Kohl u. Pinkel, v. 2019

Yes, it's been another year. But it is simple and fun and pleasant and we love doing it again and again.

It was a bit complicated for us this year as Muriel and Tony from England had called at the last minute to come and stay with us but adding two more to the table wasn't an option for Klaus and Johanna.  I know that must sound funny (and maybe off and somehow wrong or unfriendly) to our USofA friends and family, but anyone and everyone here fully understands.  Imagine you have a table that seats 10 and you have 10 chairs and that is it.  That's it!  Muriel and Tony totally understand.  So we kept our obligation to attend and Muriel and Tony entertained themselves (which they do very well).  It worked out great.

Not only is Grünkohl one of my most loved dishes, this whole business of the Fahrt (the walk, the wandering, the tradition of it) is one of those Bremen things that has wormed its way into my being and so belongs to the season and the time and, most especially the people, that skipping it or missing it is just not done. Just. Not. Done.

There's the core group - Hellmerichs, Wichmanns, Brandts, Ursel, Ingrid.  Lately, Ludwig, an old dear friend of Klaus' (plus or minus wife Elke) has joined us, depending oh his health.  This year, they were both there.

And the weather was pretty OK too.  No snow, not radical cold, no rain (thank you!) but crispy clear and bracing, we could say.  

We stopped for schnapps along the way, and of course a bit of sweets.

Later, the feast.  And what a feast! The greens and all the extras.  I'm sure I have said it every time, but the only thing missing is corn bread.

We talked and talked and talked.  After all these many years, I can finally sit and listen and sometimes contribute to the conversation and not feel like I have to go home because I am so exhausted trying to keep up in this foreign language.  Yes, of course I can speak German and all our friends here think my German is amazing, but it is only wonderful.  But my German is good enough and we had such a great time, again, sharing a traditional meal with good friends.  That's what friends do.