I was born on April 3, 1935 in the Padding Street Groningen Holland.  When I was two weeks old, my parents, two older sisters and I moved to the family homestead with my grandfather on Akerstraat_24 Groningen Holland.   My family owned and operated a general store on the bottom floor of the house and lived in the top floor. 

My best friend lived across the street in number 21.  Her name was Rika Burg.  We were best friends until I was 12 or 13.  I remember she would always get jealous every time I got a new brother or sister (I had seven, four brothers and two sisters).  Around the time she was 10 her parents finally had another baby girl named Ineke.  Rika was so happy.