By Masada Siegel and Stefanie Zweig, JTNews Columnist
Generations is a series of across-the-ocean e-mail conversations between 70-something author Stefanie Zweig and 30-something writer Masada Siegel.
From: Masada Siegel
To: Stefanie Zweig
Sun, Aug 17, 2008 at 4:31 p.m.
Subject: Your book
Hey, Stefanie!
I’ve been having the most lovely weekend, and guess who I have been spending it with? You! I just started reading your book, Somewhere in Germany. My mom always says books are her friends, and she’s always sad to finish a good one. So I’m excited, because I have your books and am able to ask you questions.
What’s even more hilarious is that my mom absolutely loves the author Stephan Zweig, and you talk about him in your book. As my mom has a special affinity for him, I try to find all of his books for her in English. He’s most definitely a friend to her, and he truly is an exceptional writer.
Anyway, we were chatting in the pool yesterday, and I mentioned to my mom that she has to read your book (especially because of the Stephan Zweig reference). She looks at me and says, “I was in the middle of reading the book, had a bookmark in it and all, and it disappeared one day.”
Yup. I am to blame about the disappearing part. 
So it’s really special, because I feel I am getting to know you and I hear your voice… I especially like it when I read parts of the book, and see references to penguins, for example, because you and I have had conversations about penguins.
I see the part of you being so mothering to your brother. He’s absolutely adorable — it makes me just want to hug him! I am sure his grandson will be so happy to have such a great image of him. It’s awful to miss out on having grandparents, as I never met the ones on my Dad’s side. I told my Dad one day I wish I had met his parents; he turned to me and said he wished he had them there when he grew up as well.
I’m off to the pool — and so excited about the American swimmers: Michael Phelps, Jason Lezac, Dara Torres, all amazing, and they add to national pride. We need it here in the States. I got so much grief about being an American by most of the Europeans I traveled with in South Africa that I am happy for something positive and wonderful.
Have a fantastic morning. I will be visiting with you here in the U.S. later this evening — lucky me!
Big Hugs,
Masada
p.s. If you want to go to Africa, let’s call up Lufthansa. I am good to travel with — and will go with you! Let me know!
From: Stefanie Zweig
To: Masada Siegel
Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 7:54 a.m.
Subject: Thanks
Dear Masada,
Thank you for your good long letter, and I am very happy that you are enjoying Somewhere in Germany. If it were only better translated. You see, I am a very critical person, but I was not any kind of editor, but a critic, too. Mainly for the theatre, but I also did literature. Stefan (with f, not ph, like me) Zweig was most popular in his days and is still read. He committed suicide in Brazil because he could not get over the loss of Europe. And that although he was among the happy few of the renowned authors who managed to emigrate in time. Brazil received him with great hospitality.
I am afraid I shall never see Africa again. I would never do this to Wolfgang, who would die a thousand deaths here whilst I am away. That is the price of love. But if we don’t pay it and only live our own lives, there is no happiness.
There is a tendency to abuse America here, too, but that is only done by young people. We old ones remember what America did for Germany after the war, and without the food the USA sent us, we would all have starved. My aunt then living in New York sent us parcels, and I shall remember the joy of American pudding to the end of my days.
And those wonderful panties — seven of them with the day of the week embroidered in each. I was 16 then and had never seen anything like it. Many regards to your parents and a hug to you.
Stefanie