The trip was great. We rode through real beautiful country – the Alps on either side of the train. Charlie’s mouth hung open a lot of the time. The train ride through to Graz took about four hours. When we got off the train we had to ask how to get to street level. Anyway, up the escalator. When we were halfway up the escalator, I heard someone call my name. I looked and there was Fritz coming to pick us up. Would you believe? What a happy surprise.
We walked to Wolfgang’s car, packed up the trunk and drove to the Pension. Gee, I still have no words to describe my delight. When we got to our hotel, Frank and Nancy were also there. Everyone helped carry our bags up to our room. Then we joined the group on the terrace and got to know everyone. We had a lovely time, a couple of beers and then they left. This was my wish – that we could all be together for a beer.
We went to our room on the 3rd floor with no elevator, if you please. It was in the attic so the walls were slanted on two sides. It was adequate – who stays in the room anyway? We had the tiniest shower you ever saw. Charlie complained and I ignored him. It was only for two nights, then we move to the big apartment one floor down.
I slept fine until I had a bad dream and woke up panting. For some unknown reason, I had a panic attack – like the walls were closing in on me. I hung out the window to breath in the cool night air. The feeling persisted. I took a tranquilizer and fell back asleep.
One of the few sentimental folk songs who’s words I partly remembered. Through the magic of the internet, I found the complete lyrics. This is where I become a sentimental slob. I read them and start weeping. Can’t wait to get there again.
Wilhelm Müller, 1822 (1794-1827)
Am Brunnen vor dem Tore
Da steht ein Lindenbaum
Ich träumt in seinem Schatten
So manchen süßen Traum
Ich schnitt in seine Rinde
so manches liebes Wort
Es zog in Freud und Leide
|: Zu ihm mich immer fort
Ich mußt auch heute wandern
Vorbei in tiefer Nacht
Da hab ich noch im Dunkel
Die Augen zugemacht
Und seine Zweige rauschten
Als riefen sie mir zu:
“Komm her zu mir, Geselle
|: Hier findst du deine Ruh
Die kalten Winde bliesen
Mir grad ins Angesicht
Der Hut flog mir vom Kopfe
Ich wendete mich nicht
Nun bin ich manche Stunde
Entfernt von diesem Ort
Und immer hör ich’s rauschen:
|: “Du fändest Ruhe dort
Now that the Olympics are on, I’m not hearing another word about air quality. Gosh, did it just magically disappear on opening day? Or is the China-bashing useless now that the games have begun?
Well, the news people have something else to jaw about - namely Russia and Georgia. Why is that? What is it their business? I guess their answer would be that it’s news and something about the public’s right to know.
I think it would be a much better world if people didn’t stick their noses where they don’t belong. Face it, what’s reported as having been said by ________ (fill in the blanks) and what’s talked about around the dinner table by _________ (fill in the blanks) or over drinks, are two different things. Politicians will say in public, what they think the voters want to hear. In private, well, let’s just say I’d like to be a fly on the wall.
I think I’d like to adopt Swiss’ attitude. Don’t ask. Don’t tell. Keep out of conflicts. As a result, they’ve lived in peace for 200 years. We should be so lucky. I’m sure the odd Swiss here and there, feels passionately about another nation’s issues from time to time. So if he/she wants to run off and fight and possibly have their legs blown off - or worse, I guess that is probably their perogative. But as a nation, their hands-off policy has worked brilliantly.
There is no doubt, Barak is presidential material. His easy charm could translate into world peace. That is, unless he gets sidelined by the Republican political bible punchers. I don’t see how. I think most Americans have had their fill of Republican hypocritical self-rightiousness. It’s phony.
I have to tell you, if he wins - and I sure hope he does - I will take my hat off to all Americans. They would finally have reached the maturity to look past their narrow-mindedness and vote for talent. Maybe some day they will also stop categorizing people. Is it important what colour or religion a person is? How about if their mother tongue is Spanish? Is that any reason to call them Hispanics or black or white, for that matter. I don’t think it’s right to segment people. They are souls no matter what their ethnic background.
I’ve been criticized for being too left. Frankly, I don’t care. Call me whatever makes you feel good.
Well, I’ve had my say for one morning. I feel better now. I hope he likes Canadians.
Between you and me, since Bush senior - skip a president - then Bush junior, I looked at Americans as a whole to be a bunch of red-necked yahoos. You know the kind - hillbillies. Oh there were exceptions but, if you were to believe the right-wing holier-than-thou group, the TV shows, the movies, and the news channels, it’s OK to carry guns, shoot first, ask questions later. Just make sure you’re in church every Sunday and you read that Bible every night. Hypocrites. It isn’t by chance there’s a Bible in every hotel and motel in the country. Why? Why not a book of poetry or Buddhist chants?
Since Bush II, I had completely written off our neighbour. I’ve not been back for a vacation since then. In my opinion, that government is comprised of nothing but a set of murderers and thieves. They will never pay for their crimes either, you can bet. About that deck of cards they gloated over? I have my own set I’d like to pass out.
And then, along came Obama.
What a breath of fresh air. Perhaps because he’d been exposed to another culture. Perhaps because he’s not a washed-down version of a person of colour - his father was a real Kenyan and his mother was a real white Kansan. Therefore he hasn’t that chip on his shoulders that so many people of colour have. He also doesn’t have that weird “black” accent that so many have, either. In fact, his “blackness” is a non-issue. What a honey.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Hillary, but we all know Hillary. She’s not an unknown. She’s a Clinton, after all. She’s extremely capable, extremely smart and a real hard worker but, she’s not a breath of fresh air.
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