Margot’s Thank You: A Glimpse of Joy in 1936
In February 1936, Margot Frank wrote a warm, simple letter to her grandmother, capturing a moment of domestic happiness and the easy flow of family life. The letter is a charming “thank you” note, full of the details that matter to a young girl.
She thanked her grandmother for a “beautiful present”—a “lovely chair”—which had just arrived. She also expressed gratitude for the money, which her mother used to buy her a swimsuit with a jacket and pants, and, most importantly, to get her bicycle fixed. The mention of a swimsuit suggests that even at the start of 1936, the family was looking forward to the simple pleasures of summer.
The letter reveals a close-knit family, with Margot sending “Warm hellos” to her cousins, Stephan and Bernd, and her aunt and uncle, Leni and Eric. The postscript is perhaps the most touching detail, a simple expression of love and anticipation: “Ps. When are you coming to visit? We are so looking forward to seeing you.”
Margot’s letter is a beautiful testament to the normal, loving life the Frank family was building in Amsterdam. It is a snapshot of a child’s world filled with gifts, bicycles, and the eagerly awaited visits of family, a stark and heartbreaking contrast to the dark reality that would soon overshadow their lives.