I started playing violin when I was seven years old. I had decided I wanted to play this very specific instrument much to the chagrin of the adults around me. We had an amazing piano teacher who lived in the community…didn’t I want to play piano? I don’t know if it was because I was…
Lockdown lite week 6
Here we are…Monday again. Week 6 of our current state of lockdown. This week it was released that we will be in lockdown until Jan. 10th at the least. When that was announced, even though expected, it did feel heavy to some extent. This week brought a few milestones as I have written about and…
Advent 2, St. Nicholas Day and working in a shop (big milestone living here)
Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. Advent 2. The Sunday where we light the second candle, the candle of Peace. Oh Lord, could we use some peace these days, right? It seems as though we are having to make decisions and are stressed around every corner. It is exhausting and yet studies show that…
Lockdown week 5
This last week brought us Thanksgiving, a US holiday that has problematic beginnings but has become a day to eat and give thanks, while recognizing what has happened before us and educating ourselves. For this Thanksgiving, my dear friend who is part of our bubble and lives close and is German wanted to celebrate in…
Lockdown Lite Week 4
Today marks the beginning of lockdown lite week 4 in Berlin. This week the officials are supposed to gather again to talk about whether we stay in lockdown for longer. My hunch is that we will. Cases haven’t really gone down all that much. This week I have also been realizing more and more that…
While you were sleeping…
One of my favorite holiday movies is the movie, “While you were sleeping.” It is the story of Lucy who is without family while she lives in the bustling city of Chicago and works for public transit. One day, the man that she had been flirting with/secretly in love with but not really, was mugged…
Lockdown Lite Week 3
Today is Monday, the first day of the third week of Lockdown Lite in Germany. How are we coping? All weekend we snuggled in and made time for long walks, meditation, the first episode of the new season of the Crown, good food and of course our bubbles on Friday ritual for the pandemic. Lockdown…
Wise words from the 5yo
Saturdays are just about my favorite day of the week and not for the reason you might suspect. Yes, it is the weekend and the world gets a little more lax although not much about my Saturday changes from other days of my week under lockdown lite. I love that Ana gets to spend the…
The constant art of “Wait and See”
For the past couple of days I have been spending quite a bit of time dealing with German Bureaucracy and trying to look at future plans for the holidays. Both an arduous process right now. First German Bureaucracy… I think just about everyone knows that Ana and I are trying to get married in the…
Lanterns in the world
Yesterday was significant for a few reasons…. In the US it was Veteran’s Day. I have such mixed emotions about this day. My grandfather, my dad’s dad was a veteran. I never got to meet him. He passed when my dad was a preteen but I have heard stories about him all of my life….
