Sometimes when time slips by so quickly and the days stack on top of each other it just becomes more and more overwhelming to get back to where I left off. It’s like when you leave a good book and know you want to return but you have left it for so long now; it seems futile to go back to it. I feel guilty betraying the blog for this long…almost a year….my gosh. But then I think, I left my house on Larchenstrass in Bann, back in May. It is now September and I just got to sleep in my own bed again. I am just getting the last pieces of art hung up on the walls. Perhaps I am not giving myself enough credit for all I have had to do.
The MOVE and leading up to it was a crazy time. Some of the craziness was necessary, like trying to get schools vetted out ahead of time, connecting with a realestate agent, arranging the shipment of vehicles, household goods, and flights that would accomodate our feline friends. And yes some of it was brought on by our own crazed sense to do it all before leaving Europe. We had to get in the Champange trip to the caves, sans children. The number one restaurant in the world was just in Gerona, Spain, and it would be sick to miss it. We had parties to host, parties to attend and in between all of that we had normal daily life. Normandy and the 70th anniversary of Dday could not be missed. One more soak in a German Bathhouse in Baden Baden…
We lived it large and have no regrets…but looking back we know it was a rare and special time and we can’t help but think it was the time of our lives. Reverse culture shock is setteling in on us with al its weight. I miss my yellow house at the end of Larchenstrass. I miss the Egg Lady. I miss the starry nights and the hot-tub, and the shooting stars that we would see often without even trying. I miss the hill that lead up to the horse we named Rainbow, that is now being named something else by some other American visitors. I miss our Beate and Angie who cared for our children, our house, our pets. I miss all of our American friends who forged the kind of friendships that are deeper and stronger than German beer.
This week our fur baby Horatio, escaped and was missing for over three days. I cried my eyes out thinking of our little indoor tabby-cat out in the 103 degree sunshine with wild stray cats and coyotes at night. His revolt against yet another move hit me hard. I want to revolt too. It is hard. It is hard to make new friends. It is not easy starting over. It sucks seeing treasures you have collected, shattered in the hands of careless movers and packers. I left a place where I was the “go-to girl” with all the info and all the energy. Now, I know nothing. I need a GPS to get everywhere. I sit alone watching the children play. No one stops by to say hi. CA is different than anywhere else I have lived. The weather is great and the people are friendly but it is closed off. It makes me miss TX and all my Rogers Ranch friends and neighbors. We looked after each-other. Within a week I knew everyone’s names around me. And when CJ deployed I had good sameritans checking in on my lawn, my water heater, my happy hour needs. I miss you, Dan and Sharon, Ed, Holzum Family and of course Lee and Gordon. Change sucks.
But I have never been the kind to dwell in despair for long. Horatio is eating and drinking again. He is coming around, no longer sleeping on the closet floor, but perched back on my pillow, where he belongs. I too will rise to my proper place. I just find myself always wondering… is this the place we belong? Where are we meant to be? I am sure I will come to appreciate all of those amazing experiences in Europe and not look at the photos with such sadness in my heart. For now, it is a bit painful. I still miss it all and all of the amazing people, so very much. It feels like a part of my heart was ripped from my chest and lies in Bann, Germany, not sure what to do.
All I know is this…I get one chance at this life. I have always followed the mantra of seizing the day. I am so thankful for all we got to see and do in Europe. I am thankful for this next chapter too. It would be easy to just move back “home”. But how would we ever know if we didn’t try on a new State, a new City. And at the end of the day, everyone we love keeps moving too. I can now say I have people that I truly love in Alaska, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona, Germany, Sweden, No. Ireland, Great Britain, Hawaii, Wyoming, North Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Japan…. I am probably missing someone, somewhere…
I digress… my Horatio is mewing, disoriented and tired from his three days of “freedom”. I think the best thing I can do for him is provide a proper lap and stroke his fur, like I did all those times while I was sad or lonely or just feeling like I needed some fur-love. I can give him that, after all he has given me.
Honey, that was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, So Heart Felt. From the very depths of your Soul!
It made me Cry,
Love, Mom
thanks mom
Oh, my love…. Before you know it, you will be back in action as the “go-to” girl of Cali (although that’s not to dismiss this difficult transition time… Transitions always stink).
I am so grateful for our time together in Germany and so very happy that I’ve made a friend for life in YOU. Since you had to move, I’m glad you moved to the west coast. Because someday in the not-too-distant future I’ll be there too. 😉 Love you.
Awe, such lovely words- what a gifted writer you are! I miss you dearly, as you are my go-to girl for ALL the important info! Please keep up with your blog now that the dust has settled:-).
We miss you too! Nothing but weirdos since you left. Lol I booked my flights to visit Erin and her hubby, Matt, in MN and seriously can’t wait. They live in Roseville so if you have any suggestions for shenanigans I’m all ears.
I’ve adopted my friend’s saying, “Don’t worry. I got this!” Even when we weren’t ACTUALLY sure she did, her confidence in her ability to adapt and thrive is inspiring. The roles have turned and I find myself reminding her to take a breath and not to worry. I’ll pass it along to you now. So…don’t worry! YOU GOT THIS!
Thanks for the thoughtful words Miss Cait! I GOT THIS! I just needed to be one with it for a minute… I am excited that you are going to MN, beautiful time of year to go. Roseville is where CJ’s Mom lived for many years. Hamline University is where we met and went to college. Hit Grand Ave for some fun boutique shopping and Cafe Late for a treat. There is good Thai food there too and Coffee News Cafe in the MacGrove neighrborhood is great for a puffed pancake. I love Punch for a salad in a pizza curst lunch- awesome! Have fun and enjoy!
Haha we did Cafe Latte for my birthday and Grand Ave is on the the list tomorrow after lunch at Punch.
Matt is getting his Master’s and PhD at U of M in Heat Transfer Engineering…I think. He’ll graduate in May if everything stays on track. I’m having a blast here and have met so many wonderful people.
(This is from Mark, not Karen. I still can’t log in so I’m using Karen’s log-in.)
I feel for you, Anna. And I may be feeling the same way in a year.
I will say that everywhere I have lived I have loved some unique things about it while disliking others. Every place has its strengths. For the US as a whole, it’s the large offerings of ethnic cuisines, and their fusion; great produce (at least in high end grocers and farmers markets), fresh fish in parts; spice and heat in the form of chile peppers. And of course beef. Breakfast cafes and Sunday brunches.
I love our national parks and monuments which are some of the best in the world. National forests where you can go camping and hiking without people right next to you eating at the wurst stand. Hiking in wilderness without manmade steps, bridges and rails like are all over Europe. I’m looking forward to our wonderful sunshine, especially some in the winter. Hot summers with outdoor pool season for months at a time.
Bars that can make a good margarita and create something yummy from new ingredients, not just Europe’s Aperol Spritzes and questionable mojitos. Live music venues than can attract better acts than the Kammgarn.
Neighborhoods and playgrounds where kids speak the same language as your kids, facilitating pick-up games and friendships. Sidewalks without bricks so wheels roll smoothly. The easier life of convenience: stores open Sundays and later hours, pay-at-the-pump, continent-wide cellular data plans, garbage disposals, ice makers, no VPNs needed, self-cleaning toilets, etc.
In the end, though, it’s all about the people. Especially for outgoing types like you two. Either in LL or the next place, you’ll find your niche, with friends to sit back in the evening, drinking a good craft American beer or Washington State Syrah while the kids play nearby. Neighbors that are don’t move all the time take more time to open up, but in the right place it will come. And that will be nice.
Mark
Thanks Mark. You are so right about all of the things you look forward to. There is much to be thankful for and at the end of the day, I am lucky and proud to be an American! It is always the people isn’t it? Perhaps that’s why this move is so hard. We had some pretty fun people in Germany. Although, mourning the loss of that is silly since everyone is always moving on and moving out, right?
Drink one of those terrible Aperol Spritzers for me this weekend and think about where we can all meet up for skiing in the US when you all get your butts back here!