Alex Biruitorul

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Prima fotografie, de la stinga la dreapta: Fanu, Alex si Tibi

A doua fotografie, de la stinga la dreapta: Alex, Iuli, Cornelia si Mia in vacanta, vara asta.

Al zece-lea, Alex sa nascut cu doua luni inainte de Revolutia din 1989 si in general a fost un copil fericit si plin de viata:) Datorita virstei apropiate intre ei, nu pot vorbi de Alex fara sa-l implic si pe Fanu (numarul unsprezece). Amindoi au fost atit frati dar si buni prieteni, petrecind ore cu masinutele, jucindu-se, in aceelasi timp imaginindu-si o lume plina de aventuri si planificind cum sa ajute cind pe unul cind pe altul, in viitor, cind vor creste ei mari:) Afara, in fata blocului tot timpul jucau in aceeasi echipa si se alegeau unul pe altul ca parteneri in jocurile copilaresti din fata blocului. In stresul momentelor de boala a lui Fanu, Alex nu a fost dus la spital si nu a putut sa-si is ramas bun de la Fanu. Alex a avut numai 13 ani cind fratele, si in aceelasi timp bunul lui prieten a murit si a luat ceva timp sa treaca peste durerea care moartea in general aduce cind rupe din mijlocul nostru pe careva iubit. In shimb la visat, dupa ce a murit, si stiau amindoi acest fact, si Alex la intrebat pe Fanu sa-i arate taietura facuta pe mijloc la autopsie. Fanu sa dezbracat si i-a aratat-o.

Plina de durere si amaraciune, mama sa mutat la Vilcele, lasind in urma pe Iulian, Tibi, Alex si Oana, la mila tatalui, care a continuat abuzul dar si o lipsa de grija. Au suferit de foame si au trebuit sa se descurce fiecare cum a putut (fact care l-am aflat numai recent).

Dupa ce a terminat liceul, Alex a plecat pentru o luna in vizita la Delia, si a lucrat in constructii cu Sami, sotul lui Delia. Atunci ei stateau in Roma, Italia. Ca recompensa i sa cumparat primul laptop. Intors in Hunedoara, a dorit sa intre la facultate dar lipsa de ajutor financiar la fortat sa se uite dupa o pozitie de lucrul. A gasit de lucru la o fabrica de cablaj pentru interioarele masinilor la Deva, un oras numai 30 minute distanta de Hunedoara.

Pe un site crestin numit “Pom verde” a intilnit-o pe Mia, care avea acelasi nume de familie, Damean. Crezind ca-i ruda a intrat in conversatie dar curind a aflat ca Mia nu inrudita cu el. Asa a inceput curtarea. Un lucru foarte important pentru amandoi a fost Dumnezeu in relatia lor si binecuvintarea Lui, are au primit-o amandoi intr-un interval de 24 de ore, printr-un semn nedezvaluit unul la altul decit dupa ce l-au primit. Nunta a fost la Ludos, de unde e Mia. Dar viata finaciara dupa era grea. Ca electrician Alex facea bani lucrind ori unde prindea ceva de lucru, fie la zugravit, fie pus de faianta dar in ciuda toate eforturilor deabea se puteau intretine. Au hotarit sa plece o luna in Portugalia unde parintii lui Mia lucrau. Alex si-a gasit de lucru acolo fapt care i-au facut sa se mute definitiv in Portugalia acuma trei ani si usor, usor sau ridicat financiar, Alex ca electrician si intretinere generala a unei case, Mia ca artist de machiaj. Recent Mia si-a gasit un post de munca ca chelnerita.

Mia si Alex stiu cum sa se bucure de viata, si mereu viziteaza locuri frumoase in Portugalia, maninca mincaruri foarte bune la restaurant (de fapt tata lui Mia lucreaza la un restaurant ca bucatar si copii il viziteaza des:).

Alex a ales sa fie fericit in viata si sa lase in trecut durerea trecutului, fapt care-l apreciez mult la el. Cicatrice inca este si ranile inca dor, dar usor, usor cu ajutorul Bunului Dumnezeu se vindeca ranile atit in el cit si in restul fratilor si surorilor). In realitate numai Bunul Dumnezeu ne-a alinat la toti durerile si ne-a aratat caile de vindecare. Fara el si binecuvintarile lui in viata noastra nu am fi putut avea succes.

Ma bucur ori de cite ori ii vad rizind si ori de cite ori aud ceva bun ca sa intimplat in viata lor:) Doamne multumim mult de toate:)

Alex the Overcomer

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First picture left to right: Fanu and Alex- the two buddies:)

Second picture: Alex and his wife, Mia:)

Born number ten in our family, Alex came into the world only couple months before the 1989 Eastern Block revolution and the fall of communism. He was a happy child:) I do believe between Iulian and Alex my mother lost another baby. Due to the small gap of only one year and a half in age, Alex and Fanu (number eleven) had a very close relationship. The two buddies spent long hours playing with their toy cars, building imaginary adventures and charitable work plans together. Outside, in the courtyard, they stuck together and always picked each other on the same team, either for a game of soccer or tennis. It’s hard talking about Alex’s childhood without mentioning Fanu, since the two were very close. Their friendship was special:) Alex was only 13 years old when his best friend and brother, Fanu, died and he never got the opportunity to say good by to his little brother and best friend. He had a dream soon after and asked Fanu to show him his disection cut, which Fanu did so.

Soon after Fanu’s death my mother moved in Vilcele, full of grief, and left Alex, Oana and Iulian behind in Hunedoara at my father’s mercy who both starved and abused them.

After he graduated from high school, Alex left for Roma, Italy and lived with Delia, while working with Sami, Delia’s husband, in construction. There he gained his first electronic item in the form of a laptop. Back in Hunedoara he tried to go to collage but did not have the means to do so and settled for a job in the factory of electric wiring system from Deva, a city 30 minutes away from Hunedoara; also the same city Nadia Comaneci trained in.

On a Cristian single site “Pom Verde” he met Mia, who had the same last name, Damean. Thinking she was related to us, Alex began a conversation but it turned out she was not related and they began dating. One thing was very important for the both of them, a sign from God showing they were meant to be together and they got it within 24 hours of each other. After the wedding, a wedding I could not attend, Alex moved to Ludos, where Mia was from and worked hard trying to provide, but they lived paycheck to paycheck and Alex’s skills as an electrician only went so far. Mia’s parents lived in Portugal and the newly wedded couple decided to go visit them for a month, but soon Alex found work and they moved to Portugal permanently where they live to this day. It’s been three years already and they still love it in Portugal having lots of fun together any opportunity they get. You should see the pictures of the delicious foods they send us on a regular bases. Alex works mainly as an electrician as well as a maintenance man and Mia does make-up for weddings and special occasions part-time and recently got a job as a waitress.

The two of them sure have so much fun together, always visiting nice parts of Portugal or enjoying a nice evening out. Mia’s father works as a chef in a restaurant and the two of them visit him quite often:) Their lives are simple and full of happiness. I’m so very glad to see that.

Alex protects his small family fiercely from his abusive father and in general does not have much contact with him. He’s chosen to be happy. Good for him:) I applaud that decision. I’ve gotten to know Alex more so in his early twenties and I’m so glad I did. He’s a great guy:)

P.S “Pom Verde” web site was introduced to Iulian and Oana by Alex, where all three met their spouses.

Iulian cel de neinvins

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Prima fotografie: Iulian

A doua fotografie: Iulian in spital anul acesta inainte de a avea operatie.

A treia fotografie: Cornelia la visitat la spital (la lucru).

Numarul opt in familie, Iulian era un copil sensibil dar puternic. Ca adult e la fel:) Nu conteaza de cite ori viata il loveste, Iulian se ridica inapoi si confrunta totul cu un curaj puternic. Iuli este un prieten extrem de credincious (nu numai in sensul spiritual). Desi e singurul care arata foarte mult cu tatal nostru, Iuli nu are caracterul tatalui. Alex al meu seamana foarte mult cu Iuli si zimbesc ori de cite ori ma uit la fiul meu:) Adolescenta ia fost bintuita de episoadele de abuz al tatalui si absenta mamei, care sa mutat la casa din Vilcele in timpul scolii generale, lasindu-i singuri. Scoala ia fortat pe fratii mei mai mici sa locuiasca in Hunedoara, si mergeau la Vilcele la sfirsit de saptamina sau in timpul vacantei, dar erau pusi la munca des. Parasi-ti, aveau de aface cu agresiunea lui tata si lipsa de mincare.

Dupa liceu, Iuli sa mutat la Arad cu Alin unde a inceput facultatea, dar din nefericire nu a putut termina deoarece Alin sa mutat in Germania, cu lucru si Iuli a ramas singur iara, fortindu-l sa se intoarca in Hunedoara. Acolo a facut doua facultati simultan, una la asistenta medicala si cealalta in management. Le-a terminat pe amindoua dar lipsa de posturi de munca in Hunedoara, la fortat sa petreaca mult timp la Vilcele. Cred ca si dorul de mama la impins acolo:) A muncit mult la casa, in gradina si pe urma in constructii alaturi de Ionel Albescu, un om bun si pastorul bisericii locale. In Ionel, Iuli a gasit un exemplu de tata si un refugiu emotional, de la care a invatat multe lucruri bune atit in domeniul spiritual dar si cel emotional. Asa a devenit Ionel un tata adoptiv, si Iuli’l considera si in ziua de azi ca tata. Tot in perioada aceia la intilnit si pe Adrian Bandila, care i-a devenit un prieten foarte apropriat, ca un frate. Cu fratii lui mai mari plecati in alte orase cu lucru sau casatoriti, Iuli a fost cam singur. El si Leo, au avut o relatie frumoasa, precum si cu ceilalti mai mici.

Alex la introdus pe Iuli la un site crestin “Pom Verde” unde a intilnit-o pe Cornelia, o fata foarte frumoasa si finuta. Cornelia locuia in Londra, Anglia cu surorile ei si lucra. Intr-un final Iuli a plecat in Anglia si a lucrat in constructii. Nunta lor a fost in 2013, si am putut participa si noi (ultima data cind am vizitat Romania) si ne-am bucurat impreauna cu intreaga familie (cu exceptia lui Oana, care lucra in Italia).

Dupa nunta Iuli a lucrat in constructie ceva timp si in ultimii doi ani lucreaza ca asistent medical intr-unul din spitalele Londrei.

In ultimul an Cornelia si Iulian au trecut prin niste momente foarte grele, dar Iulian infrunta totul cu o atitudine puternica. Desi in dureri enorme de la pietrele de rinichi, Iuli a confruntat fiecare zi cu o perseverenta titanica.

Sint foarte mindra de el si deabea astept sa vad ce binecuvintari va primi in viitor:)

Iulian the Invincible

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First picture left to right: Tibi (worried not to get hit), Fanu, Oana, Alex and Iulian:)

Second picture: Iulian

Third picture: my son Alex who looks so much like Iulian:)

Fourth picture: Iulian and his wife, Cornelia, taken a few days ago:)

Born the ninth in the family, Iulian is a sensitive yet strong soul. No matter how many times life has knocked him down, Iuli (short for Iulian), always gets up and walks right back in the middle of it. He’s a fiercely faithful friend 🙂 He’s also the one that looks just like my father and I know that’s not a compliment for Iuli. My son Alex has lots of Iulian resemblances, and I smile often when I look at Alex. Through him I feel like I have a piece of home:) Iuli’s adolescence, hunted by my farther’s angry outbursts, was not an easy one yet he but remained a very faithful son during that period.

After his high-school graduation in Hunedoara, Iuli moved in Arad with Alin and began collage but was forced to quit in the middle of it, due to Alin’s work transfer into Germany. Once Alin left, there was nothing left for Iuli in Arad so he returned in Hunedoara, where he attended, simultaneously, two collages: one for nursing and  the other for management. He graduated from both, but work was scarce in Hunedoara. Unable to find work in either field he spent a lot of time in Vilcele, where my parents had a house. By now my mom lived there round-the-clock, visiting Hunedoara and her children rarely. School kept my siblings in Hunedoara and summer vacation was spent in Vilcele. With his older siblings gone, some of them married while others working in different cities (as far away from home as they could possibly get), and his mother living in Vilcele, Iuli grew up around our father’s presence around while lacking a mother’s warm embrace. I think he spent a lot of time in Vilcele just to be closer to our mother. There he worked daily, doing hard labor around the house and garden until he met Ionel, and older man and the pastor of the local church, and shoulder to shoulder they worked in constructions where he got to know the man better. Quickly, Ionel became a father figure for Iulian. That’s where Iuli found refuge as he listened to the older man’s good advise regarding a healthy spiritual walk and healing his emotionally wounded soul. Ionel became Iuli’s adoptive father and to this day it remains so. Another refuge for Iuli was Adrian Bandila, a brother figure which brought a healthy balance in a shadowy world.

Through a Christian date line, Iulian met Cornelia, a very sweet and naturally beautiful girl. Cornelia lived in London, England with some of her siblings and worked there as well. Iuli left for England, eventually, where he worked in construction a few years but always kept in touch with Ionel and Adrian. Their wedding in Hunedoara was beautiful and Chet and I had the privilege to attend. After the wedding together they moved back in London where Iuli worked in construction a while but the past two years he’s worked as a medical male nurse in one of London’s hospitals, where he’s still employed.. Cornelia works as a preschool teacher.

The past year, both Iuli and Cornelia have gone through some very hard times, but have managed to pull through. Iuli had a nasty kidney stone that put him in an intense painful state and a couple unsuccessful minor operations. Despite it all, he lived life with great humor but it was clear to us that he was in a lot of pain, non-stop. Cornelia lost a lot as well, but that’s a personal matter and we’ll leave it at that.

I’m so very proud of Iulian, who stood tall in the face of so much pain the past few years. Any other person my have broken under such weight, but not Iuli:) Thank you God for the strength you’ve put in Iulian and I’m looking forward to see what’s in store for his future:)

 

Tiberiu-Leul

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Prima fotografie de la stings: Iulian, Alex, Mia si Tibi

A doua photografie: Nicole ca mireasa:)

A treia photografie: Tibi ca mire:)

Tibi, poreclit Leo sau Leul, datorita parului blond, masiv si bogat cu care sa nascut a fost un baiat retras. In timpul travaliului, mama a impins mult, pentru ca lui Tibi i-a placut la caldura mai degraba. “A fost puturos, a trebuit eu sa fac totul si nu ma ajutat cu nimic.” Spunea mama intr-una din zile. “Cind a iesit, avea parul asa bogat si ii statea drept in sus ca la un leu.” A adaugat ea. E adevarat ca Leo, daca ar avea de alege, sar relaxa in fata unei farfurii cu mincare imprejurat de cei dragi, lucrul care-l admir:)

Numarul opt in familie, Leo este un tip cugetator, cu o latura peotica si romantica a vedea viata, o latura pozitiva din punctul meu de vedere. Leo are un tip diplomatic de a vorbi si face pe fiecare sa se simta valoros cind el vorbeste. Are tendinta de a vedea partea pozitiva a vietii si uita repede partile negative ale abuzului din trecut. Tibi vede tot timpul partea buna a unui om, si nu ma mira ca in final sta asa aproape de Sergiu, care are un caracter similar:)

Intr-o vacanta in timpul liceului a plecat in Germania cu Flesh la Sergiu, unde Flesh a devenit starul intr-o echipa de fotbal si Leo a devenit portar pe o perioda scurta de timp. El era interest mai degraba in fructele si sucul servit la sfirsitul antrenamentului, decit de sport.

Dupa ce a terminat liceul in Hunedoara, a plecat in Bucuresti si a facut facultatea la tourism management. De acolo, batut de dragoste a plecat in Oltenia unde a “inteles ca femeile is periculoase:)” Impins de pericol sa reintors in Hunedoara unde la intimpinat un tata rece. De acolo sa mutat la Timisoara, unde a avut diverse posturile de munca printre care si chelner. Intr-un an Chet cu Merrill, au zburat in Romania, la Timisoara mai exact, cu lucru, si Chet a mincat la restaurantul unde Leo lucra. Mi-a zis ca a fost cea mai buna experienta pe care a avut-o cu un chelner, experienta de prima clasa. Tot in Timisoara, intr-o cafenea lucra Nicole si asa a intilnit-o si sa cam indragostit de ea:) Dupa citiva ani de curtare sau casatorit in Timisoara, si imediat dupa nunta sau mutat in Berlin, Germania, la Sergiu. Au fost ajutat-ti mult de Sergiu cu actele si post de munca si acuma stau legal in Germania si cu post de lucru, si au putut sa se mute la un apartament. Impreauna au un baiat de 6 luni cu planuri pentru marirea familiei in viitor:)

In familia noastra e stiut si apreciat de talentul lui de a scrie poezii. Intr-o buna zi sper sa vad o carte publicata de poezii sau poate  vom face o colaborare pe viitor si vom scrie ceva impreuna:)

Rinduri de poezie scrise de Leo,  mie:)

Chiar si daca esti departe

Amandoi vom scrie-o carte

Sa scriem una mai mica?

La-nceput o carticica?

Sa nu ne fortam prea tare

Ca o sa-avem tensiune mare

Stim exact ce-i de facut

Sa o luam de la-nceput.

Leo vorbeste doua limbi jumate:) Romana, Engleza si jumate din Germana, dar nu-i bai ca o invata el pe toata curind:)

Deabea astept sa vad ce-i va aduce viitorul si celebrez impreuna cu el successful lui:)

Tibi the Lion

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First picture: Left to Right; Iulian, Leo and Alex.

Second picture; Leo, Denis his little boy and Nicole:)

Leo the Lion, that’s his nickname. Leo is short for lion. It comes from his dense golden hair he was born with, sticking straight up and giving him the look of a lion’s mane. Apparently my mother had to push quite a bit with Leo while in labor, because he loved the warmth of the womb and was in no hurry to come out. To this day I think Leo would much rather relax in front of a nice meal with loved ones than stress over other things.

Born number eight in our family, Tibi is more of an observer with a poetic talent showing great amounts of respect for humanity in general. There’s a touch of diplomatic language in Leo’s vocabulary and he tends to see the positive side of life, despite the abuse he also endured. He too has a fantastic ability to forget the bad stuff and focus on the good side of life, with an ease most people find charming. No wonder Leo and Sergiu ended up living closer to each other, their personalities are so very similar, along with their looks:)

One summer vacation, while in high school, Flesh and Leo went to visit Sergiu where Leo became a goalie, for a short period of time, in the same soccer team Flesh played. Unlike Flesh, Leo was more interested in the produce served after practice than the game itself and found himself kicked off the team soon after.

Right after high school, back in Hunedoara, he left for Bucuresti attending collage in tourism management. I have to point out one important fact I forgot to mention in the earlier posts: every single one of my siblings who attended collage did so on their own financial efforts, including boarding, food, and other expenses. To this day I wonder how they managed? I know Sergiu paid for two of my brother’s collages, but I can’t remember quite well which two. I also know that Sergiu helped out my brother’s with pocket money, Alin helped with housing and food and I helped with money now and then, focusing mostly on my parents  for many years. I helped my brothers far more once they were married. Okay, back to our story:)

After collage, moved by love Leo moved in Oltenia where he learned “that women were dangerous.” Next he came back home where he was met with a cold shoulder by my father which pushed him to find work and move to Timisoara. There he worked in a few places, mostly as a waiter, and according to Chet, whom in one of his visits to Timisoara ate at the same restaurant Leo worked in, he was the best and most polished waiter Chet encountered.

Leo met Nicole, his wife, while she worked as a waitress in another cafe and after few years of courting they married. Right after the wedding they left Romania and moved in with Sergiu and Brigitte, who just bought a house in Berlin, Germany. Sergiu helped them with the paperwork process, making their stay legal. He also provided Leo with a job in the same company Sergiu is the COO. A year later they moved out on their own and had a little boy, bringing us to date. They’re planing on expending their family soon and I can’t wait to see what else lies in their future.

In our family Leo is known for his great poetic gift, and he writes poems with great talent. Hopefully soon he can publish his own book of poems or Leo and I can collaborate on a book together. That would be fantastic:)

P.S Leo speaks 2 1/5 languages:) Romanian, English and half of German thus far:)

Flavius cel Curajos

IMG_4658Eu cu Flavius.

Nascut al saptelea, Flavius face parte din echipa brunetilor impreuna cu mine, Alin, Iosif,  Alex si Oana. Echipa blonzilor este formata din Sergiu, Marius, Delia, Tibi, Iulian si Fanu.

Flavius a fost un copil simpatic cu gropite in obrajiori, plin de energie si guraliv:) Ca adolescent Flavius a fost plin de glume si peripetii, facindu-i pe multi sa rida, dar in spatele glumelor erau ascunse dureri de burta frecvente provocate de stresul abuzului din frageda-i copilarie.

Intre timp in Germania, Sergiu a citit un anut in ziarul local care i-a stirnit o idee. O echipa noua de fotbal cautau jucatori si Flavius era stiut in Romania ca fotbalist bun. Sergiu la adus in Germania atit pe el cit si pe Leo si amindoi au dat interviu la fotbal si au intrat in echipa, Flesh ca jucator si Leo ca portar. Foarte repede Flesh a devenit steaua echipei si cel mai bun jucator. Leo, care veni-se numai pentru fructele si ceaiul servit dupa practica, a fost dat afara. Singurul obstacol intre bogatie si faima au fost actele care nu le-au reusit nimeni sa le faca desi a fost depus effort din partea nemtilor. Impins inapoi in Romania, Flavius a terminat liceul in Hunedoara, pe urma a plecat la Arad, unde a stat la Alin si a terminat facultatea de inginerie. In timpul facultatii a intilnit-o pe Adina la Ilia, si sau casatorit dupa ce a terminat facultatea. Sau stabilit in Timisoara si impreuna au o fetita:)

Adina lucreaza in mediul tehnic si Flesh lucreaza ca prezentator la un post de radio Crestin in Timisoara, (rve.timisoara), emisiune data live pe Facebook si YouTube, zilnic. Are darul vorbirii repede si clar:) Dar bine practicat din copilarie. Flesh poate prezenta orice si oriunde cu o usurinta uluitoare. Eu as face pe mine si as voma non-stop, dar Flesh parca a fost nascut cu microfonul in mina, si ma bucura mult faptul acesta. Flesh este mult implicat in biserica locala, dar in ultimii cinci ani un nor de boala care l-a pus in paturile urgentei mai mult decit va pute-ti imagina, a pus multa tristete in sufletul lui Adina si a-l nostru. Flesh trebuie sa aiba grija la dieta si stilul de viata cit de calm possibil, dar in general se simte bine si e fericit linga mica lui familie:)

Ii multumesc lui Dumnezeu pentru Flesh si ma bucur ori de cite ori aud ca e bine si fericit:)

FLAVIUS the Brave

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Born the seventh in the family, Flesh (nickname) falls in the team of the brunettes along side myself, Alin, Iosif, Alex and Oana. The blond team is made of Sergiu, Marius, Delia, Tibi, Iulian and Fanu.

Flavius was a cute boy, with great dimples in every smile, energetic and full of humor. His adolescence was filled with great humor and lots of energy, hiding a boy that got frequently panicked and stomach pains from the stress of the abuse.

His last year of high-school he left for Germany and lived with my brother Sergiu a few months, and together with Leo responded to a local newspaper add that were looking for soccer players. They both got in and quickly Flesh became the star player of the entire team with great professional prospects. Leo, who was interested only in the snacks provided after words got kicked out. The only thing standing in the way of fame and fortune was the paperwork. At the time Germany’s borders were not so open like today and the paperwork stopped Flesh’s progress forcing him to return back to Romania. After finishing high school he moved with Alin in Arad. There he finished four years of collage in engineering. He met his wife, Adina in Ilia, while in collage and got married after he graduated then together they settled down in Timisoara. Together they have one daughter.

Adina works in the marketing/ computer field and Flesh is a radio host/presenter at a Christian Radio Station in Timisoara, rve.timisoara, and very involved in the local church they attend.

The past five years a big shadow of health challenges have put a lot of stress on his shoulders and he spend more days in emergency than all of his siblings put together. He’s had operations and multiple tests. In the end there’s still no diagnosis. But stress in general is an enemy of his, weakening his immune system.

Lately he’s been feeling well, but I think he has to watch his diet and stress level constantly.

Our potentially famous soccer player has a very domestic life in the church and his radio work:) He also had to forgive a lot but life is good and we’re moving on:)

I’m glad when I hear his health is good and I’m looking forward to see what their future will bring along:)

 

Iosif cel Puternic

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In prima poza sint eu cu Iosif.

In a doua: Iosif cu Dana si cei trei copii, Delia cu copii ei si Alex cu Mia.

Acest post in particular imi va fi foarte greu de scris din punct de vedere emotional si curind ve-ti afla de ce.

Intre Delia si Iosif, mama a pierdut un baiat, care a murit cam la cinci minute dupa nastere, cu probleme de inima.

A-l saselea, Iosif a fost un copil tare blind si cuminte. A facut tot posibilul sa nu creeze probleme intr-un mediu si asa plin de tulburenta. Iosif era foarte tacut si retras, intr-un fel Iosif parca incerca sa dispara din evidenta,  ca si cum prezenta lui in sine crea stres. De multe ori statea flamind pina veneam eu de la scoala, in jurul orei doua la amiaza. Cind il intrebam:

“Iosif, ai mincat azi?” Cu un glas blind imi raspundea: “Nu.”

“De ce?”

“Nu am vrut sa-o deranjez pe mama.” Mi se muia inima de mila lui si il hraneam imediat. Ceilalti frati mai mici de obicei, cum intram pe usa, sareau in loc proclamind ca le era foame, dar Iosif era tacut.

Datorita sarcinilor numeroase si abuzul constant din partea sotului, mama a devenit foarte distanta, rece si nervoasa/ agitata. Intr-un fel o inteleg. Hormonii sarcinii nu-s usor de indurat dar mai ales abuzul.

Am avut un instinct puternic de al proteja pe Iosif, mi-am dat seama, ca el era ca oaia blinda care accepta orice soarta ii venea. In realitate, copil sensibil, avea nevoie de iubire parinteasca si de o mina ocrotitoare. Si asa a devenit Iosif copilul meu, o perioada de timp, si el imi spunea mie “mama”.

In felul meu am incercat sa-i protejez pe fratii mei, dar Iosif mi-a dat curajul sa-mi infrunt frica fata de tata, intr-o dupa-amiaza in particular, cind venind de la scoala, in fata blocului i-am auzit plinsetele de durere si rugamintile si ceva a plesnit inlauntru meu. Nu am trait niciodata o distanta mai mare intre mine si el cum am trait atunci infinitul timpului fugind in sus pe scari pina in apartament unde micul Iosif, numai de patru ani, era gemuit jos pe podea, ferindu-si cu minutele capul si de asupra lui tatal meu dadea in el cu o violenta tulburatoare. Fara ezitatie am fugit intre ei si cu corpul meu l-am acoperit pe Iosif primind in locul lui loviturile. Aveam in jur de doisprezece ani. (Pina in ziua de azi nu pot auzi un copil plungind fara sa nu ma afecteze). Cind si-a dat seama tata ca eram eu s-a opri si a inceput cu jignirile si amenintarile. El dadea in fete dar nu asa abuziv ca in baieti, in shimb ne abuza emotional prin cuvinte aruncate in ura. M-am ridicat drept intorcindu-ma sa ma pot uita in ochii abuzantului, care in momentul acela mi-a devenit inamic, tinindu-l pe Iosif in spatele meu in mod protectiv. M-am uitat tinta in ochii tatalui fara sa clipesc. Ca o leoaiaca protejindu-si puiul m-am simtit si nu m-as fi miscat din loc numai daca ma omora si-mi tira corpul. Ma plesnit peste fata si peste cap de citeva ori aruncind blesteme din gura, dar nu m-am miscat de fel, intorcindu-mi capul si uitindu-ma direct in ochii lui fara o lacrima in ochi sau un cuvint pe buze. Am fost martora violentei din trecut fara sa intru in actiune, dar in acea zi totul sa schimbat. De atunci pina am plecat, le-am luat apararea fratilor si desi nu am reusit 100% sa-i protejez am incercat cum am putut si cit am putut, atit pe ei cit si pe mama. Am rupt toate joardele care le culegea el din copaci in drum spre casa de la servici, si m-a durut sufletul cind a trebuit sa plec in America stiind ca-mi las fratii expusi si fara protectie. Dar Iosif ma ajutat sa-mi infrunt frica launtrica care-mi minca sufletul de ani de zile, si pentru asta ii sunt recunoscatoare.

Dupa ce am plecat, Iosif a fost abuzat dublu. Pe perioada adolescentei Marius nu sa purtat frumos cu fratii lui mai mici, dar intr-un fel era singurul lucru invatat de la parintele lui. Sa schimbat mai tirziu.

Singurul refugiu pentru Iosif a fost la facultate, care a facut-o in Arad. O perioada de timp a stat la Alin, daca imi aduc bine aminte. Alin si el a terminat facultatea in Arad ca inginer, si a lucrat in Arad ceva ani buni de zile inainte de a se muta cu lucru in Germania. Dar tot in Arad, Iosif a intilnit la o biserica o familie de oameni tare buni care intr-un fel l-au adoptat si Iosif se simtea mult mai iubit cu ei decit cu parintii lui proprii. Asa a intilnit-o pe Dana, sotia lui, si acum impreuna au trei copii.

Iosif a terminat facultatea ca inginer, si in ultimii cinci-sase ani si-a construit, in marea majoritate singur, casa in care s-au mutat anul acesta. A petrecut multe ore fie in ploaie, fie in frig, fie pe caldura, la construirea casei dupa orele de serviciu si a muncit din greu, dar acum se poate bucura de o casa frumoasa, si de o familie binecuvintata. Stiu ca este implicat si in biserica, mai ales cu copii.

Ii multumesc Bunului Dumnezeu de grija care i-a purtat atat lui Iosif dar si celorlalti, si ma bucur cind in vad fericit:)

 

Joseph the Strong

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First picture is of Joseph around one years old.

Second picture is of Joseph and Flavius.

Third picture is of Joseph and his wife Dana, this year:)

This particular blog is going to be emotionally very hard for me and you’ll find out soon why.

Between Delia and Joseph my mom lost another boy. He lived only five minutes after delivery due to heart complications.

Born the sixth child, I had a particular fondness for Joseph due to his sweet and humble nature. He did his very best not to cause problems into an already tumultuous environment and kept very quiet and out-of-the-way, often going without food until I would arrive from school around 2 pm. I would ask him if he ate and with the sweetest tone he would responded:

“No.”

“How come?”

“I didn’t want to bother mom.”

By now, due to the tole the pregnancies and the abuse from her husband took on her, my mother was very distant and moody. Thus, Joseph became my child and he started calling me “mommy” which made my heart radiate with love. I had a fearsome protective instinct over Joseph that pushed me into action. In my own way, I stood up for my younger siblings including my mother, in an effort to protect them. I felt responsible somehow for their safety. I was not 100% successful but something snapped in me one particular afternoon while on my way back from school. I was around twelve-years-old and Joseph around four-years old. I heard his painful cries all the way from the court yard; since it was warm outside the windows were open. The distance between me and him has never been as long as that particular day while I ran up the stairs and into the hallway of our apartment, where little Joseph had shrunk into a fetal position protecting his head with his little arms while my father hit him violently. Like a lioness seeing her cub in danger, and without hesitation, I ran between them covering his little body with mine, taking the hits for him. Shocked my father stopped- he had a weakness for his girls- and began yelling insults at me. I stood and faced him, chest high, gaze fixed into his with great determination refusing to move. I saw my father hesitate. Silently I was screaming at him: “Over my dead body.” Joseph was my child and suddenly my father became my enemy. I was determined to protect what was mine, no matter how big the enemy in front of me seemed. Even his slaps over my face and head or his crude insults didn’t make me flinch once as I turned my fixed gaze back at him, not one tear found in my eyes, simultaneously protecting Joseph behind me. Long enough I’ve witnessed this abuse without doing something about it. Long enough. From that day on a verbal war began between my father and I. For my remaining years in Romania I was the middle man in many circumstances. Also, from that day on all the twigs my father picked on his way home from work I secretly broke and got rid of.

It broke my heart when I had to leave Romania, after I married and today I just realized, leaving Joseph exposed and unprotected was a huge reason why. I felt secretly guilty about that for years.

Once gone, I heard Joseph and my younger brothers’s abuse doubled. Like I previously wrote, Marius had a very hard time through adolescence. I guess its as the saying goes: “Monkey see, monkey do.” Once that phase passed, Marius changed.

Joseph didn’t find refuge from the abuse until he entered college in Arad. I believe for a period of time he lived with Alin, who also went to collage, graduated and worked in Arad for many years before moving to Germany. Iosif also found refuge in the home of a young Christian family who sort of adopted him and cared for him greatly. Dana, who later on became his wife was the lady’s younger sister and that’s how they met:)

Joseph graduated college as an engineer and now works in a company run by his brother-in-law. Dana and Joseph have three fantastic children, one of them looks exactly like him. He’s involved in church ministry working with kids and even though it took him around five or six years, he built their home brick by brick, spending hundreds of hours in rain, cold and hot weather to finish. He pretty much built that house all by himself and they moved in it this year:)

With the exception of Alin, all my brother were and still are avid soccer lovers, spending many hours in the dust and confined apartment court yard playing.

Life was not easy for Joseph but God sure blessed him, just like he blessed the rest of us.  I thank God for taking care of him when I could not. He was always God’s child above mine and God took and is still taking good care of Joseph.

I could call him Joseph the Builder, but I think I’ll call him Joseph the Strong.