Hello to All...

So...approximately 12 hours ago I returned home from Paris, and I have been sleeping since. I have so much to say before I will feel fulfilled in sharing my adventures with you, so bear with me.

It all started at--well--6:30 pm on Friday. The fam hopped in the truck and we went to Vogelweh Air Base to kill some time before I got picked up at 10:30. The fam likes doing Friday night movies, so we went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was AWESOME! I highly recommend it. While it doesn't capture everything from the original, it does a good job with what it had time for. An absolute must see. I have decided that if I ever become a billionaire, I am going to build a chocolate factory. Thats another story.

So...after the movie we headed toward Sembach. On our way, we saw a bus pulled on the side of the road and people were getting in. Jen said that it was my bus, but I didnt think so. Regardless, we kept driving to my pick up point and waited, and waited. I finally called the emergency number to see where the bus was and why it hadnt picked me up. Turns out the bus we saw on the side of the road was mine--they were delayed and would be there any minute.

Alright....so I finally got on the bus. Im on the bus for about an hour and all of a sudden we stop. Apparently there is a transfer point (which I didnt know about). Good thing I wasnt asleep. We had to get off the bus and everyone had to go to their appropriate trip bus. There were four different buses (labeled 1-4) and I was on bus 4....the one bus that was yet to arrive. So we waited...and waited. I began to feel like the goosebumps on my legs were going to become permenant if i didnt do something. So, in the middle of the parking lot I pulled the spandex out of my bag and began to put them on. Hilarious, everyone thought I was crazy...myself included.

Alright... so our bus arrived and we got on. After traveling for an hour and a half I saw that we had JUSTED passed the exit for my house in Watteheim. So far I had beeen en route for 3 hours and hadnt even gotten a step closer to Paris!!!!! AAAHHHH!!!!! I decided I would try to sleep in order to let time pass faster. Of course, right when I decided to do that, the temperature began to drop. I was the only one on the bus without a blanket or pillow, so I put on my ipod and decided to brace myself for a long trip.

Okay...so 4.5 hours later, with no sleep, we begin approaching Paris. We dropped off the people going to disneyland for the day and continued to our first stop--breakfast. Jen had advised me that the breakfast wasnt that great, but i decided I'd go for it anyway. I figured a good croissant and a cup of coffee would end up costing me 10 bucks anywhere, so whatever. It was classic. I got eggs, a croissant, and a cup of coffee through the buffet line and sat there with my tray looking for a seat. It was packed--two tour buses had been dropped off there at the same time as ours, so it was impossible to find a seat. I felt like a kid on the first day of school. No friends. Hilarious. Anyway, a couple near me stood up and cleared their place and I snagged a seat.

Within a few minutes a girl sat down and we began to chat. She was the only other person on my tour that was on her own--all the rest of the people were families and stuff. So we got to talking. Her name is Robbie and she is 22...from Iowa. She runs a day camp for military children at one of the bases. Its a pretty cool program. The military pays your airfare anywhere in the world(she went to Tokyo last year) and then pays you 22 bucks a day to play with kids and take them on local trips and stuff. Not too shabby--a good way to travel w/out paying for hardly anything. So anyway...robbie and I decide that we are going to be travel buddies for the rest of the day and ditch the optional tour at the end of the day...details are on the way...

Ok...after breakfast we start the city tour. I THOUGHT it was going to be a walking city tour, but I am wrong. Basically, our tour guide gives us the history of every remotely interesting looking building in the Paris area and we jump out of the bus and take pics when the bus stops. It was a good way to get generally acquainted with the city, but not my idea of "getting to experience paris." So...after the last stop of the tour, Robbie and I talk to the tour guide....

We asked the tour guide if we could take off on our own and meet up with them somewhere that afternoon...and she said YES! The optional tour was on a boat...basically the same thing we had just done on the bus...taking pictures without getting close to SEEING anything...so Robbie and I were stoked that we got to bail out. Okay...so we mapped out what we for SURE wanted to see. We wanted to make it through the Louvre, to the Eiffel Tower, to the Army Museum, the Arch de Triumphe, and the Notre Dame Cathedral and still have some time for souvenier shopping...but we only had 4 hours. SOOO...we rushed to the Louvre first. It was AMAZING!! We spent about two hours there...seeing the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of France...and MANY others!!! It was awesome!!!

We left there with two hours on the clock. We basically power walked/ran the entire stretch to the Eiffel Tower in the pouring rain. It had been gorgeous that morning (while we were on the bus) and now the weather was just wild. ANyway...we made it to the tower and took our pictures--classic tourist stuff. The line to get up the tower was insane and I wasnt about to stand in it for the only hour we had left so we ran back toward Concorde Square and saw the Arch de Triumphe and everything....it was just amazing.

By the time we got back on the bus, I was soaked from head to toe and my body was in pain...but it was sooo worth it. We were headed to a restaurant for our 3 course dinner which was included---so goood. I had french onion soup, chicken, crem de caramel, and a glas of wine. Such a great way to end the day.

I am so happy that I can say that I have seen Paris. I truly enjoyed myself, and yet Im not sure if I will make it back. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful city with so much history, but it is just a very hectic place based a lot on material goods. I hardly got a chance to shop for souveniers, but we did pass about a thousand jewelery and designer handbag/clothing shops. SO many people just go to Paris to shop...and I just dont really feel like spending 300 bucks on a shoelace. Anyway, it was a great experience nontheless. For those of you that have been, I hope you were able to see other parts of France as well. While Paris houses a lot of history, I dont feel like it gives you a good taste of French culture. I feel like Strassburg did a better job of giving me a taste and feel of the French culture and allowed me to appreciate the country a lot more than Paris. The tour guide told us that Paris has become so expensive to live in that only the richest of the rich can afford it. Kinda sad that the students of the University in downtown Paris dont even hang out or do anything there because it is too expensive. I guess I just missed the wandering artists and musicians that were all over Strassburg. I guess they just didnt meet the standards in Paris.

It felt great to get out and do some traveling on my own. I didnt get back until 1 a.m. and then I didnt wake up until 1 p.m....so i'm a little drowsy. I hope all is well with everyone. I posted my new photos on kodakgallery.com...so go ahead and take a look. I miss you all and I think fondly of the day that I get to go home.

Hugs and Kisses,
Beth O.

hey guys!!

so...not much news to report today. i woke up this morning and it was GORGEOUS outside...so we decided to head out to the pool. that is, of course, after washing courtnie's sheets--she wet the bed (i forgot about that part of being a kid).

when we got back from the pool there was a message blinking. i listened to it and it was for me!!! that was my first phone call...kind of a weird sensation getting a phone call at a house that isnt yours!! any way, it was the people from the tour agency that i booked with a few months ago. I am supposed to be going on a Bavaria Tour this weekend to Munich and the whole Bavaria region. WELLL....aparently they didnt meet the minimum for the number of people who had to sign up...so it was canceled. They did, however, offered me the trip to Paris this weekend in exchange for Bavaria.....SOOOOOO...it looks like I'm going to PARIS! I've never had a huge desire to go to Paris, but I'm in the middle of reading the Da Vince code and now i feel like i really should go!!! (thanks for the encouragement mama...you always say the right thing!!!!) I figure that an extra hundred dollars now is better than 1,000 dollars+ later. you know??? anyway...it looks like munich will be rescheduled for the 5-7 of August.

anyway...after that drama the fam went out to dinner and shop for school supplies. they wanted me to go, but i already had my mind set on running tonight...and i knew if i went out to dinner there was no way i would run. so, i stayed behind for some quiet time and some run time.

My run was very interesting. Well...for many reasons. First of all, i havent run in a week (ugh) so that was interesting. But even cooler was that the farmers have begun harvesting the wheat. Its sooooo cool. This big machine chops the wheat tops off and stores it and then cuts the stalks of the wheat into hay bales. it was soo cool to watch!!

Seeing the wheat being harvested also made me feel like i've been here for a long time. when i got here, all the wheat fields were bright green. Watching them turn to brown, and now be cut down has really made it feel like I have seen a full cycle completed.

I hope everything is great where you all are. Happy Birthday to Chase tomorrow if you read this--and if not, you may just be getting a phone call from me!! Oh yea---TINA is going to meet up with Alex and I in Rome!! YAY girl!! We will have so much fun!!

Ok....thats all for now.

all my lovin'
beth o.

guten tag...
well, im back to the same old routine today. you know, eating fruit loops for breakfast and watching old yeller and playing dress-up. being a kid is the best.

we said goodbye to donna and kathryn this morning--jens mom and niece. it was weird seeing them come and go. i feel like i truly live here now...i didnt feel that way until they visited. seeing them pack up and leave for the airport made me think about what its going to be like for me to leave. so weird...but i will definetly be ready.

there's not much to report from this side of the world. the weather is pretty overcast today so we are staying cozy inside.

take care...i love you all
bean

Alo...

Wow. Another long day of vacation is under my belt. I tell you, this family sure does vacation differently than my own. I am used to days just enjoying each others company...not venturing off on long train rides from dawn until dusk. Wild.

Today we headed out to Rudesheim. I will be honest, I wasnt so stoked for this trip for a number of reasons. First, this is day number 8 of vacation, and I'm kind of ready to get back to the basic schedule. Second, I wasn't really looking forward to the train because we just did that a few weekends ago and it just makes things a bit more stressful. And Thirdly, we had been to this general area of the Rhein twice already and I didnt really understand why we were going back exactly. However, I was to be proven wrong in just a few hours.

We hopped on the train in Grunsdat and made all of our transfers, turning up in Bingen by 1130. Nothing new so far--I've already seen Bingen in previous visits. However, we THEN took a ferry across the river to Rudesheim. This is where the fun begins. The only thing I knew about Rudesheim was that it was the location of the Asbach brewery (Asbach is a liquor that is kind of like whiskey but smoother...and it can get you very wasted. i learned that at the block party i went to a few weeks ago!! wowzers). Anyway, we arrived in Rudesheim and i was stunned at the picturesque little town. The streets were lined with shops and adorable restaurants and wineries. My negative attitude and doubts about the trip were quickly erased--especially at the sight of a specific store.

The Kathe Wohlfahrt store is a Christmas shop that is famous around Germany and apparently all around the world. I walked inside and became a child. It was AMAZING. All of these hand crafted Christmas decorations that were magical. I saw all of the old decor that my mother has had since I was first born--I saw the origin of the smoking santa and the pyramid. I smelled the old incense cones that we havent been able to find anywhere. I saw the origin of the Lion ornament that does jumping jacks when you pull its tail. It was all there--every little thing that I loved about our Oristian Christmas---everything that made our decor unique. I was SO excited.

Those of you that know me understand my obsession with Christmas. It is just one of those things that can make me smile at any moment. I have this love for Christmas that melts my pessimism and makes everything okay. Christmas carols get me through my stress at school and make me feel at home. In fact, I am listening to carols right now. I dont know what it is, but there is a magical sense of compassion and excitement that I get with the anticipation of Christmas, and it is one of my goals in life to try and keep that spirit alive all year round. I found that I am not alone in that endeavor...aparently many Germans feel the same way.

Anyway, after our venture through the Christmas store we ate an amazing lunch and then tasted ice wine. Ice wine is a very sweet wine that is usually served as a dessert wine. Bottles usually run between 70-80 bucks in the states...its good stuff. Anyway, as I understand it, the grapes are frozen while still on the vine and then when they thaw the flavor is much more condensed. It almost tastes like you are drinking white grape juice with triple sec or something. It doesnt taste like wine. Pretty crazy.

After our wine adventure we headed to what looked like an old ski lift. This lift took us over the hills covered with grape vines and up to a walking path. We took the walking path about a half mile through the forest until we came upon a HUGE statue that we had seen from the base of the hills. This statue was built in 1877 after the French-German war. It represented the rebirth of Germany and uses many symbols to emphasize the pride for the German nation. After walking about 3 miles and walking through a supposed "enchanted cave" of some prince or something (names are difficult to remember here...especially when i hear so many in a day), we made it to another ski lift that took us down to a boat...which we then took back to our starting point in Bingen. That ski lift ride was pretty much the most peaceful time ever---remember that mom?? That was our favorite, the peaceful time we had on the ski lifts when we would go up to the Sierra! So great.

Bottom line: we had a big/long day. We got back at 8 oclock w/out having had dinner, so Brian and his friend Pat decided to make a gourmet meal....seriously. Dad, you would have loved it. We started with fresh liverwurst spread on german wheat bread. Then we had garlic stuffed olives and cream cheese stuffed marinated red peppers. Then we had tomato cream soup. and THEN we had malitochin (sp?). Its like raviolis w/ pork and spinach, but the dense consistency and thick noodle wrapping makes it taste more like a potsticker. Its SOO good. Dont worry everyone...I have learned to cook a lot of this stuff---and Im sending home boxes of seasonings and ingredients so that I can share this amazing food with you all.

I guess I will leave it at that for now. Tomorrow morning we are getting brunch at a Brewery in downtown Kaiserslautern and then taking it easy (i hope) for the rest of the day. I swear, I have never eaten out this much in my life. And they wont let me pay for a dime of it! I mean, I feel like a princess or something...ridiculous! Monday all is back to normal-- Jen's mom Darlene and her niece Kathryn take off for Alabama and we begin the week as usual. Of course, then I will be off to Bavaria...the traveling has really just BEGUN!

Take care...I love you all...
bean.

ps...if any of you are interested in visiting let me know. alex is the only brave one so far!!!!! YEEHAW!

pps...today i pet bambi!!! I swear it was bambi and his family--we went to a deer park or something. it was great...i got to feed them and touch them. they are such beautiful creatures. i dont know why anyone would walk to kill something so innocent. ok...peaceout.

Hello there world...

So this past week I made it to my 8th country--Switzerland. It was actually a surprise to me because Jen hadnt told me the entire itinerary for the vacation. Anyway, it was amazing. I just have to figure out where to begin.

I guess I should start with us picking up the rental car. Jen and Brian decided that it would probably be cheaper to rent a car that would fit all 9 of us then it would to take two cars and pay for the gas on those two vehicles. sooo....we picked up a 9 passenger van. it was hilarious. sparkling silver--it looked like a space vehicle. I have a picture posted. We officially became the Brady Bunch.

Anyway, the huge van proved to be the perfect thing to make the trip. Brian has now decided that he wants to trade in their truck and buy one--hilarious. We ended up saving hundreds of dollars on gas because it takes diesel. Gas here is soooooooo expensive and its sold by the liter, not by the gallon. So we could have easily spent 200 dollars on gas, but we only ended up spending about 70 bucks. So great.

Alright...enough about the car. Our trip technically began on Tuesday with us departing to the Bodensee region, but on Monday we took the car for a test drive to legoland. It was great, but not as great as I had thought in my head. I mean, the lego creations were AMAZING! I could have been satisfied just looking at those all day. However the rides, which I was mostly looking forward to, were not quite up to par. Regardless, it was a great first trip and the start of a wonderful vacation.

So...on Tuesday we began our trip to Lake Constance. We loaded into the car at 7 a.m. with our bags packed. All was going smoothly--we had our GPS operating and were on our way to an amazing vacation when all of a sudden I hear, "Brian, pull over. Courtnie is about to get sick." Sure enough, within a few seconds, Courtnie was bawling and puking into a cup. Now, for those of you who know me well, I am scared shitless of vomit. I will do whatever I can to avoid it and stay away from it. So....immediately I opened my window and stuck my head out, sucking in the fresh air. After a few minutes on the side of the road we packed back in and were on our way. Apparently it wasnt written into the job description, but the girls tend to get carsick quite often. I just hoped that would be the only incident of the trip...and it was.

Anyway, after 3 1/2 hours of driving, we made it to Insel Mainao. I was originally under the impression that we would be going straight to our campsite and then hiking through the Island on another day. However, Jen is a believer in staying busy during vacations, so we went straight to the Island to explore.

Insel Mainao is an Island in the middle of Lake Constance that is filled with flowers and a big palace with a gorgeous chapel. Every day tourists flock to the Island to see the beatiful landscaping and the butterfly farm that have given the Island its beauty. It truly is a serene place that is perfect for laying in the grass and reading a good book. It was so romantic...I was wishing that I was there with someone to share it with.

The children proved themselves as typical annoying children. They ran around being disruptive and reuining everything in their wake. It was extremely frustrating to all of us adults that were simply trying to enjoy ourselves. After several reminders, they began to calm down and we were able to enjoy the surroundings.

After leaving the Insel, we took off to our campsite in Tengen. We had a hard time finding the place and our GPS was giving us bogus directions. However, after several U-turns, we found our way.

The campsite was AMAZING. It lay in a huge valley surrounded by wheat fields. It was truly a retreat from the world. We had rented two "caravans." When Jen told me that, I had NO idea what to expect. But I was soon to find out.

A caravan is a camper trailer. It is just like the kind that you pull behind your car. However, at this camp site, they keep them in place and allow people like us to just stop by and use them. It was amazing--we fit 6 people in one and 3 people in the other. We split it up between girls and boys. Originally Courtnie was going to stay in the guys place, but after a little crying and whining she got her way (whats new).

So, we were very hungry upon arrival and asked the lady at the front desk where we could eat. She gave us a few recommendations of good places in town (because their restaurant there on the camp site wasnt open that day). We chose a place that looked like it could accomodate both the kids and the adults and headed on our way.

When we got to the restaurant, I was the first to walk in. I said, "Noyn, bite" (nine, please). She looked at me and smiled and said that they already had a table for us. She asked if we were from the campsite and I said yes. The lady at the front desk apparently had called her and told her we were on our way. Hilarious.

I ordered schnitzel...my second one of this trip. Once again it was out of this world. SOOO good. After dinner Jen convinced us to order two things of ice cream fondue. Lets just say that it was decadent....and 150 bucks later we were out the door. The other people in the restaurant laughed as we left and were amazed at how much we Americans can eat. I swore I would never be hungry again.

The next day was AMAZING. We went to a place called Affenberg--which literally means "Monkey Mountain" in German. Upon arriving we see these HUGE white storks. They were SOOOO cool....and they were EVERYWHERE!!! I just about died...i took soooo manny pictures! Anyway, we entered the park and the adventure began. This park, mostly run by young looking college students, is a sanctuary for storchs, North African Monkeys, deer and carribou, fish, swans, ducks, frogs, and i think thats it. The monkeys were the most impressive.

As we were walking through the first part of the park, we were waiting for the monkeys to show up. Then, we started walking uphill and noticed a gate ahead. People were slowing down and dipping there hand into a huge bag of something. Once we got closer I realized that it was POPCORN....for feeding the monkeys!!!!

Basically, this park has created a mock environment for these monkeys to flourish. It is huge!! They have planted these special trees that are much like the ones found in Algeria and Morroco and have re-made the natural environment for these monkeys. Apprently, these monkeys are number 2 on the endangered species list and this park is trying to change that. As we were walking, these monkeys would just come up to us and eat out of our hands. It was truly amazing. While the kids ran ahead, we adults started doing some tests to see how smart these little creatures really were.

We took a piece of popcorn and fed it to one monkey. Then, we took a piece that had dropped on the ground and tried to feed it to him, but he wouldn't take it. So...we went to a completely different monkey--one that hadnt seen us drop it--and tried to give it to him. He wouldn't take it and proceeded to make a face of aggression toward us for even suggesting that this was a piece of popcorn that he would eat. We countinued to take two pieces of popcorn--one that was dropped and one that wasn't--and held them out to yet another monkey. He chose the one that hadnt been dropped. They were amazing!! One last test...we took the piece to another monkey and watched him as he picked off the part that had fallen on the ground and then ate the rest. I was amazed...these animals are sooooo intelligent.

After leaving the park, we moved onto another part of Lake Constance called Pfahlbau that was a re-creation of a village from 4000 B.C. Apparently, scuba archaelogists back in the 1920s found these stakes in the ground that were in an abnormal figure. After doing some carbon dating and graphing out the placement of these poles, they concluded that this was an ancient settlement from the stone age. By 1940, they had recreated the village and made a museum to go along with it, teaching people about the history of this region. It was pretty amazing, but my feet could only take so much walking. After visiting the museum for about an hour and a half, we were on our way back to the campsite. Another day packed with fun.

Upon returning to the campsite we decided to take it easy and just eat dinner there at the restaurant. We were expecting a pretty casual restaurant...after all...this was camping. But once we got in, we realized we were in for a suprise. I ordered pork tenderloin with spetzle and fresh veggies. It was amazing!! As was the gelato following the meal!! We were so impressed...and so full...again.

After the meal I conquered the playground. I have rated it number 2 in my lifetime playground experiences. Just below the West Point Elementary school playground, this playground was phenomenal. It had a hang-glider thing and a slide. It even had a tire swing--oh childhood memories!! I'll tell ya, nothing can beat wooden playgrounds. They are simply the best.

Ok...so the next morning (thursday) was our checkout day. We still hadnt made it to the pool on the campsite because we had been so busy. So that morning we picked up fresh bread at the bakery and headed to the pool. It was a great way to start the day. I did some laps, relaxed in the hot tub, and even did some tanning. All the pools here in germany are indoor (well most anyway), but they make up for that by including tanning chairs where they use special lightbulbs to tan. It was awesome.

So...I thought that after checkout we were headed straight home. WRONG. We hopped in the car around 11:45 and headed out to SWITZERLAND!! It was AWESOME! Within 20 minutes were were across the border and into some beautiful country side. We made it to Stein am Rhein, an adorable village right on the Rhein River. All of the buildings are hand painted and the roads are all cobblestone. We grabbed lunch at an Italian Restaurant where I had a tomato salad. I figured I would keep it light--too much meat over the last few days. Plus, I needed to save room to sample some swiss chocolates. We went to a few touristy shops and I bought some gifts and postcards. Sometimes I just hate being a tourist, but then I realize that its necessary. The cashier at the souvenier shop was a young (attractive) guy with a New York City shirt on. He spoke perfect english and we got to talking a bit. I found out that he had just come back from the states. He was an exchange student in Minnesota for a year and then toured through the States and loved it. So funny. Minnesota...of all places! Hilar.

After leaving Stein am Rhein, we headed out to Rheinfalls--the biggest waterfall in Europe. It was spectacular. At first I wasn't too impressed. I mean, compared to pictures of Victoria Falls and Niagra Falls, i was expecting something a bit bigger. But, once we got on the boat and were taken to the base of the falls, I was blown away--literally. We were on this puny boat that takes you right to where the water crashes and sends you flying everywhere. The boat took off before I had a seat and I went flying--it was HILARIOUS! I was happy to get on shore in one piece.

We packed up the van for the last time...got our caffeine fix...and headed out. We had no car sickness on the way home (thank god) and made it home safely. We only stopped once, to eat dinner. Im telling you, they know how to do truck stops here. They had fresh cooked meals: from shnitzel to spaghetti to pork tenderloin to mashed potatoes. I stuck with the salad--I was still full from the last two nights of AMAZING dinners.

Anyway, now I am back...safe and sound. It really does feel like this room is my room and this house is my psuedo-home. I felt that "safe" feeling when walking through the door and I slept like an angel last night. Funny how perpective can change everything.

I am sorry for those of you who I have bored with this long and endless blog, but no one forced you to read it. I feel like I left out so much...there was so much emotion during each of these little trips that I just cant portray through writing. There is too much to explain...it is a hopeless effort.

There is just a feeling of immensity here. While at the camp site in Lake Constance Jen's mom and I went for a hike toward the Swiss forest. We were walking up this hill and came upon a tree with an empty bench beneath it. I thought about who had sat there and what they had pondered. I thought about Van Gogh and how he would have appreciated the emptiness of this scene. I thought about my family and friends that would have loved to sit there and just breathe the fresh air with me. Next to the bench was this sanctuary--it was a stone with a latin inscription and a figure of Mary. I dont know what it was for, or what it meant, or who made it, but it just seemed to fit. Even if it hadnt been there, this place was already a sanctuary....and I dont mean a religious sanctuary that is filled with expectations and regulations and laws and hierarchies and politics. It was just a sanctuary to life...a place for pondering--pondering belief and meaning and love. There was no answer, no question, just ambiguity and mystery up there on top of that mountain. All around us were tiny farms run by families that were just living. And that was enough for happiness.

I hope this blog finds you well and that maybe my thoughts will trigger something within you. If you pass it off as bullshit, that is fine too. I dont mind--I am the ultimate bullshitter. I love you all and look forward to this final month and a half before returning home.

Truly,
bean.

Hey there world...

So, I had some issues with the last blog setup--hopefully this one will last me longer than two posts. We shall see.

I am having such an amazing time---I have so much to say, so much to see, so much to learn about life and experience and love and all of it. I feel like it is all just building up inside and I'll lose it if I dont write it down.

Its strange to me that I have come all the way over here just to make the simplest realizations about humanity--realizations that I could have made anywhere. I have realized that a smile can count for so much. That anyone can be a friend. That we are just a spec of a timeline. Family and friends are so important. True happiness is a point of view, only attainable with an open mind and a strong imagination.

I have also made realizations that I think I could only make here. Time spent sitting in a cafe is not time wasted--even if it may take four hours out of your day...everyday. There is no such thing as a time and place for drinking--all hours of the day are viable drinking hours. Theres nothing wrong with peeing on the side of the freeway. There is no need for air conditioning--just open the windows. Any piece of meat--even if its a heart or a liver or a lung of an animal--are capable of being made in the delectable treats. There's nothing wrong with going 140 mph on the freeway. I could go on...and Im sure I will have a long list by the end of all of this.

One of my favorite and most valuable realizations through this all has been captured through the story of Jen--the mother of the three children I am watching and the wife of Brian. Jen's story is a rough one, and one that you would never guess by seeing her cheery face and listening to her gossip with her long southern drawl. She is a classic Alabama girl--hilarious.

Jen's story is moving because it is filled with some rough times. She was one of two kids--well three if you count her cousin who was raised with her and her brother. Thats a whole other story. Anyway, Jen grew up in Tuscaloosa Alabama. Her and her brother were extremely close. I believe they were only about two years apart in age. Anyway, Im not exactly sure of the time frame, but I think Jen was just about to start college and her brother had just received a new job and was feeling really excited about it all. He was finally makin good money and decided that he was going to celebrate on his first day off. He an his buddies used to spend their days off together by going out and hunting (classic southern pasttime). Anyway, Doug (her brothers name) decided he would go out with his first pay check and buy a hunting rifle for himself as a treat. Usually he and his friends would just share...they werent serious hunters. So, he wanted to take this new gun out and celebrate and try it out, but his buddies were all working that day. So he decided to go by himself--he didnt want to waste his day off! So, he took the gun out to the forest and didnt really think anything of it. He hadn't taken the appropriate precautions of putting on the orange vest to ward off other hunters, to keep him from being mistaken for a deer or something. Doug was shot and sat there for 2 days missing while the family frantically sent out searches. He was dead.

I just about cried my tears out when I heard to story. Doug and his wife had just had a baby and he wouldnt see her grow up. The baby's name was Kathryn--she is visiting with us here in Germany right now. The effect that her father's lack of prescence in her life is apparent just by looking into her eyes and seeing the sadness that she has in her heart. Jen took it upon herself to make Kathryn feel loved. After Doug was shot, Monica (his wife) disappeared for months. She took the baby Kathryn with her and went into seclusion immediately--changing her last name back to her maiden name just 9 days after his death! As soon as they returned, Jen took it upon herself to provide daycare for the child and take night classes. That baby was all that remained of her brother.

The hardship doesnt end there. Jens mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Not the easy cure kind--the hard core/you are going to die kind. Sorry to be so blunt, but thats the way Jen's mom looks at the situation. I spoke with her about it for a long time yesterday. She was diagnosed in 1991 (i think) and has been undergoing treatment ever since. She has gone through kemotherapy and surgery after surgery. She is currently taking medication that should give her 5 more years to live. Her outlook is, "well...in five years they will have come up with technology and new medications that will give me a few more years. I'll take five more years for now." She is so positive, it is great.

She was seriously ill when Jen was being sent to Iraq back in1995 or something like that. After being in the Desert for 10 days, the American Red Cross contacted Jen and told her she had to come back immediately--her mother was in the hospital. She was provided with free transportation back to Alabama. What is ironic is that in those 10 days, Jen met Brian--the man she would end up marrying.

Well, treatment went well and Jen's mother got better for the time being. Within 6 weeks, Jen and Brian met again. They spent hours together...learned everything about each other. Except Brian withheld one important detail. While sitting on the beach one day, one of Brian's old "girl" friends walked by and said, "hey Brian! How are yOU? Hey...when you get a chance, I'd love to see a picture of your three kids!!" Jen just about shit her pants, "you have KIDS!? 3 KIDS???!!!!" And that was that. Jen freaked out, but she was in love. She love him. And at the age of 24 she adopted a 4 year old girl, 5 year old girl, and an 8 year old boy. The mother of the kids is in jail, psycho, and is only mentioned in conversations as "birth mother." Its almost as if she is some mystical figure that looms over the past of these children...it will be interesting to see how that develops as time goes on.

Anyway, that is the story of Jen. Amazing huh? She has impressed me with her wit and her love for life. Today is her birthday and I just thought it would be fun to share her story with you all. She has made me feel just so welcome here and made me realize that a mom can still be young and have fun (like you mommy!).

Life can throw us a lot of shit sometimes. Its just important that we take it for what its worth. Life is actually a lot simpler than we tend to make it with our busy lifestyles in the United States. There is morning, afternoon, and night. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Get through that with mostly smiles and you have accomplished your goal for the day. If not, there is always tomorrow.

all my love,
beth