Tags
Berlin, Cobblestone, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, growing up, History, memories, Opa, Relationships, Remember
To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die ~ Thomas Campbell
I remember walking with you early one morning.
My hand in yours we chatted about nothing and everything on the cobblestone road.
Brotchen for breakfast and a beer in a paper bag
“Shh,” you told me, “…it’s our secret.” – I nodded my reply.
I remember sitting at your feet asking questions
listening to your stories, absorbing every word.
Hungry for the old stories about the war
About our family history.
I wished we didn’t live so far apart.
Yet my memories are so precious and held treasured in my heart
I remember your face, how small in stature, how thin you were
and how you amazed me that time you walked up the stairs on your hands.
The sound of your laugh and how your eyes twinkled.
I remember the last time I saw you
As our taxi pulled away
I turned and looked out the back window
You stood in the middle of the road
Crying as if you knew it was goodbye.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
That was so long ago but sometimes I still miss you Opa
talktodiana 
Pingback: The Rest of the Story | talktodiana
Lovely post. I remember leaving my mom’s father – my Granddaddy as they say in the south. I had only met him 3 times and as I drove away I watched him wipe his eyes – it was the last time I would see him. I wish I knew him better.
LikeLike
Yes I saw my grandparents on both sides a handful of times…I think we miss out when families are disconnected whether by geography or otherwise.
LikeLike
Wow amazing man. I read all the comments too, beautiful stories and further memories that you shared. Very poignant piece, has got reminiscing now!
LikeLike
thanks my dear! A little reminiscing is good for the soul sometimes! Who did it bring to mind for you?
LikeLike
Wanted to comment but managed to only like, then kids jumped in :D……..This is beautiful Diana! I can feel the love.
LikeLike
He was a cool guy. He won a bronze medal in the olympics in the 1920s in track and field – that’s why he could walk up the stairs on his hands!
LikeLike
Ah yes, I have fond memories of my grandfather as well, and special times just he and I. I was seven when he died, Interesting that you said your grandfather used to drink. Apparently so did mine. I did not find out about that until my grandmother’s funeral 10 years after he had died. My aunts and uncles started talking about it, and I was taken aback. As a child I had never noticed that side of him at all.
LikeLike
The war took its toll. Were your grandparents in Germany as well?
LikeLike
My grandfather of English stock was in the first world war. Yes he was at the front. All my uncles and my father were in the second world war, in Europe and SW Pacific. Apparently my grandfather was gassed in the war, and he changed. So my grandmother was the strong resilient one and brought up her nine children mainly on welfare, as my grandfather found little work in the depression etc and apparently used to drink whatever he earned anyway. So i found out this as a 17 year old, because until my grandmother died no-one spoke of these dark pieces in respect of my grandmother who remained loyal to my grandfather and to the memories of the man that he was before the war changed him.
LikeLike
Wow what a story! Your grandfather was gassed and survived?
LikeLike
Yes, it wasn’t the ‘gassing’ as in the holocaust type of gassing; but rather the leaking of and breathing in of toxic fumes when holed up in confined places.
LikeLike
oh wow, that’s horrible!
LikeLike
sweet story, it made me think of mom and dad although when they were separated it was by plane and their goodbye was not permanent. I loved having brotchen for breakfast – fresh baked with butter and jam! 😉
LikeLike
I loved brotchen in Germany too! I don’t get brotchen here in Canada but I do shop for only 2-3 days at a time. I actually save money doing that because I’m buying for meals and so I don’t get a lot of extras that just end up sitting in the pantry forever!
xo
LikeLike
I can still smell the fresh baked brotchen…not much extra here either for special treats, but when I can I buy kaiser rolls although they are not the same thing.
LikeLike
What a sensitive and beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing your memories 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for stopping by and commenting Carolyn! It’s amazing to me how previous generations leave their mark and become part of what you pass on to future generations. 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely…so dear. What a wonderful memory to have to call upon from time to time.
LikeLike
thank you Bonnie and yes it is… ❤
LikeLike
oh… 😦
LikeLike
They’re good memories that I like to visit. 🙂
LikeLike
I know , I just felt sad..I think when I read things like that, happy as they are, I feel sad for my own losses as well if that makes sense?
LikeLike
Yeah, it makes perfect sense. They’re never really gone – they are woven into us.
xo
Diana
LikeLike
This was cripping and wonderful and make me think of my pop
LikeLike
Sounds like there might be a story about Pop?
LikeLike
This is for you http://yourinnerfeathersbyruby.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/best-moment-award-2-thank-you/ 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much Ruby! ❤
LikeLike
I thank you personally for all the inspiration, many hugs and love to you! 😀
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Great post, Diane.
It reminds me of …my 84 yr. old father. He’s still alive but he has prostate cancer. He is with my mother in Toronto. He gave me (his 54 yr. old daughter) a car lift to the subway station last year…it made me cry…it’s a habit of his whenever I visit my parents in Toronto. To give me a car lift and to say good-bye. He is also a naturally small framed person.
He is not on chemotherapy…and it weren’t for his cancer, he has no heart, respiratory, etc. problems. It is another reason why I do cycle and stay healthy: a person suffers less, if they have less multiple /simultaneous diseases as they age.
I will be visiting Toronto to see my family (I have a huge one) this spring.
I also thought of my partner’s mother who passed away at 93. She (and he) are of German descent. So elements of your post bring back memories.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your story with me Jean. Your Dad sounds like a proud and good man. Family is so precious, isn’t it? I hope you enjoy your spring trip to Toronto!
LikeLike
a fine tribute to one you loved.
LikeLike
Thanks Bill he was a cool grandpa!
LikeLike
This is exquisitely beautiful — and yes, it brought a tear to my eye too.
LikeLike
There’s something about getting older that brings me back to childhood memories sometimes… My Opa was sadly an alcoholic and when he was older a half a beer would do him in. I can’t imagine he was easy to live with and my Oma (who used to share egg liquor with chocolate shavings with me) and my Great Aunt (who gave my brother and I lots of money everytime we visited Germany) would pick on him. Even back then, I was a champion for the underdog! You would have liked him Louise – he was a great story-teller!
LikeLike
Ohhhh damn.. now you’ve brought a tear to my eye… what a lovely dedication… I love this post…
LikeLike
(smiling) thank you
LikeLike