Rarely do I blog about my family because More Than My Ostomy is my opportunity to share information and motivation for dealing with our ostomy, as well as other challenges we all face. Additionally, there are also times when what is happening in the world is too compelling not to warrant and share my thoughts, and I have blogged about that, as well. However, my blog this week is one of pride, respect and achievement, following one’s dream, and, yes, the state of how timely this is.

Our granddaughter, Jessica Gollin, is an actress who has wanted to play Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank) for as long as she can remember. At 18 years old, she is still looks very young, but soon, she will have outgrown the opportunity. Jessica called me last week to share that she will be playing Anne at the Players Club of Swarthmore Theater in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania from April 19th-May 4th. She told me that it is so important to her that she convey the scope of this production right now.

Jessica posted, “I am thrilled to announce that I have been entrusted to portray the optimistic Anne Frank in the Players Club of Swarthmore’s production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” While I have dreamed of playing Anne Frank for years, having the opportunity to do so at this pivotal moment in Jewish history is an honor I can’t even put into words. “Never again” is now, but as Anne Frank once said, ‘In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.’” She went on to say that although there are many she would like to make proud, she hopes to ‘make Anne proud,’ as well.

So, as I share this, I am proud! My pride is not only for Jessica’s talent and perseverance but for her awareness of the importance of owning who she is in a world that is full of chaos. Her reverence and respect for Anne is enormous, and mine for her, equally so. I have no doubt she will achieve her goal of bringing Anne Frank to life. Her mom, Allison, and I will need to immediately begin securing boxes of Kleenex.

As I finish writing this, I am reminded that a young teen, in the dawn of her maturity, was prevented from living her beautiful life because of demons in Gestapo uniforms. Millions of words have been written about the insanity of a period of time we have hoped would never happen again. I continue to admire Anne’s thoughts, “that people are really good at heart.” I certainly hope to see more of that.

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