and if you are able to maintain these traits you stay young to create your own work ... independent of old age. IB: One time during our conversation, you said you went into the concentration camp as if you were a “puppy.” Somehow the same naivete and spontaneity you seem to feel carried you through them. Am I correct? BL: Oh yeah, it has a lot to do with survival because the reality of things doesn’t touch you. At leasf not as much as your own fantasies. Your own image of your own self, they are stronger. You eat once a day in the concentration camp; you get a bowl of soup — no meat, but you eat this soup with great hunger, eager to have it, on long tables. If somebody died, the same moment he died everyone was grabbing his bowl. In the camp after this operation when they cut open my hand, you can still see here, and they took out the pus and then they threw me ... out of a back door into a field, with twenty or thirty people all with bandaged arms and legs. There was no anesthesia, nobody had any. They operated as you were, in full consciousness ... they cut you up everywhere. As I came out into this field where everyone was sitting, I had to start work. Because in the concentration camp it is forbidden to have time to rest. This is the principle. They make you work even if you are drowsy. They gave me a basket of twigs and some sharp glass splinters which you took between your knees, and with your one free hand you had to shave the skin off the limb; this is what you had to do. There was another basket where you put the shavings. All this you had to do but all this kept you very healthy. I never was hungry. I never was ... I never desired more than a bowl of soup. It is still my habit here in San Francisco. When we go to the restaurant, I order a bowl of soup. It’s good enough for me, wonderful, clam chowder. Who thought clam chowder in the camps? Nobody. Now this all makes you strong ... if you want to become 91 years old, take a hard life on you. A life of a Spartan warrior. You have to take such a life, then when you become old you will never be sick ... for there is no reason to be sick because there is nothing unhealthy that you are doing .. . working. If you are 91 years old, you have many thoughts of dying; everybody older thinks of dying. I am not willing to die ... to extinguish my consciousness. I’m not willing to give this up. But the question is, what ability do I have to influence this? Everyone wants to die in their sleep, a wonderful death. Okay, this is a book written by Michel Georges Michel; he wrote about all the artists of the twenties in Montmartre and about Vertes, a great German painter. Vertes was close to the circus. He made some studies of aerial acrobats. There was a young girl, he invited her up to his studio. They had the following talk, now I will tell you what life is, right away! ‘“When you are up there suspended between life and death, I suppose it must be an exhilarating and terrifying moment in spite of your being used to it.” “No,” she said, “we are just used to it as you say.” “But you talk to each other, don’t you? I saw you talking last night when you stopped for a second.” “Oh, that was nothing.” “I’m sure you said something.” “It wasn’t anything. My partner said there is a coat that a woman was wearing in one of the boxes. He said it was fur, and I thought it was monkey. When we were on the ground again we found out which one of us was right.” That is what life is! In a moment you are hanging between life and death. Which you always do. Any moment you are between life and death . . . and you are having such conversations. I love this book. CHEF - OW NER KARL. J. SCHAEFER IE CUISINIER Fine Dining & Quality Catering 1308 W. B U R N S ID E PORTLAND, OR 97205 2 2 4 - 4 2 6 0 PARKINSON FONTANA SCHUMANN JONES AND ELLIS LAWYERS PRACTICE INCLUDING: Injury Accidents Drug Cases Workers’ Compensation Shoplifting Probate Drunk Driving Foreclosure Defense Suspended Licenses Subpoena Problems SEMI-ANNUAL MEN’S SHOE CLEARANCE Selected Shoes Reduced 20 to 50% Dress Sport Casual INITIAL CONSULTATION — NO FEE SUITE 3, 722 MAIN STREET RM 910, 812 SW WASHINGTON OREGON CITY, OREGON 97045 PORTLAND, OREGON 97205 (503) 655-2202 (503) 221-1792 ALAN COSTLEY 816SW10, 222-2577 Fine Leather Goods, Luggage, and Men’s &Women’s Shoes and Boots Clinton St. Quarterly 9
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