Postings from Germany

Social Weekend

It's not often we have two invitations out in the same weekend - we really aren't all that social. That puts us in the minority here in Germany, or at least in our neck of the woods.  

After all this time (1993 to now equals almost 17 years, but I never could count), it is still difficult for me to reconcile the face that north Germans put on for the world at large and what goes on behind the scenes.  To those they don't know, they are serious and cool and straightforward and distant and industrious and lots of other down-to-earth words.  And they are all those things! But get to know them and no one is quicker to socialize - a party, a dinner, a breakfast, a walk, the theater, any outing - you name it!  We're trying to get with the program.

Saturday was the annual Kohl und Pinkel dinner with our usual group.  There were several modifications this year:   1. we were a smaller group since people do love to leave this gray place in the winter; and 2. most important, there was NO WALK!  Distaster!  Klaus was recovering from a broken arm, Ursel from a bad fall - both because of the ice that covered the streets and walkways the whole time we were in the US; Ilsemarie had a rare Saturday meeting.  Werner and I substituted a walk from our place to the dinner, a nice 45 minutes, but not the same as wandering along the river and drinking schnapps and eating sweets......

So here's the modest picture of the smallish group and some of the food (not a whit less delicious for the lack of walking!) 

Sunday it was Birthday Breakfast at Elke's.  (Hunter and Hannah will remember Elke and her husband Jürgen from last summer - then it was Jürgen's birthday luncheon at the hotel.)  Some of the same people were there from the night before - social means you know a lot of the same people, after all!  Conversation ranged from weather to food to ecology to politics.  Social means talking, after all!

Breakfast was delicious with a baked egg casserole, smoked trout, assorted cheeses and breads, lovely roast beef, jams and cakes.  Besides cooking, they are both avid gardeners so gifts are easy to do - bulbs to plant and later brighten the view from the window.  They'll enjoy both.

Me and the birthday girl.  My 65th isn't far away.