As I have previously stated, we were the only Americans invited to the party. Therefore, we were naturally excited, and anticipating the evenings events. This was all a new experience for Lee and I. We had never been to The Mardi Gras and had no idea what to expect. That evening was the first and ONLY time in over 50 years that I convinced my husband to wear a costume. Since a costume was requested I felt that it would be insulting to our host if we did not oblige. It was a wonderful experience for our girls too. They loved wearing costumes and making new friends. The food and wine were abundant, and our German hosts were very welcoming and cordial. I engaged in a rather heavy conversation with a lovely lady named Brigitta. She was from the northern part of Germany where the people were not as Americanized, and therefore spoke very little English. It was amazing really how the delightful German wines improved my ability to speak German, and Brigitta's English so that we could carry on a meaningful conversation. The year was 1978, it was right around the time when the Mini Series about The Holocaust aired on American television. Surprisingly, Brigitta introduced the topic which rather caught me off guard, I would not have broached this subject because I thought it was taboo. She was concerned that Americans hated the German people because of the Holocaust, and verbalized that Americans probably knew little else about her country's people. I assured her that my generation did not hold the sins of the past against the people of the present. She had tears in her eyes as she talked about the youth of Germany, and how they had voiced their disdain, and accused her generation of "turning a blind eye" on the torture and disappearances of the Jews. I felt privileged then, and have a renewed sense of gratitude now that Brigitta confided her feelings to me. She went on to explain that "Yes, we knew that our neighbors were disappearing, and being taken away, but we kept our eyes straight ahead, fearing for our own lives, and the lives of our family, every day." It was painful to witness how the weight of that terrible event has taken its toll on this lovely lady. She suffers her private "hell" as do many of her generation, and is ashamed of the terrible deeds which occurred under the dictatorship of Hitler.
The celebration was delightful and somewhat mild, according to some of the tales that were revealed that evening. Apparently, the serious revelers take an "anything goes' attitude regarding their behavior, even going so far as taking a paramour. These short lived associations sometimes resulted in a pregnancy, which from all accounts was accepted. Risky behavior facilitated by the ever present libations, which are ubiquitous at these festivities.
I must confess here that this is the one, and only time of my life that I imbibed lets say a "trifle" too much. We drove back to our trailer, we were camping in the Switzerland Alps. It was late February, so quite nippy, but beautiful still and the sky was clear as a bell. The party was to be continued the next day at Lore's sisters home, but not before we all attended the 0900 parade. When I awoke the next morning, I thought I was near death. Actually, I thought death would be the better option as my head was absolutely pounding! Lore' was absolutely incredulous that I was ill. Why? she exclaimed, "the food was gut, the wine was gut?" Yes, it was, but I was a novice in the wine drinking department, and I did indeed learn my lesson from that experience.
The hour is late, so I bid you goodnight.
Carol
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
We proceed towards our new adventures in Europe, albeit with a heavy heart.
Good evening friends, please forgive me for the extended hiatus. It has not been intentional, but I really think it was writer's block. I was not productive with anything it seems. Hopefully, now with the onset of a new month I will be refreshed and energetic, and more productive.
I must digress for a short discussion about the "friends" who assisted me in Virginia, and subsequently took the girls and I to the "Dulles Airport." We met this couple at William Beaumont Army Hospital in October 1968. Lee was about to start anesthesia school. OJ had been assigned Lee's sponsor which means that he showed us around the area, helped us find a house to rent, and just generally made us feel welcome. All of this wonderful hospitality with a heavy heart as OJ was on his way to Viet Nam. He is a very affable, jovial guy with a HUGE heart. It is obvious that he loves people and only sees the good in them. OJ is the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back in a heart beat if he thought you needed it. His wife is a joyful, loving and giving, Christian woman with a heart of gold, and a deep love of God. Over the years she has helped me to see how God has a plan for all of us. It may not be the plan we want at the time, but ultimately it is the best and most beneficial solution. She also helped me to learn that I must be patient, because God has a different timetable than we do. Patience has never been my long suit. However, eventually when I realized that I was not in control of my own life, let alone someone else's, I had to surrender, and ask for God's help. We have been friends with this couple since 1968, and we truly love each other. Remember, I said that he helped us find a place to live, well, they found reasons for us to stay with them for 10 days after we arrived that Friday afternoon. They are "true friends" in every sense of the word. Our first meal with them consisted of macaroni & cheese in a box, hot dogs and green beans, and it tasted delicious! We still kid each other about that meal and one of these days it may be dinner again.
To really put in perspective how I feel about this couple, I drove from Killeen, Texas to Battle Creek, Michigan in June of 1984. A distance of approximately 1300 miles to offer my support to them in a family crisis. Our then 15 year old daughter accompanied me on the trip. I have never regretted doing it and would do it again without hesitation.
Back on track, we have arrived in Germany and are ready to roll. As soon as Lee received orders for Germany I enrolled at the local Community College and took 2 courses in German. Literally, the day after arriving in Germany I was in downtown Heidelberg, Germany shopping! I wanted to meet the people and talk to them, and I wanted to learn about their customs, and sample their food. I had enough enthusiasm for the entire family. Our youngest daughter was eager to learn the language, perhaps more uninhibited about making mistakes. However our 12 year old was rather reticent, and reserved, and just plain did not want to try. I persevered trying to get her interested, and I found the key. She loved the food, and the rule was, I'll tell you what to ask for, but you must do the asking. One day we were at one of Heidelberg's wonderful Saturday open markets. This was something we all looked forward to, there was fresh made bread, and rolls called "brochen," which were crusty on the outside and "oh" so soft inside. Our oldest daughter asked a German lady for a "gerkin" which is their word for pickle. Well! that lady came right around the counter and hugged our daughter. It was then, that the light dawned on her, that it really meant a lot to the native people when you at least tried to use their language.
Americans were quite easy to pick out of the crowd. Usually, they wore jeans and were sometimes rather boisterous. Therefore, I felt complimented that the German people would begin talking German to me thinking I was a local. I loved the people there and I enjoyed every minute spent living in Germany. Actually, I learned a great deal about life and how to really enjoy your life and family from the German people. They lived a slower life, the merchants all closed their shops for lunch, and a cat nap. This was a real bone of contention with the American population. They would become angry because they had been inconvenienced, and did not appear to honor the German people's customs. The German grocery stores and the bakery and butcher shops all were closed after 1 pm on Saturdays as well. The merchants designated one weekend each month when they stayed open until 6 pm in the evening. The Americans had access to a convenience store on the military post, but they still complained.
Upon arriving in Germany, the girls and I were delighted to hear that within a few days, we would all be going on a trip to Holland. Both maternal and paternal grandparents of Lee were all born in Holland, so the trip had a special meaning. The room we stayed in was on the third floor of a very old hotel with no elevator. It was fine for our use, nothing fancy, but it served our purposes. As I recall it was quite expensive by American Standards though. One of the first places we visited in Holland was "The Keukenhof." This is where the beautiful gardens are rich with all kinds of elegant, but common flowers. Tulips of every color in the rainbow. Gorgeous daffodils which announce the arrival of spring with their bright yellow faces. Brilliant hues of various shades of purple displayed in their beautiful iris. There were fields of all these flowers and more, which when we looked down the fields appeared to be as a lovely carpet on display.
We found the people of Holland to be very congenial, and helpful, with directions and such. There are actually cities in Holland named Edam and Gouda, Cities made famous by those pungent and delicious cheeses. In the center of these towns they hold a cheese auction every week. Delft, which is glazed earthenware is a well known product of Holland, made in the city of Delft. It is usually painted blue and white, this is done by hand and signed by the painter. I was fortunate to buy two pieces of delft, one the traditional blue and white, the other multi-colored. This was 1978 and they were just beginning to use the multi-colors for their figurines. It was a wonderful introduction to Europe for all of us. I still have vivid memories of that fabulous trip. By the time we arrived back in Heidelberg it had been just 10 days since we left the United States. Honestly, I think someone threw the chicken-pox virus on the girls as we strolled through the airport! They were both extremely sick and literally covered with blisters. Our oldest daughter has several obvious chicken-pox scars much to her chagrin.
Lee and I and our girls benefited greatly from a wonderful German school teacher named Lore'. A fellow CRNA who had previously been stationed in Heidelberg was friends with Lore'. He was gracious enough to give her our information, and she sort of adopted us for the next 3 1/2 years. Actually, she is a lifetime friend. Lee and I visited and stayed with her and her new husband Horst when we returned to Germany in 1991. Then a few years later Lore' and Horst came to the United States for an extended visit, and stayed with us for a few days. They had amassed so many American friends over the years that they actually visited several families who lived in different states. Lore' is a typical, no nonsense, confident, self assured German lady, with a heart of gold. An example of her personality, she would invite me for coffee at 3 pm, if I rang the door bell at 2;55, lore' would remind me that the invitation is for 3 pm, not 2:55!! At first I would become a little piqued with her, but soon forgot about it and respected her wishes in the future. Lore" took us to the most wonderful and unusual places in Germany. She rather detested all of the more "well known" American haunts which seemingly every American visited. The "Oktoberfest" (german spelling) Nurnemberg, Munich, were places that most American's visited, and to be sure they are lovely, beautiful places. But Lore' took us to places that we had never heard of before and were equally, if not more lovely. Every spring she took us to a brewery in Mannheim for Bock beer which is traditionally a dark beer brewed in the spring. She introduced us to her private winery which is owned and run by Herr Hartmann and his family. Wineries are generally fairly small there and run by the family. The Hartmann's are a wonderful family, and we purchased many a bottle of wine from them. As a Christmas gift one year Herr Hartmann gave us a wine bottle opener made from a very sturdy grape vine. It has been over 30 years ago that he gave it to us, and we still use it, and each time we use it we are reminded of some lovely memories.
Lore' invited us to her house for a "Fasching" party which is the pre-Lenten period of revelry which is akin to our "Mardi Gras We were the only Americans invited and considered it an honor to be included with her family and friends.
I'll stop here for now and continue tomorrow as I am somewhat fatigued tonight. Thank you for your loyalty. Carol
I must digress for a short discussion about the "friends" who assisted me in Virginia, and subsequently took the girls and I to the "Dulles Airport." We met this couple at William Beaumont Army Hospital in October 1968. Lee was about to start anesthesia school. OJ had been assigned Lee's sponsor which means that he showed us around the area, helped us find a house to rent, and just generally made us feel welcome. All of this wonderful hospitality with a heavy heart as OJ was on his way to Viet Nam. He is a very affable, jovial guy with a HUGE heart. It is obvious that he loves people and only sees the good in them. OJ is the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back in a heart beat if he thought you needed it. His wife is a joyful, loving and giving, Christian woman with a heart of gold, and a deep love of God. Over the years she has helped me to see how God has a plan for all of us. It may not be the plan we want at the time, but ultimately it is the best and most beneficial solution. She also helped me to learn that I must be patient, because God has a different timetable than we do. Patience has never been my long suit. However, eventually when I realized that I was not in control of my own life, let alone someone else's, I had to surrender, and ask for God's help. We have been friends with this couple since 1968, and we truly love each other. Remember, I said that he helped us find a place to live, well, they found reasons for us to stay with them for 10 days after we arrived that Friday afternoon. They are "true friends" in every sense of the word. Our first meal with them consisted of macaroni & cheese in a box, hot dogs and green beans, and it tasted delicious! We still kid each other about that meal and one of these days it may be dinner again.
To really put in perspective how I feel about this couple, I drove from Killeen, Texas to Battle Creek, Michigan in June of 1984. A distance of approximately 1300 miles to offer my support to them in a family crisis. Our then 15 year old daughter accompanied me on the trip. I have never regretted doing it and would do it again without hesitation.
Back on track, we have arrived in Germany and are ready to roll. As soon as Lee received orders for Germany I enrolled at the local Community College and took 2 courses in German. Literally, the day after arriving in Germany I was in downtown Heidelberg, Germany shopping! I wanted to meet the people and talk to them, and I wanted to learn about their customs, and sample their food. I had enough enthusiasm for the entire family. Our youngest daughter was eager to learn the language, perhaps more uninhibited about making mistakes. However our 12 year old was rather reticent, and reserved, and just plain did not want to try. I persevered trying to get her interested, and I found the key. She loved the food, and the rule was, I'll tell you what to ask for, but you must do the asking. One day we were at one of Heidelberg's wonderful Saturday open markets. This was something we all looked forward to, there was fresh made bread, and rolls called "brochen," which were crusty on the outside and "oh" so soft inside. Our oldest daughter asked a German lady for a "gerkin" which is their word for pickle. Well! that lady came right around the counter and hugged our daughter. It was then, that the light dawned on her, that it really meant a lot to the native people when you at least tried to use their language.
Americans were quite easy to pick out of the crowd. Usually, they wore jeans and were sometimes rather boisterous. Therefore, I felt complimented that the German people would begin talking German to me thinking I was a local. I loved the people there and I enjoyed every minute spent living in Germany. Actually, I learned a great deal about life and how to really enjoy your life and family from the German people. They lived a slower life, the merchants all closed their shops for lunch, and a cat nap. This was a real bone of contention with the American population. They would become angry because they had been inconvenienced, and did not appear to honor the German people's customs. The German grocery stores and the bakery and butcher shops all were closed after 1 pm on Saturdays as well. The merchants designated one weekend each month when they stayed open until 6 pm in the evening. The Americans had access to a convenience store on the military post, but they still complained.
Upon arriving in Germany, the girls and I were delighted to hear that within a few days, we would all be going on a trip to Holland. Both maternal and paternal grandparents of Lee were all born in Holland, so the trip had a special meaning. The room we stayed in was on the third floor of a very old hotel with no elevator. It was fine for our use, nothing fancy, but it served our purposes. As I recall it was quite expensive by American Standards though. One of the first places we visited in Holland was "The Keukenhof." This is where the beautiful gardens are rich with all kinds of elegant, but common flowers. Tulips of every color in the rainbow. Gorgeous daffodils which announce the arrival of spring with their bright yellow faces. Brilliant hues of various shades of purple displayed in their beautiful iris. There were fields of all these flowers and more, which when we looked down the fields appeared to be as a lovely carpet on display.
We found the people of Holland to be very congenial, and helpful, with directions and such. There are actually cities in Holland named Edam and Gouda, Cities made famous by those pungent and delicious cheeses. In the center of these towns they hold a cheese auction every week. Delft, which is glazed earthenware is a well known product of Holland, made in the city of Delft. It is usually painted blue and white, this is done by hand and signed by the painter. I was fortunate to buy two pieces of delft, one the traditional blue and white, the other multi-colored. This was 1978 and they were just beginning to use the multi-colors for their figurines. It was a wonderful introduction to Europe for all of us. I still have vivid memories of that fabulous trip. By the time we arrived back in Heidelberg it had been just 10 days since we left the United States. Honestly, I think someone threw the chicken-pox virus on the girls as we strolled through the airport! They were both extremely sick and literally covered with blisters. Our oldest daughter has several obvious chicken-pox scars much to her chagrin.
Lee and I and our girls benefited greatly from a wonderful German school teacher named Lore'. A fellow CRNA who had previously been stationed in Heidelberg was friends with Lore'. He was gracious enough to give her our information, and she sort of adopted us for the next 3 1/2 years. Actually, she is a lifetime friend. Lee and I visited and stayed with her and her new husband Horst when we returned to Germany in 1991. Then a few years later Lore' and Horst came to the United States for an extended visit, and stayed with us for a few days. They had amassed so many American friends over the years that they actually visited several families who lived in different states. Lore' is a typical, no nonsense, confident, self assured German lady, with a heart of gold. An example of her personality, she would invite me for coffee at 3 pm, if I rang the door bell at 2;55, lore' would remind me that the invitation is for 3 pm, not 2:55!! At first I would become a little piqued with her, but soon forgot about it and respected her wishes in the future. Lore" took us to the most wonderful and unusual places in Germany. She rather detested all of the more "well known" American haunts which seemingly every American visited. The "Oktoberfest" (german spelling) Nurnemberg, Munich, were places that most American's visited, and to be sure they are lovely, beautiful places. But Lore' took us to places that we had never heard of before and were equally, if not more lovely. Every spring she took us to a brewery in Mannheim for Bock beer which is traditionally a dark beer brewed in the spring. She introduced us to her private winery which is owned and run by Herr Hartmann and his family. Wineries are generally fairly small there and run by the family. The Hartmann's are a wonderful family, and we purchased many a bottle of wine from them. As a Christmas gift one year Herr Hartmann gave us a wine bottle opener made from a very sturdy grape vine. It has been over 30 years ago that he gave it to us, and we still use it, and each time we use it we are reminded of some lovely memories.
Lore' invited us to her house for a "Fasching" party which is the pre-Lenten period of revelry which is akin to our "Mardi Gras We were the only Americans invited and considered it an honor to be included with her family and friends.
I'll stop here for now and continue tomorrow as I am somewhat fatigued tonight. Thank you for your loyalty. Carol
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