Footsteps of Our Lives

About the Book

When we look back at the old days, we often find ourselves smiling and sometimes crying. Poetry fans and literature enthusiasts are about to experience a delightful read from author Heinrich Losereit from his new book Footsteps of Our Lives. Footsteps of Our Lives contains many insightfully-written poems and essays about the many elements of life that we can relate with. It reminds us that life is beautiful yet never simple, that love drives us all and that emotion is an essential part of our humanity. The author expresses his profoundest thoughts and sentiments of what was and what has been in this beautiful anthology of prose and poetry.

About the Author

“Footsteps of Our Lives” Autobiography I was born in Riga, Latvia, where several generations of my family migrated. Known as Baltic Germans, my forefathers originally came from East Prussia, now under Russian control. During the Second World War, Baltic Germans were relocated to Poland and at the collapse of the Nazi regime, we fled Poland in a covered wagon in the middle of winter. Being caught up in the turmoil, we were overtaken by the Russian Army and my father was captured. We set on foot with only what we could carry. I was six years old and walking was hard. There was no end. Looking back, it probably only took a week or two, but for me it seemed much longer. I do not know how my mother managed with four small children. I was the second oldest and my grandmother was then in her eighties. We ended up in what was known as East Germany, in a small town called Meichow. One night in 1948, we fled East Germany by horse –drawn cart, then train, then by foot, for we were afraid of communists. It was the time when Berlin was blockaded by the communists. At the checkpoint, without my mother's persistence and the determined help of one particular Red Cross woman, our crossing would have been impossible. My mother finally managed to secure a place on a freight airplane destined for West Germany. We eventually ended up in a refugee camp. We were settled in a small town called Norddöllen, fifty kilometers from the north coast of Germany. Whenever someone asks me where I come from, I refer back to this town since it was there that I spent my teenage years. At the age of seventeen, I left Germany and immigrated to Canada. I worked in construction since I came to Canada and, for forty-five years now, have owned my own company. I have two beautiful daughters and one grandchild. I'm still going strong. “Footsteps of Our Lives” Introduction In my first ten years of life, I led an exciting life which would be unacceptable or imaginable in today's society. I merely went to a German school in Poland for half a year and the Nazi regime pushed kids through school. We had to write words after a couple months when, since I was delayed, I should have gone to school a year later. I couldn't understand the letters, never mind the words. Because of the circumstances of war and migrations, I lacked formal education and the confidence to express myself on paper. This book, I hope, would exhibit my personal beliefs and finally the expression of confidence. Strangely, what saved me was leaving in a covered wagon, which looked more adventurous and exciting to a kid than going to school. I believe that going to school for only half a year had a lot to do with my attitude towards learning as my mother earnestly forced an education in me. Later, in West Germany, this did not change since we were refugees—infringing on the local people. As a child, I was aware of the friction, but it didn’t bother me since I became use to being an unwanted person. In Berlin I saw my first orange fruit when I was ten years old and I had my first banana at the age of twelve, of which taste I didn't like and threw it in the manure pile. In my adult life, I continued to lack the education and confidence to express myself on paper and became dependent on others, which cost me dearly later in life. My education was of a different nature. My education was survival. I always worked and purchased my own clothing since I was ten years old. My mother had enough responsibilities just providing the food and housing for us. After moving to Canada, I had to cope with a new language, which didn't help my insecurity in expressing myself. I have always worked hard but for some reason never became rich. I'm not rich, but I will always survive. I admire people who truly push forward and persevere without distractions—perhaps it's a reflection of myself for what I lack. They do what's best for their country as I have not for myself and the ones close to me. I have a religious background and my pet peeve is dishonesty and obviously any kind of dictatorship since I lived through the Nazi and communist atrocities. Over the last 15 years I began writing about my thoughts, experiences or what I’ve heard. I hope from this you enjoy and benefit. I like to use parables, expressing myself through them to prove my point of view. I would enjoy hearing from you and what you think of my writing. I have begun writing some more since I have so much inside that I want to say. Heinrich (Henry) Losereit Box 305 Breslau, ON. N0B 1M0 Canada