Europe: One Day at a Time--to Italy

June 23, 2010

Today started as, I guess, people should expect, who attempt to rent a car in Europe and take a multi-generational vacation throughout Italy. We did several of these over the years when our kids were small, from Yellowstone with my parents to spring breaks exploring around little known parts of New Mexico. I think it’s probably more fun to be in Jay and my generation and the most fun to be in Breck and Helen’s. Poor Joel and Kim; they will get to enjoy their vacations better in 20 years—

When Joel arrived with the rental, it just made me laugh. (I think I laugh more than I used to.) Kim was not laughing. The rental was a very large, white, school bus looking van, complete with a high carriage and extended top. If you’ve seen the movie RV, it was only lacking the advertising on the side to be a decent comparison.

Kim refused to let us take a picture of it, and we all had to vow not to ever post it on facebook. I think if we’d actually taken it, we’d have christened it “the big white turd” (in keeping with the RV theme) before the trip had been over. Indeed, packed and all, including the kids, the four of us stood staring at it with much the same expression as Robin Williams’ family when he pulled up to the curb in the rented RV. Joel, picturing the narrow streets of Italy, looked the sickest of all.

By the time we’d driven around to take care of a few errands, it was apparent there was more wrong with “the turd” than aesthetics. The A/C didn’t work, and Italy is hot in late June. The rental agent, returning our call in the comfort of her office, assured us that the A/C most certainly did work, to which Kim flatly informed her we were on our way back to get a different vehicle.

Because the A/C didn’t work (and because there is a God in Heaven Who won’t test us beyond what we can endure), we were given a smaller, shorter van. And it was red. Can you ever go wrong with red? After transferring our luggage and lots and lots of stuff, we were off—two hours later. So, with Jay riding shotgun in charge of the GPS, Joel behind the wheel, and the children asleep, all is well. 

Sometimes, life demands sacrifices we’d rather not make. Today it will be time and watching the US win their World Cup game. Joel felt bad about the rental, but sometimes it’s better to start over when the opportunity presents itself—

**And if I had a picture of “the big white turd,” I’d post it right here—because time has a way of coloring everything (and even though the pond isn’t separating me from Kim at this moment, three large states are). Just imagine this red van older, longer, higher, and with an extended top—maneuvering the tiny streets of Italy. Need I say more?

Germany, Day 4

Germany, Day 4 (June 21, 2010)

Nice day getting ready for our Italy trip and visiting a palace and beautiful gardens. I guess I should ask Kim who this palace and grounds once belonged to. We only toured the grounds. If I should go back again, I would like to see the inside. Kim says it is the most breathtaking in the fall when all the trees turn colors. Couldn’t help thinking, though, that the opulence of the very rich was at the expense of the very poor—makes one satisfied with what she has. 

Germany, Days 2 and 3

Writing a day late as I was exhausted when we got home yesterday and fell immediately into bed, after 8 flights of stairs. We left in the morning for Strasbourg, France. First stop was the cathedral. Well, actually, the first stop was a restaurant to eat lunch so we could use the potty without paying. We went with Larry, a friend Joel works with, and Charmaine, a doctor on post. Charmaine and I had fun attempting to decipher the French menu. She’d had 4 years of French in high school. Later in the day, I realized that Larry was being quite nice to us, as he seemed to have a good grasp of French. But we were quite glad to humor him and appreciated his letting us think we were clever. 

The cathedral was awesome. Strasbourg is where Gutenberg invented the printing press, which changed the world for the better as far as educating more people was concerned and making the Bible more assessable. The stained glass windows were probably my favorite, but the clocks and Middle Age mixture of Catholicism and mythology is always interesting to me. Throughout history the area has changed hands several times between France and Germany, so the people aren’t characteristically French or German.

It was such fun roaming the little streets of the old town. The buildings were several stories high and crammed together much like a picture in a Dr. Seuss book. Crossing the river several times, we leisurely strolled without much of a destination, other than to find leggings for Charmaine, as it turned out much cooler there than we’d expected.

Probably the most interesting thing we saw was the bachelor party, who’d dressed the future groom in pink hair and a practically nothing matching cheerleading type skirt.  Apparently this is a European tradition that we can only hope never jumps the pond. (Note to self: “Men do not and should not ever wear a thong.”) It was certainly something you’d never see in America—to date anyhow.

Sipping hot chocolate at an outdoor café, watching a tourist boat maneuver the locks, and eating a long relaxing supper outdoors under a 350 year old sycamore tree next to the canal—the day slowly slipped by, as twilight doesn’t fall until nearly 10:00. My favorite quote was when I told Breck the sycamore tree was 350 years old…older than America. And his response was “What about Grandpa?” A favorite of Jay’s was when Helen referred to me as her “old Granny.”

Sleeping this morning until nearly 9:00, we were awakened by sounds of little feet clanking up the stairs. Stairwell dwelling might be efficient, but it is surely noisy. Everything is constructed so that every slight sound is reverberated and magnified. We feel like we’re always loud.

After church we spent a quiet afternoon doing not much at all. We took a nice walk through plots of ground where city dwellers purchase and build lovely garden retreats they enjoy on the weekends. They were interesting and beautiful and made us grateful for our own backyard that we get to enjoy every day. 

Germany, Day 1

Germany, Friday, June 18, 2010

This part of  Germany is reminiscent of the Midwestern countryside, verdant and both flat and hilly. It doesn’t seem muggy to me, as I’d expected, at least not today. Our first stop was at an office to get a temporary photo ID to be on base. The picture after a 9 hour flight with fitful sleep and an hour’s drive left me looking—we’ll say “less than one would hope for.”

We spent the first few hours chatting and playing with Breck and Helen. Then we came to our room for a rest. Now I understand why this is called stairwell housing. It was deceptive when we came in because Joel and Kim live on the first floor. My vision of our room on the next floor was erroneous.  We walked up several flights, passing other apartments to get to the top floor. Originally servant’s quarters, the fourth floor consists of a guest room for each of the building tenants with a shared bath. As we are the only ones here currently, the bath is all ours.

It is a quaint little room and perfect for guests in the summer. I would spring for sleeping on the couch if it were winter. But now, it is airy and warm feeling. Kim has it stocked with toiletries that make me think I must do a better job when we have guests. (She does it so well.)

This evening we’re going into town to watch the US in the World Cup. I’ve never been a great soccer fan, but I’m sure I’ll catch the spirit once there (unless I fall asleep in my seat from jetlag.) I’ve toughed it out without even a nap and hope to feel refreshed in the morning. That is a necessity as were off to France tomorrow.

Mindful of Us

The breath and presence of God swirls in and through space and time,

knowing and touching all—

From the farthest reaches of the most distant galaxy and beyond

to the infinitesimal microscopic particle,

He sees all,

Knows all,

Is mindful of all.

Then somewhere in the great in between sits man.

“And what is man that Thou art mindful of him?”

Civilizations come. Civilizations go.

People plan their wars, build their mansions, consider what great works

they have done.

And yet, it amazes me that in the midst of it all, God’s ear is bent toward my call—

a simple woman’s plea—

And what art (woman) that Thou, (Almighty God) art mindful of (her)?

And it does not matter if one woman should wash her dishes in a sink or in the river.

He is mindful of us.

And it does not matter if one should place her frame in a warm bed or a tent

on Haiti’s shore.

He is mindful of us.

And as we each pull up the night cover under our chins

(not so unlike a prayer shawl of old),

He is, indeed, mindful of us.

Pray for Me

I will pray for you;

I hope you pray for me.

However should we keep our course

Upon this tempestuous sea?

Resist the waves of bitterness

That eat a cankerous wound,

Which twist and bore within our souls

To bring about our doom.

Let’s persevere the tempest

Springing panic in the night

When we weep upon our bed,

Engulfed in breathless might.

And keep from us the cutting words

Bearing venom for our brother;

For Christ the Judge stands at the door,

Commands us love each other.

And when we grow so weary,

Shall we clasp each other’s hand?

For it’s in the bond of unity

We make our valiant stand.

I will pray for you;

I know you pray for me.

However shall we keep our course,

Except on bended knee?

                           

                                                  D. Borkert ‘00

Christmas Came

Christmas almost didn’t come this year

Cause I was too busy for tinsel and cheer.

There was work to be done and events to plan.

If I didn’t watch it, all would get out of hand.

I had people to care for and money to make--

Other years would come, and Christmas could wait.

There were no decorations adorning the house,

No cookies, no presents. I guess I’m a louse.

No Christmas tree with an angel on top,

Even the nativity scene lay snug in its box.

Then,

It came.

It came unexpected. It came unannounced.

It came with a shake and rattled my house.

It was a miracle--

The miracle of life

It came in her smile, and it cut like a knife,

In an emergency room in a hospital bed,

When her gaze met mine--

Is that how it happened, oh so many years?

It came in the silence, it came amidst fears,

This miracle of life--

He came in His love, His mercy and grace.

He came to share life in a dark, wretched place.

And so few took notice the miracle had come.

They lived in their shadows.

We live there today.

Yet, Christmas came.

It came anyway.

Written several years ago after Katie was hanging Christmas lights with her dad and touched a power line into the house.