6 things to love and miss

I've recently suffered a long bit of blogger's block...coupled with a rather busy schedule....I've had a few ideas rattling around in my head for several weeks.   Pondering a few things I love about living in Germany versus what I miss about the good ol' USA has led me to these conclusions:

Loving in Germany                                          

1.  Fresh brotchen from the Barbarossa bakery!  And nussplunders, and apfeltasche, and..... 
 

Nussplunder!  Our favorite!  (Nate still prefers donuts!)

2.  Reduce, reuse, recycle.....relax....we have 5 different bins to sort our trash!  **nothing is open on Sunday** makes German shopping something to do for necessity, not so much for want on the weekend.  Besides, the lines are terribly long on Saturdays!!!
                                                  
3. Autobahn.  It's fast.  And fun.  Well maintained...Until a traffic stau.  Then you wait.  Sometimes for hours.    

4.  German radio:  the classical station plays an eclectic variety of music:  jazz,  French bistro, symphony, chorale, opera, and even a German story hour.      

5.  A school whose campus includes Elementary, Middle and High School--makes pick up super easy... when I can find them all.... Plus they can ride the bus!                          

6.  Fresh, in season fruits and veggies at the local shops; weekly farmer's markets nearby, and even better,  an awesome village butcher deserves a bit of praise for selling local meat --he actually *knows* the farmer!   And I'm pretty certain my husband would say the coffee is hands down, better.

sadly, as I publish this, Benjamin will be closing his doors.  

Missing the USA: 

 1.  Stan the Donut man.  

 2.  Target.  The BX isn't too bad, but there's not much comparison shopping and when the item you're looking for is in stock, you'd best get it right away.

 3.  Parking spaces that fit American sized cars.  Actual street parking, too.  Not "on the sidewalk,  pull in your mirrors" parking.

  4.  NPR.  no longer being carried over here --apparently I can stream it live at home.  WHY would I do that when I only listen to the radio in the car? (And now bicycle!)

  5.  Neighborhood schools.  We really miss walking distance schools!  Here our friends are scattered across a very large district--sometimes more than 45 minutes away-- making impromptu play dates impossible!

  6.  CSA (community supported agriculture)--you don't realize how wonderful and convenient the CSA is until you don't have it anymore...Convenient access to organic foods in a variety of stores with competitive prices.  

I know this list could be longer and perhaps more interesting, but at least gives a little glimpse into life here for us to someday remember!

My Tuscany life

I admit,  I'm a hopeless romantic--especially when it comes to sappy chic flicks (Under the Tuscan Sun).  And flowers.  And surprise dates (hint hint).  My dream world is that movie --girl bikes to grocery, warm breeze blows her hair, comes home to her Italian fixer-upper complete with tall, dark & handsome boyfriend. I don't even remember what the movie is really about --but for the past 5 weeks and 6 more to come,  I've been living that Tuscany life.  I don't have the boyfriend or the Italian house; and I'm not living in Tuscany....  BUT, I do have my bike and a breeze blowing through my (helmet) hair! 

My Tuscany story requires a little background:  Over the course of 15 months, we managed to pour over $14K into repairing our beater cars.  By the time summer started, my Audi was no longer highway-safe, so we plunged into the new car world, which in Germany, means, "wait a few months while we build it for you."  Mike's car arrived 8 weeks after we ordered it; we parked my beater and I was to drive his just repaired (to the tune of another€1200) Audi A4 until the November arrival of my new car.

Perhaps the blog title my Tuscany life is misleading:  It should be titled "a dismal day with Audi" or "delayed gratification = more car repairs" or even better, "how to help your mechanic make a killing repairing old, beater cars again."

My day started out innocently enough.  Mike headed out on tour for a week, leaving his new BMW at work for me to pick up later.  The boys headed off to day #2 of school.  And I, in my "back-to-school-freedom-mode" scheduled a massage at a location about 35 minutes from home.  My day looked so perfect:  massage, PTSO meeting, make a snack for the boys, head to golf, ballet and then home for the night.  

It's funny how a perfectly good day can be ruined in a matter of moments!  As I entered the construction zone on the Autobahn, that old, bless-ed A4 decided to lose power.  All of its power.  I came to a grinding halt about 10 construction cones into the zone.  With no real shoulder. And lots of construction and traffic.                                                                                                                                                        What commenced next was a plethora of cursing, tears and fear: I was blocking part of the lane and couldn't get out of the car since the traffic entering the construction zone was speeding by a gazillion kilometers an hour!!! My tearful, panicked call to Mike (who was happily and quietly riding the bus to Slovakia) turned into much more drama than you need to read.  

Next step, call ADAC: however, when German roadside assistance answers, they spew out a host of information in German! (well, duh, what was I thinking??!!)  Normally, I could listen and follow the German directions.  However, in my turmoil, I was not processing ANYTHING they said. After several attempts, I finally reached an English speaking person:

                            1.  Get out of the car

                            2.  Put out the appropriate safety cones

                            3.  Walk about 500m to the next blue sign (road marker) so I can locate you.

Ok, Mr. ADAC, I'm in a construction zone in the infamous K-town area, there is NO shoulder, and what is left of it is weeds up to my eyeballs.  There are no blue signs anywhere.  The traffic is crazy. And I have to pee. Really bad.

"Well, ma'am.  We have no idea where you are."  "Really?  Are you kidding?  Everyone knows this spot.  I'm the reason everyone is calling the radio station to report the traffic!"  And then it dawned on me.  This guy is at a call center somewhere in the middle of India.  Crap.  I have to find the blue sign. Upon turning around to walk the other way, I spy a blue sign across the autobahn.  Bingo!  Mr. ADAC is pleased to have located me!  Someone will be there to help in about an hour.

So, I made a little place to sit using the grocery bags from my car; grabbed my phone; some wet wipes and waited.  (And I found a somewhat secluded place to pee, although I suggest not using cold wet wipes in those places.)

Soon enough Mr ADAC came to my rescue:  he got in and started the car.  No kidding!  It started right up.  Gah!  He said he'd follow me to the mechanic and good thing because I went about 20 feet and the car died again.   Mr. ADAC, in his little Ford Fiesta-like car, got out his trusty little bungee cable and gave me towing instructions:                                                            1) brake only when his lights go on, 2) the steering will be much harder. 

Great. So now I'm being "rope towed" by this little car down the autobahn with cars whizzing past me and we're going downhill and I'm not supposed to brake?!  I thought I'd never be so scared.  

Upon arriving at the mechanic (a grueling 30 minute rope tow, btw) I burst into tears, clearly making all the German men around me incredibly uncomfortable --they offered me chocolate and beer!  

                Marcus's diagnostic:  the ONLY piece of engine not replaced to date was finally broken:  €2300 Engine fuel pump.  I begged him to please take the car to the junk yard.  Instead, he made a phone call and sold both of our Audi's to another mechanic for €500.

And, so, now I ride my bicycle!  It's only 30 minutes to the bakery/grocery.  I've picked berries and apples on the bike path; smelled the coming of autumn; spit out a few bugs, enjoyed the wind in my (helmet) hair and although it's not Tuscany, it's my life and I think I'll just enjoy it!

(6 weeks and counting to the new car...but I think I'll still love my bike-life...until the snow comes.) 

Mike's BMW happy face

the measure of time

Papa's "glimmer"

It's hard to believe an entire year can pass so quickly, although I've lived long enough to know the certainty of that phrase.  Our time is measured in so many ways -the baby's growth, the preschooler's handwriting, the high schooler's marching band season, summer breaks between school years...the passing of a loved one.

It's hard to believe a year has gone by since dad died.  Last year, I wished this day would come quickly for his sake:  that the pain and suffering would end for him and he could rest peacefully in the arms of God.  Now, I wish this day hadn't come so quick.

I am peaceful knowing my dad is loved and cared for; but on this side of heaven, I still weep.  Not everyday, but just now and then.  Times and experiences my family shared in the past year are pieces of life I wish I could share with him in person.  Band concerts, fencing tournaments, birthdays, ballet, golf... all those little moments we want to share with our parents regardless of how far away they live.

At the onset of hospice care last summer, Dad said he'd always be watching us.  It's just not fair I can't observe his reaction.  Funny thing is, and perhaps fortunate too, I know exactly how he'd react; what he would say.  "Nothing is fair!"  Then he'd likely chuckle, inform me of the Iowa weather reports, tell me how his golf game suffers and close with, "You're doing fine, dear.  Keep up the good work!"

So,  I will keep trying.  The noisy, cheering crowd of saints (no doubt marching) in my head will remind me of their presence here today and perhaps by next year my measure of time will feel more joyful.