Growing up in Germany, my father was stationed there as head of Defense Intelligence for Europe, – and my brothers and I necessarily tagged along.
We lived in East Berlin before the wall, Nurnberg and Heidelberg. Most often we lived off-base in crumbling mansions rented to the Army. Underground tunnels, fake libraries, bombed stairways that led to nowhere, the houses had stories to tell and I loved to walk between the pillars of those stories.
In Nurnberg, our cellar held a vast vault, the steel door perhaps 6″ thick! Empty then, it once held the treasures of Hitler’s world of Art Confiscation. And our residence was once Hitler’s home. Frau Bette felt it was a story that I should be told, and never forget. And so, one afternoon she opened the vault and with her 8 assorted cats she sat me down and began the story of WWII… I never forgot.
Traveling throughout Europe, often times by private train in the middle of the night, we would be escorted by armed security and directed to run to our private car flanked by men and guns. This was my normal. Other times we traveled by car to enchanted old world cities throughout Italy, Holland, Austria, Luxembourg and of course, the small cobble towns with which Germany was replete.
It was a time of spooks and spook parties. Cold War. The good guys were evident – the bad guys well pronounced. While propaganda was alive, I was oblivious. I frequently wonder what my father could tell me today – although the one time I did try I was met with the spook line, ‘if I tell ya, I gotta kill ya’. Choosing life, I was happy to simply be his – daughter.
Nearly every country was represented at the spook parties, each person slyly pretending he wasn’t a spook. An odd game. But one far less complicated than what we are subjected to today. In my father’s droll sense of humor, he took to wearing a floor length black cape, a fedora, and thick black leather gloves, whilst using his riding crop for emphasis, the dramatic persona of wit in the game of spook.
It was a lovely time, privileged in many ways, ordinary in others, but it formed a different me, that wasn’t like others.
IN this my life, my father taught me three core values: integrity, honor and respect. This was the code. I have held to this code my entire life, thru trials, thru cavernous faults, and capsized Sunfish. I refused to succumb to the triviality of those who marauded and instead sought to make this my legacy in teaching my Three Sons. It has become our heritage within this cycle of values.
There are few people that understand what these three words truly mean. There are fewer that can put them into action. And there are fewer still who wear them in their heart. It is those who wear them in their heart that fumble, make mistakes, fall, and get back in the saddle. That is what we do.
And so, I am a different soul, born within something my father gave to me, a heart that can never die no matter the beatings.
Stationed back to the States as a teenager, none of us really wanted to leave Europe, but we, necessarily, tagged along. The Pentagon was my father’s destination, Virginia was ours and I found myself in somewhat of a culture shock. Much more naive than my peers, it was a difficult transition.
At the ripe age of sweet sixteen, despite my mother’s objections, my father sent me to Paris to study the arts so as to become more refined and cultured. Dance took hold, and I quickly found my first ‘gift’.
Drafted into a company at 18, by 21, if I was going to pursue dance fully, New York was the only option. Juilliard offered, I declined. So my father sent me to college where I graduated with a degree in Finance and Accounting. My first major tectonic shift. A world outside of Art.
Many tragedies, much joy, more drama than I care to remember, I ended up living on a Passport 40′ sailboat in Sausalito with my husband ten years later. My father had taught me to sail as a teenager and I quickly came to find – after the purchase – that my husband was a complete and utter novice. But we were determined souls and sailed daily in the Bay, up the Delta, and ultimately to Santa Barbara, LA, and the Channel Islands.
Many stories abound of those sailing years, near catastrophes, much comedy, and much Life!
Many moons passed, I lost a husband and was raising my three sons when I perchance was introduced to a sculptor. With much pleading, he agreed to be my mentor and train me in the art of bronze sculpting. Four days a week, and one year later, he set me free.
I had once again found a gift, a passion. It was an enormous joy!
Immersed, I sculpted. I created. Prolific and dedicated, my talent shined! And I was happy for a time. But life interjected with my second husband’s infidelities, the dark web, disease, lies and theft. The storms were violent in their thrashing.
Still, with time, I remembered what my father had taught me, the values that would hold me together and the unending hope and belief that one day I will be loved as I know it is meant to be, where the legacy of a life is not in simplistic selfishness, but in the meaning of why we are here. Perhaps I am a female version of Don Quixote, a free spirit, a bit off, a bit different, riding Rocinante and fighting windmills!
What I know is the world we are witness to today is not a Cinderella fit for me – and yet there is only one way to get back in the saddle and ride. Holding a bridle of Honor, Respect and Integrity.
Grace~ Helena
Professional Bio:
BS in Business & Finance
CPA certified
Series 7 certification – stock broker
Mortgage Broker
Various positions as Finance Director/Comptroller for Real Estate Developers and Financial Planners.
Artist.
I just read your piece (Dear Mike Johnson and Congress) at LR and reposted it. Despite a few negative comments here, I agree, you’ve lived an interesting life, (somewhat privileged to some I suppose), but an honest one that you were born into. Your words are honest and obviously from the heart. And that’s what matters…not anything else. Keep writing.
Am appreciating your perspective, commentary, and treatment of topics. You seem to have absorbed your father’s values—integrity, honor, and respect. Nice going! And as Winnie said, Never surrender!
Winnie the Pooh and tigger too! Pooh was a nickname for me years ago
Great Articles Helena…always. One of my late friends was Noblest Jerome Karle, who was in and out of the Pentagon on a daily basis…but one of the good guys. Another of my late friends was Noblest Glenn Seaborg (Element 106) although not in and out of DC 20301-1400, but another good guy where the FBI were so afraid of his daily diary inserts, they confiscated them…there were tons of them as Glenn had kept a daily from being a boy and continued this daily process throughout his life until his passing in 1999 – being the adviser to no less than 10 US Presidents they thought that he was a threat to them and that was not in Biden times but 30 years ago. Although a main developer of the ‘Bomb’ he was one of the main signatures to the Franck Report to try and stop Truman and the military dropping the ‘Bomb’ on occupied Japanese territory, as he clearly knew the mas murder and destruction it would unleash (and that ‘Bomb’ then was a minnow of a ‘Bomb’ compared to what they are today in the military arsenals of the US, Russia, et al the biggest being over 3,300-times larger than ‘Little Boy’ . We live in dangerous and the most critical time in the history of humanity for its survival, not just from the bombs, but more importantly by insane people now running the West. People like you and your take on the truth in an entertaining way which is good for people to turn on and read, is definitely what people need to wake up.
My very best regards and God bless!
Dr David Hill
Former CEO, The World Innovation Foundation (Switzerland and UK)
(destroyed by the WEF as we were a threat to their dystopian future world and we were)
I went to elementary and high school with Peter, Glenn T. Seaborg’s son. I remember Dr. Seaborg taking an hour of his time to explain to us as 6th graders in 1957 how mutually assured destruction would hopefully prevent WW3 from beginning.
Well I suppose there can be mutually assured by the few to destruct the many…🥸
If only I could go back in time with the knowledge I have now and ask my dad some these questions
In those days when the military declared something a secret honor took it to their graves
In addition to being a col under Patton he worked at Roswell.
Fly on the wall.
Every century they take away history and give it to goodwill recreating a fraction of the truth!
I’ve just come across one of your tweets which took me to your blog. Your piece has fascinated me. Particularly the tango of your reasoning & supporting arguments. I’ve peeked thru your life story & deeply related to your toils. I’d be coming back here quite often I’m sure. Sending good vibes.
Thank you much! I humbly declare that when I figure out what is my topic I can find myself in a literal Wonderland of information
The key is to find material that hasn’t been edited
Helena,
I enjoyed the article I just read and I will place you at the top of my reading list. You never know what new adventures the universe will bring. If you ever want to correspond with an optimistic fellow traveler, you have my email.
T
Bien!
Interesting blog, I shall spend time looking through it, but I did notice in the comments section a few derogatory remarks.
Oh My Gosh! MS. Beth Cooper, your url is registered with the George Soros Open Society Institute.
Now I get it – you are too funny!
But at least you kept your cool and acted like a lady, but as you say, you have spent time to make a quality blog.
https://passportyachts.com/wp-content/uploads/101717BTSM-2991-1080×533-80-v2.jpg
But as the picture says, “Quality gets you noticed”.
Yes you do come across as different Helena. In a refreshing, avante garde, thoughful way – and because of that I really enjoy your writing style and your About page. It is good to find a different voice in the pack. Please stay different.
Thank you I appreciate the inspiration
Pleasure to come across you, via Paul Craig Roberts. Integrity, honor, and respect… wholeheartedly agree. I’m ex-Navy Surface Officer… ran into a spook party New Years Eve in Tel Aviv many years back. An odd game! My wife and I concur we’re also a little off, so your insights resonate. Keep it up, and have faith.
Thank you! I suppose my blogs are a bit different. I typically can easily spend 6 hours and sometimes days writing on a particular blog only to trash it as – boring. But that would explain why I am not as productive in quantity – but make up for it in ‘quality’ – which is my goal…
Faith is everything!
Just came accross your site, very interesting from a UK person. You may be interested in the site run by John Ward – The Slog. A 69 year old man who lives in France and has a lot on insight in what is going on and how things are presented.
Thank you! I will visit.
Just discovered your blog yesterday and got sucked in for hours… loved it. Thank you!
I was searching for a publication that had broken down the photo-shopping of Khashoggi & purported fiancee Hadice. Did not find what I was looking for, but came across your blog, with it’s elegant format and intriguing copy.
I can relate to trials… lost health, house, car, parents, inheritance, and recently–my job (thanks Bias Response Team!)
Trying to buck up and move on… sounds like you’re there too. God be with you, sister…
*its not it’s
lordy!
Hello Helena,
I came across your blog whilst researching the immigration crisis in Germany. I read the article that mentioned–among other things–the axe wielding person in Dusseldorf. Unfortunately, you mentioned incidents without providing a link to substantiate their occurences. That is not such a big deal, however, as I can probably find a source by searching a corresponding descriptive term. Your article provides several new perspectives to the immigration/integration situation in Germany, thank you for that.
Thank you Michael. Bloggers rarely include citations with their blogs, it is not a university research paper, it is a blog. That being said, I maintain links to all my sources when writing each and every blog and save those within my private computer. I try to be very thorough and very careful in that regard.
I hope that I didn’t offend you with my comment. i do not doubt your dilligence.
Best regards,
Michael
not at all ~ thank you for your regards!
Bonjour Helena,
Puisque vous avez vécu en France, vous devez maîtriser la langue de Molière.
Le hasard m’a amené vers votre blog et celui-ci m’a enchanté.
Je suis Parisien – né dans l’Isle de la Cité, près de Notre-Dame, je travaille et je vis dans celle qui fût la Lumière du monde – et aujourd’hui la situation politique de mon pays m’attriste énormément.
Quinquagénaire, j’envisage sérieusement de finir ma vie aux USA, seul refuge désormais pour l’Esprit de L’Occident et ses racines grecques, romaines et chrétiennes.
Bien à vous.
Denis
Oui, j’aime bien la comédie, soulève mon esprit! Je vais étudier.
Paris est en effet assiégé, je suis tellement désolé, mais en Dieu il y a toujours de la force et une lumière à la fin, mais le voyage est difficile.Chaque pays est maintenant soumis aux conflits civils, y compris aux États-Unis, mais il y a un refuge et ce refuge est l’HOPE indéniable.
Sans espoir, il n’y a pas de paix.
la grace, Helena
Very interesting writing. I came across your blog whilst reading an NPR story about why Africans drown. (I learned that it was because they are stupid.) Searching for the African Development Bank and adding Soros to the search led me to you. Keep up the good work and thanks for the TRUTH.
Came across your blog via Ina Vukic. Your bio sounds very interesting and hardly “privileged”. But I guess certain people get to make that call by the divine providence of their demigod George Soros. 🙂 Looking forward to reading more of your stuff!
Thank you – life is a babel of stories…
Hi
You write with no guile. It is rare to find a person with nothing to hide online. I am proud of you without even knowing you. The ability to communicate without fear shines through. It is Franklin-esque. Millions sensed that in his work. It is also in yours.
Thank you. I appreciate the encouragement!
You are an astoundingly bigoted, ill-informed, privileged rich white woman who has no sense of what it’s like to be in the world outside your boat in Sausalito or your cosseted world in Colorado. Imagine what it feels like NOT to be white, blond and rich, why don’t you try? If you are truly an evangelical, perhaps you should consider what it means to have real compassion and kindness towards those who haven’t led your charmed life. Why people like you think you get to support Donald Trump without actually lifting a finger to make this country better is beyond me. Keep making your bronze sculpture. I’m sure it’s lovely. and I’m sure you’re a better artist than political analyst. Which is not to much.
Beth Cooper – given your picture is empty, I would gather you are a troll. However, I will respond anyway.
You are making defamatory statements based on a short fun bio that provides a snapshot into me without having the decency, respect or integrity to actually have a clue who I am or what I do outside of blogging and art. A short-sighted perspective is really no perspective at all and simply ingratiates yourself as a bitter, hate filled racist. I’m sure I have lifted more fingers than you can count… Unfortunately, you are simply revealing the same insanity that plagues the Liberal agenda and exposes a sad,sad hypocrisy. What have you done? Please share.
Oh My Gosh! MS. Beth Cooper, your url is registered with the George Soros Open Society Institute.
Now I get it – you are too funny!
Beth, please consider applying “compassion and kindness” here.
Helen, like you, is a “spirit in the material world,” to quote Sting.
This student of Jung, Freud, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming has discovered that, without exception!, everyone is racist—to include infants (( word-search in ScienceDaily.Com )).
Well, everyone but those who are B L I N D or BRAIN-DEAD.
-Rick
Oops!
Having left ‘ a ‘ off of “Helena”
misdirects her numerological/
astrological/egological identity.
-Rick
I found your site simply by google searching a half dozen Hollywood names to see what they had in common and your site was at the top of the search. I read through some of your other posts and enjoyed them very much. I look forward to reading more (old & new). Thanks for sharing. KC
That’s interesting! Were they interested in her art or political commentary? If the latter, they’re VERY special denizens of Hollywood.
You have an amazing story here; and an amazing life too. Thanks for being there to share your life. It edifies.
Nice story Helena. I lived in West Germany when my father served in the Air Force.
Interesting variety of topics you cover. I’m in an honors marketing program in my college. Perhaps you will find it interesting.