Pictures from Germany

My parents have recently returned from their month long visit to Germany.  My father is from there.  He's been in the states for almost 50 years (actually a little more than that, I think).

Our family was at my parent's home this past weekend and A came from UGA and M joined us from her dwellings with her dad. There's lots to write about regarding her but that will have to wait until another time. 

This morning, before I dive head first into the first phase of preperation (20+ something boxes) for my moving sale, I want to share pictures from my parent's trip.  There's about 30 to share in all so I'll do a little at a time and spread it out over the next month or so.  My guess is that it will add some flavor from the one course meal of our new home :) The initial ones were taken at the cemetary but they aren't morbid - just memorable for our family.

The picture above is of the plot where my father's parents are buried.  I'm named after my Oma (german for grandmother).

My Oma & Opa are buried at the rear, under that big and bushy tree.

I love the cemetaries in Germany - they are visibile signs of grieving and letting go.  Who ever knew that letting go could take the form of beautiful flowers, shrubs, ground covers?  It should come as no surprise because I've heard grief take the form of music and prose. My sister has been dead for 14 years and I've been to her gravesite only twice.  My husband never returned to his late wife's grave after she was buried.  I went once after I found out I was pregnant with J to thank her for preparing the way for our child.

Our cemetaries have headstones and markers and just grass.....I can't help but be happy when I look at this beautiful sight and realize all the love and tender care, on an ongoing basis, that goes into this place.

This is my father and his oldest sister.  She recently suffered a stroke and is paralyzed on the left part of her body.  She is in her early 80's.  When I was first viewing these pictures, he told me that this was a really difficult day for him and my mom.  Having death like that in your face and remembering the people that you love is not easy.

This is his sister, Anita - the godmother of my late sister.  This death brought back a lot of memories for my parents because she died just a few days after my sister (their daughter).  I just realized that I never completed the rest of the story back in March about what happened after my sister's funeral.  I'll have to get to that in the next few months.

My time is up - and so is my daughter :) 

Have a GREAT day, everyone.

Comments

[Karla]

The cemetary is remarkably beautiful.