Life: Idiotropic

Sunny and blue. Light breeze. Clouds over, light rain. Then sunny and blue again.

This is Kirmes weekend - my last sadly. So I've watched faithfully with camera poised as the parade passes by. Each year the same list of characters in their feathered hats march by. This year they all seem a bit more jovial. Laughing more, smiling, talking amongst their friends lining the street to watch the tradition continue. Tiara peers from the office window to catch sight of the queen just to see the dress she's wearing. The littles sit on the window ledge impressed by the real "queen and king" as if they were just as important as any other international royalty.

The music plays. There are some new band members - younger ones, shorter than the rest, but playing with just as much gusto.

Tante entertains the family with kuchen. An aprikosen fladen and a marzipan kuchen from the Becher bakerei and an erdbeer kuchen she baked herself. A goblet of whipped cream and plain German coffee - a little bitter for my taste, but good with cake and who could refuse Tante?

Kurt in his best clothes still carrying his cigar - as much a part of him as his right hand, I think. A permanent fixture like a teacher with her coffee mug. He puffs and smiles. 74 and still going.

Marita shows me the black paper invitations she's hand written in gold ink. 24 Juni. Her 70's birthday party will be a "Ladies Night" at the new Mercatur Hotel. She shows me asking if it looks nice. And so sad that I won't be here to join them. Ist slim. Ya. Ist immer slim. Moving is difficult on all sides.

The house is oddly quiet. 1 and 3 have left for sleepovers with friends. Luci went through multiple hugs and kisses before leaving. Arianna's at a friends house for the afternoon. Just Elise and us and a pot of minestrone soup. A moment of rest before I pack and clean once more.

And then just one more piece of cake with this lady who means so much to us. The girls have brot mit buter then go and play. And we talk and talk. My broken German is enough. And we laugh until our eyes water - a little jovial, a little sad. Her smile is infectious. Work will wait. Time stops in these moments. We'll cling to these special moments keeping them fresh in our minds even when we're countries apart.