The Moth Podcast Summary

Episode: Flora Hogman: My Name, Embroidered
Release Date: October 15, 2012
Host: Dan Kennedy
Storyteller: Flora Hogman

Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Moth, Flora Hogman shares her deeply personal journey of identity, loss, and rediscovery amidst the backdrop of World War II. Her narrative delves into the harrowing experience of being separated from her mother, the struggle with multiple name changes, and the eventual reunion with her extended family that allows her to piece together her fragmented past.

Main Story

Early Life and Separation Flora begins her story in 1943 in Nice, France, during the chaos of World War II. At seven years old, she finds herself separated from her mother when a tall man in a black robe takes her away. She recounts, “[03:44] I was seven years old. I’m sitting and standing, more exactly on the platform of a train with my mother... I never saw her again.”

Life in the Convent Flora is introduced to life in a convent, where she and other children are renamed and indoctrinated. The sisters enforce strict routines, with Flora describing their constant prayers and neglect: “[03:44] They were walking around and around and around all day with their long robes sweeping the floor... They never looked down at me or at us.”

Loss of Identity A pivotal moment occurs when the sisters destroy the embroidery of Flora’s name on her clothing, symbolizing her loss of identity and connection to her mother: “[03:44] She proceeded to rip off each stretch of the threads from all of my clothing... I started to scream... I had lost my name. I didn’t know who I was.”

Adoption and New Beginnings After the war, Flora is adopted and takes on new names, distancing herself further from her past. She reflects, “[03:44] I was adopted. I changed name again. I became Flora Ogman after having been Mariama and Flora Hillel. The war somehow receded in the back of my mind, like on another planet.”

Reunion with Family In 1958, while working at Scandinavian Airlines in Nice, Flora encounters her American cousin, an event that eventually leads her to the United States. She narrates the serendipitous meeting: “[03:44] A young man comes in and asks, 'Is Flora there?'... I almost realized this was my blood cousin from my mother’s side.”

Discovering Her Mother’s Legacy Years later, Flora travels to Israel to meet her uncle, who shares memories of her mother and reveals letters that provide insight into her mother's life and untimely death in Auschwitz. She shares a translated poem from her mother, expressing love and loss: “[03:44] 'How strange that you died just now in the middle of your life... We left together, the three of us, and now we are only two.'”

Returning to the Convent Flora decides to confront her past by returning to the convent. Contrary to her previous feelings of hatred, she finds empathy and understanding from Mother Superior, leading to an emotional reconciliation: “[03:44] Mother Superior embraced me... I could cry about my mother with her and at the same time to say thank you to her that she had helped save my life.”

Notable Quotes

• Loss of Identity:
  “I had lost my name. I didn’t know who I was. I was completely meaningless.”
  – Flora Hogman [03:44]

• Reunion with Cousin:
  “How many people had that? A cousin from America.”
  – Flora Hogman [03:44]

• Mother’s Poem:
  “How strange that you died just now in the middle of your life... We left together, the three of us, and now we are only two.”
  – Flora Hogman [03:44]

• Emotional Reconciliation:
  “I could cry about my mother with her and at the same time to say thank you to her that she had helped save my life.”
  – Flora Hogman [03:44]

Insights and Reflections

Flora Hogman's story is a testament to resilience and the enduring search for identity amidst trauma. Her multiple name changes symbolize the fragments of her identity that were lost and the painstaking journey to reclaim them. The destruction of her embroidered name by the sisters underscores the deliberate eradication of her past, making her quest for self-discovery both heart-wrenching and inspiring.

The serendipitous reunion with her cousin serves as a catalyst for healing, allowing Flora to bridge the gaps in her memory and understand her heritage better. The discovery of her mother's poem reveals the deep emotional scars left by war and loss but also highlights the unbroken bonds of love that transcend death.

Returning to the convent marks a significant turning point in Flora's narrative. Her ability to forgive and express gratitude towards Mother Superior illustrates the profound impact of confronting one's past and finding peace with it.

Conclusion

Flora Hogman's My Name, Embroidered is a powerful narrative that explores themes of identity, memory, and reconciliation. Her ability to navigate through the darkest periods of her childhood and emerge with a reclaimed sense of self serves as an inspiring example of human resilience. Through her story, listeners are reminded of the importance of understanding one’s past to fully embrace and build one's future.

About the Storyteller

Flora Hogman is a clinical psychologist based in Manhattan, specializing in trauma and identity issues related to Holocaust survival, particularly among children. Her extensive research focuses on the lasting effects of war, conversion to Christianity on adult identity, and the resolution of deep-seated trauma.

This summary was crafted based on the transcript of Flora Hogman's story from The Moth podcast. For more stories and live events, visit themoth.org.