Oma and Opa's Haus

There is more to the story. Do you recall going there when you met Mary over there? The houses where covered in faery tales? One most clear is Little Red Riding Hood of course with the wood surrounding them it was a good way to keep the children from running off. The entrance to front went into another hallway and that then went into this huge eating area that had built in eckebanks like I have never seen before. They made all the furniture and carved most of the woods surrounding the archways. The furniture was from the wood craving school that they owned and had been in the family for a long time. So for me the furniture which was often 9-10'+ and all craved and painted was like a magical place also. The Back entrance was like a mud room I believe it is called You entered and that way in severe weather you could remove outer clothing boots and such before actually entering the house. It was a doored way that was a hall with hall tree along one side for hanging your things and then on back wall was where Opa usually hung his work clothes of field clothes. That is where the hidden door was. You had to know it was there then push a knob like thing. It opened to a rough stairway made of large carved rocks. then along the walls Opa had made shelving and there he place jars and thing he used for canning his brew. They also used it as a root storage area. It was mostly a white dirt floor from what I recall. When I went back to see Annette she told me that the villagers used to joke about Opa's apples. Called the goat apples. She said when he had an abundance he would give them to the neighbors and they gladly took them and would feed them to the goats. However nobody really ever said anything because his Apple wine was exceptional and they wanted that. It was so funny to hear this. She had copper ware from the 1200's. Her brother collected wooden artifacts from bombed Churches and she also had those old angels and crosses and relics. I guess mom still has Monica's email. I know she worked for the Uni. of Michigan in Heidelberg. Her sister Annette's other daughter[Barbara] was in Phoenix, Arizona last time I checked. What a wonderful childhood imagined in reality.
There was a famous composer Papst. He was Annette's Father and apparently a very famous one like Mozart, Chopin, Brahms. The copper was handed down from her family and she had other really interesting items. Well my spelling is getting worse and I am getting tired. See you on Mon afternoon perhaps. Take care Love you. Sweet dreams...

The German Garden

I am going to bath and body works today. They have the 75% percent off and I saw some roll on style body oils in my favourite scent.. I do not know if you would recall Oma and Opa's house in Oberammergau? I know we went back there many times and also walking with you holding your hand. The beautiful buildings all painted in the most scary faery tales ever. The Brothers Grimm' We where weened on those so lovely and colourful. Edith lived there by then though I think. They had a nice garden in the back with Gooseberry bushes and Black currants. Roses and then behind an orchard. Opa got his apples from there and every other local source often retrieving older ones off ground. Not sure if I ever told you the story of Opa's Apple wine and beer? Oops, back to the subject before.. This fragrance sends me back there with a wild smile that glows thru me and I am once again a young girl out hiding under the gooseberries. Stretching my arms out to pick the Black currents without moving much. I would lie there under the bushes flat looking partially thru the green foliage and abundance of berries. Tasting them one at a time. Rolling them thru my fingers to dust them and savour the almost sourish sweet bitter honey on my tongue. Oh so sweet. Oma would sooner or later look for me and call out ' Rous von den Garten'... SANdieee.
If she sent Opa out or he was already out picking his apples. I would go out with him and he would be out there not a care thinking of going to his hidden place behind the hanging clothes. Making his wine under the house in a rock cave. I would slip off and watch him and eat the berries and smell of flowers and the pungent earth comforted me. I drifted off full and joyous of such treasures the world gave me. Then Opa would have been done and me off in my own world. He would grab me up and toss me high in the air saying.... 'Mein Kliene Engel Har'. He would shake me and we laughed my feet sometimes getting caught in his gunnysacks' full of apples. He put me down and I would grab hold of those sacks knowing better not to try to fetch one to eat. Following below, behind the worn out farm clothes and dusty coats. Into his world of Brewmeister and his secret place.
I went to visit Annette Zwink maybe 15 years back maybe more. Edith still lived in the old house. I was told that Opa and his father and his father where all the village historians. All records of anyone born, raised, died, lived and passed thru practically where kept. Annettes uncle on her mothers side Collect antique copper vessels mostly for cooking but some also for washing and she had those and during war he also began to collect relics of wood that came from bombed churches. So these things along with all the wonderful Furniture from the Zwinks woodcarving school. I think have been converted into a historic museum in the old house.
I am not sure since I left Germany and Monica[Annettes daughter] was older. More Patti's friend. Boy I was in a story telling mood today. So I am going to wash up and go out I have to go buy also Pantene for curly hair. My hair has gone wild with this weather. I hope Texas takes a hint and begins it own protection from this oil. It is going to come that way... Anyone who does not know that and needs to look at a map. I checked with gf in Sarasota. Florida is beginning to prepare themselves. The migration of Hammerheads occurs ever year in August and weather is soon to get bad.
Chat with you soon. Love you.

The Rosary

The service was darkened by the candles hushed whispering. The family in some cases had not seen each other in years. Some grown to look like a parent passed on. Some still youthfully sprite. A reception was attended to by members of the family manning the station to greet those who honour a friend. Definitely a group of characters. In parts could be a book or movie the clan of Bohemians. Yes the next generation mellowed by cell phones and inner thought. Not like the old days when family was often your survival in life. Now independence ruled. He was our life, our breath, our blood. Like no other each of us carry him into infinity. My father. I was excited about seeing cousins and aunts and sisters and brothers. I was never very good at funerals but then again my sisters did their part to make that a unique experience. Yes each of my Beautiful inside and out sisters all have unique qualities fine blessing and gifts. I think we got the gift of so many flavours from my mother. She use to joke that after 8 kids you tend to be schizophrenic. There was my mother in line Helen Ruth greeting others from the community. She took me over and introduced me to a man she said this was Dr. Sears. I smiled awkward moment then another person from town arrived then another. Then another man came into room and my mom introduced him to me as Dr. Sears. My brother Tom was standing next to me and I leaned into him and said. 'Every guy mom has introduced to me is Dr. Sears. What's up with that?' He told me that if I figure it out then he would spare me a wedgies later and we shook on it. I did not want a wedgies from Tom. Clue!!!! later found out before the wedgies there are two Dr. Sears brothers........... Thank Gaud. Just then in came my Aunties my moms sisters Ann and Kaye. They are a Hoot. Ask Kaye she will tell you. She is a free spirited women. Carefree and usually joking about life. Ann is the more classic woman attentive to that which is proper. But also very funny. Actually the three of them together are totally nuts. I will never forget when they all [including Jim Ed] pulled their pants down in front of everyone at Mother and Dad's anniversary. Kaye and Ann made their entrance. Apparently a fight began in car on way over and big sister was not happy with little sisters behaviour. So here is how my Aunties entrance began. Kaye storming in and hugging my mom who was in line. Then whispering into my mom ear loud enough for all to hear, Ann was being mean to her. Then storming over to hide in a corner as Ann waltzed passed them styled and propped herself onto the couch. 'Oh hush' she said to the cowering Kaye sulking her lips pouched out as my mom turned and glared at Ann. Kidding she after all was the biggest and oldest sister. Told them to Behave. Then she and Kaye stuck their tongues out at Ann. I thought to myself wow this is going to be another fun family affair. Thank you God for blessing me with such a interesting clan. I joined my Aunt Ann sitting on the couch and went to hug her. She hugged me back and said how sorry she was. I in my usual funeral behavior. Proceeded to tell her I was ok. I explained to her that the night my father passed away was a glorious night. There rising over my mountain shines a moon like no other. Tremendous in size and honourable in brilliance. I went out and stripped naked and danced. I dance wildly and howled and cried out. My body jaunting into a primal state. I tossed my hair around in spinning circle as I had so many times as a child. Freeing my power to dance to fly. My sisters and I would perform a sort of African dance we called it and I was enjoying the moons embrace. I felt nothing on this chilly night of brightness. I danced until I felt only joy. I felt that this was as it was and I must make the best of my own life. I have a garden in my back yard and at that moment I decided to pull out the tiller and to make my vegetable garden. So under the moons gaze I created a vegetable garden. I still have it and thankful I think of my father often while weeding and seeing how hard work can also be combined with fun. Harvesting God gifts. Well needless to say when I told my aunt Ann about dancing naked under the moon then tilling she burst out laughing. I mean loud hard and for her very unusual. Right there In the funeral parlor behind the line of greeters eyes turned to look at us. I thought uho I have done it again. This was not enough Ann then had to ask my Aunt Kaye to come over and asked me to re-tell the story. Kaye just high fived me and said thats my girl. You look just like Big Mama. Yes this was only day one of a five day festival of mishaps and unusual behaviours. Farting from Catholic food.. Fights on the Grounds of the military cemetery... Bad juju. Foot massage for Joey finally Dogs leg broken and woman wrist while possibly attempt to kill pup and the curry stand off just to name a few. I decided for those who where not able to attend or be in a proximate area to have enjoyed these stories. Here it is for you and also for those who where not in a state to recall much of anything. It was a wild ride the night of the Rosary.