction. I love hearing about real stories – where people have struggled through the pain to get to where they are today, living a much better life than yesterday. Stuff like that.

Regardless of the horror you were going through, you continued to write and document life truthfully how it was and, not only life living in the Holocaust but also feelings of yourself, but those around you and life in general.

You were a writer with [some] thoughts way beyond your years. You wanted to keep on living even after you died, and guess what? You did. These are the things I find myself wanting, too.

Throughout my years, I have always gone on to learn more and more about the Holocaust. I always find myself learning more.

At the museum shop, I bought a post card, a necklace with “O” for circle of love and Jewish symbol glass heart… all in honor of and memory of those who died as well as a backpack bag with this on it:

 “The next time you witness hatred. The next time you see injustice. The next time you hear about genocide. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW.”

Your friend,
Karen-Maeby

"I want to go on living even after my death! And therefore I am grateful to G-d for this gift, this possibility of developing myself and of writing, of expressing all that is in me. I can shake off everything if I write; my sorrows disappear; my courage is reborn. But, and that is the great question, will I ever be able to write anything great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?" 
— Anne Frank (The Diary of a Young Girl)