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The World of the Gentleman of Music

Holland, Tulip Festival and James Last

James Last, 1929 to 2015, a well known Jazz Band Leader in his early years. A composer of popular music, owns his concert orchestra and mostly traveled throughout Germany and Europe. He performed during early summer of 1979 in Holland during the tulip festival in the town of Utrecht, at the Tivoli Vredenburg. His music was very popular and loved, his style of conducting his immense orchestra, was something to enjoy. The music was catching and one would love to sing along. The orchestra was fascinating and the individual selections up-beat. This concert was set-up also to produce an album. My Hal already decided to look for this album, when we get home.

The concert lasted more than four hours and the selections too many to remember all, but I recall some: Mon Amour from Romance, Comment ça va, Paloma Blanca, all beautiful music, beautiful rhythm. The orchestra and James Last changed their attire quite often during their performance, from  black tuxes to white, to yellow suits, colorful shirts. Different colors up on stage, different mood in music.

Georg and my Hal talked about going to hear the concert as soon as we arrived at their home. Georg mentioned that it would be great, if we could make a detour first to the Mosel Valley, exploring wineries, the delicious young Rieslings, of course with great food. Then drive through to Holland, take in this special concert and then come through some of the Rhine River valley, and home. This sounded wonderful, we all four loved this idea.

We had a toast to this happy plan with a glass of Georg’s fine champagne and a slice of Friedl’s apple kuchen. A great beginning to our two week vacation.

Our first stop, a little Hamlet by the Mosel River for two nights, a lot of sightseeing, wineries, restaurants and wine tasting. Georg made a slight change to the sequence of our original plan.

The drive from the Mosel to the Rhine was beautiful, a sunny and warm day, spectacular scenery and the occupants in the car were very happy.

After two days in the little town, Ruedesheim, again exploring  wineries, wine tasting and terrific food, we packed the car and headed for Holland. Beautiful country side, gorgeous weather, quaint houses along the canals. The outdoor concert started early afternoon and lasted about four hours. It was stimulating, beautiful and the music lasted in our hearts and minds still the next day as we started our journey home. But not before we had tasted the great food, and of course great wine. Not the whites from this region, it had to be a red to compliment our food. Germany, Holland and the area around here produce the finest whites, a Riesling especially, but no reds. It was a French wine from the Burgundy region, not far from here.

When the plates arrived, they looked like a piece of art. In the center of large plates, little golden, crisp potato pancakes, overlapping. Next sliced thin, tenderloin roast, nice and brown on the outside with a perfect reduction sauce, pan de-glazed with a fine Burgundy, and golden, fragrant chanterelle mushrooms with a little clarified herb butter over them. The dinner and the wine were wonderful, like the atmosphere around the table. We enjoyed about two hours in this cozy place, when we realized we have a drive ahead of us and we should be on our way. We were sad to leave.

On the drive home, it was pretty quiet in the car. Every one had their own thoughts and no one wanted to disturb it. There was so much to remember, so much to relive and so much emotion from this beautiful concert. 

My Sister Friedl’s Wedding Day

It was March the 2^nd 1945 and it was my beloved sister Friedl’s 20^th Birthday and also her and Horst’s wedding day. It was to be at the Paulus Cathedral, the only church restored, partially, to be used for sermons and weddings after the total destruction of our beautiful city September 11^th 1944. This church could only be used in good weather, since it was just outer walls, no ceiling, no windows and only cleaned of rubble partially, chairs lined up, where pews once were. 

Today is this very special day. My father is home to see his daughter Friedl and his very good friend Horst joining in marriage. After the beautiful ceremony the couple walked out of the Cathedral under an arc of swords to their limo to begin a lifetime together, hopefully with this cruel war ending soon. 

We all gathered at our parents’ beautiful home, decorated with white lilac, great catered dinner and mama made a traditional “Bowle” for drinks, consisting of sliced peaches soaked in Cognac over night. A large crystal bowl, filled with champagne, the peaches added. Served in open, flat glasses before dinner. 

Our mama engaged a group of musicians who would provide the music after dinner for dancing. The musicians were set-up in the foyer, where the grand piano was and the dance floor spilling over, into the dining and living rooms. Every one seemed to have a great time and had, for a fleeting moment forgotten about the war, thinking of their future, hoping that peace would come very soon. 

I, Ilona, Friedl’s younger sister, 17 years old, not getting married, not having a gentleman friend, just wishing to dance. I had tasted, sampled quite a few peaches, therefore I was very happy and had the courage to get up on the large, round onycs-topped table in the center of the foyer, and started to dance – I could tell that the group were playing a Tango – my favorite. Dressed in a Burgundy velvet dress, long sleeves with pearl buttons up to the elbow, fitted and long, low-cut back, very striking. I had changed into my dance shoes. My hair, in a French braid, down one side. Ready to dance. The dancing couples stopped, watched and applauded. As I was getting applaus from the guests, my mama entered and saw me. She came close to the table, looked up at me and with a smile said: “come down sweetheart it is time for you to go to bed.” 

I realized I had over-done it just a bit, stepped down, gave my mama a kiss, went upstairs and to bed. The music and laughter lasted until I fell a sleep. 

The music was interrupted by a courier, a young officer with urgent orders for Horst and his four companions to return to the Western front for one more offensive against the approaching allied forces at the border of Holland. A departure of four guests and the groom stopped the festivities. My beloved sister Friedl came into our room, crying. I tried to console her, but did not know what to say, so I held her close and let her cry. 

My sister woke up as daylight was approaching and we both went downstairs. Our mama, Mrs. Kramer with her younger sister Marga and Mrs. Nietsche were sitting in the dining room with a cup of coffee, with tired faces and tears still staining their cheeks. The guests all had left and our father was waiting for his driver to take him to the train to get back to Berlin. 

For how long we were wondering? We knew, that Germany could not hold off the advance of the allied forces much longer – but how long? 

Would my dearest sister hear from Horst, her bridegroom soon? 

Such a sad and tragic ending to a most beautiful wedding. 

As it turned out, the ugly and cruel war was over in May, but NO news from Horst. A visit of two officers at our home gave Friedl the grim and devastating news. None of the officers made it to their unit, that meant, they were caught by artillery approaching the front and none of them made it. My beloved sister, a beautiful bride and on the same day became a widow. 

Vienna 1999: Johann Strauss Gala Concert

My husband, Hal and I, Ilona had plans to fly to Germany in mid May to celebrate my birthday. My beloved sister, Friedl and her husband, Georg had purchased tickets for my Birthday to a Johann Strauss Gala Concert in Vienna. It will be an exciting evening, guest conductor Zubin Mehta outdoors at the Helden Platz “Heroes Plaza”. Guest performers José Carreras, tenor and Andrea Rost, soprano. On both sides of this large building were two TV screens so the spectators in the far back on this vast grassy area were able to see the orchestra and performance on the outdoor stage. This extensive, half round building has high above large statues of horses and riders, very stunning and majestic. 

One can see art and enormous, beautiful buildings and spectacular statues throughout Vienna, an old and most beautiful city in Austria. 

Old, elegant Cafe’s and restaurants like the well known Cafe Sacher in the Sacher Hotel. 

Another special place to secure tickets for is the Hofburg, the home and the arena for the World famous Lippizaner horses, the beautiful, white stallions. 

This evening’s performance will bring waltzes, polkas and marches, like during their televised New Years concerts every year we always watched and did not tire of. Not the music. Not the orchestra. 

The first piece of the orchestra was, Wiener Blut (Vienna blood) followed by Die Fledermaus (the bat). Then came in a great tempo a Csardas, the type of dance. The beautiful Loreley song, from a beautiful saga by the Rhine River about a maiden, calling out to her lover as ships past. A catching polka followed about a Nachtigal (nightingale) and love, sung in duet by José Carreras and Andrea Rost, beautiful and touching. 

The concert finished, like always, with a catchy march, The Radetsky March. Just to name a few pieces for this outstanding and exciting evening at the Heroe’s Plaza in Vienna. A feast for the heart and soul, an evening not ever to forget. 

We spent a night at the Sacher Hotel, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner; a beautiful prime rib with a dark, shiny sauce made with a fine Bordeaux wine in it, green asparagus and little potato balls, served right by our table with a fine, matured Bordeaux and for dessert we had the famous “Sacher Torte”. We had a good night’s rest and the following day we did some sight seeing in a carriage with beautiful horses throughout Vienna, the city and some beautiful parks, before we went on the bullet train back to Germany. We all four had a wonderful two-week visit together, with our favorite food, especially Friedl’s desserts, good conversation and lots of love. 

A great birthday gift, a warm and loving visit in this beginning of summer 1999. To be thankful, grateful and happy to my beloved Friedl and husband Georg. Never to forget. 

 

December 24^th in the United States of America

Referred to as Christmas Eve. When I was growing up, until 1954 when I came here, we in Germany referred to it as “Heilige Nacht”. The reason and the most important part of Christmas, “Holy Night”, the Birthday of our Jesus Christ.

For eight years now I tried very hard to come through this night, not even talking about being somewhat happy and not just sitting in my little apartment crying and longing for my beloved husband, Hal of 64 happy years, who died after a long illness right after Christmas eight years ago.

If the question is: “are you getting over it, is it getting easier”? NO, I am not getting over this pain, nor does it get easier.

So this year I thought about it for a while and decided to share my pain with others here who lost someone or they need to share their celebration with me. We made plans to get together here in our community room between 6:00PM and 7:00PM. I baked some savory, little goodies, had baked a cake, my Hal’s favorite cake, out of Vincent Price “A Treasury of Recipes”. The cake coming out of the oven, still hot, gets a syrup of Orange juice, sugar and Grand Marnier poured over it.

YUM!

Yelena, a good friend of ours here on the first floor will bring the Champagne and we were ready to celebrate “Holy Night”. I had wrapped all the little gifts, attached Christmas cards for every one that might come and join us.

We all gathered, enjoyed the food and the cake with the Champagne. The conversation was lively, the happy faces of Yelena, Glenda, Brett, Bonnie, John, Glenn and myself showed how much this was needed and I myself did not once look for a clock, not important to see how slowly or how fast it moved.

Why did I not think of this before?

I have been here eight years now and suffered loneliness, pain and longing every one of these beautiful “Holy Nights”. I found a solution for changing my ways. Friends!

It is all about friends, and having them is the secret to overcome the sadness, loneliness and that lost feeling we all get, after loosing our loved ones. I am positive that the reason and purpose of my 98 years on this Earth is due to all the friends I gathered, while on this Earth, otherwise how could I have managed to gather that many years?

Friends are the reason.

The follow-up for this special night came today on Christmas Day. I had a visit from a dear, dear friend, Dorothy with her niece, who is a Sister and came to visit Dorothy for Christmas. Dorothy had been quite ill and still did not have her strength back, but this visit from her lovely niece perked her up and she seems so happy having her stay a while. She is a wonderful lady with a wonderful sense of humor, she could make all the problems, we humans seem to gather go away, just by her presence. I really cherished today’s visit and I am not only happy, I am so grateful!

Friends, always the answer.

 My Lovely Friend for 45 years and More 

The year was 1980, my Hal finally had gotten his long awaited transfer back to his beloved Seattle. We had found a beautiful Condo on the east side of Seattle in the outskirts of Bellevue, Cougar Mountain, all in trees Townhomes. It had everything we had wanted. 

My Hal, while visiting his Ophthalmologist Dr. Milam had found me a job and after my interview with their manager, I knew I would like this job: I would again be working with numbers, accounting, the kind of work I like. The first few days, sitting in a corner in the hallway by a desk writing on a spreadsheet the numbers from the fee slips patients would give me on their way out and tallying them up at night. I also could observe the doctors going by and their assistants coming through with patients, going to different rooms. Some would give me a glance or a smile. 

I noticed one special assistant, as I found out in a few days, that she was the assistant of Dr. Reavelle, a lady named Karin. 

I liked her the minute I saw her. She was quiet, dignified and reminded me of my beloved sister Friedl. She wore a mid-leg length, two piece knitted dress in light brown, she had black hair, a nice figure and carried herself like my Friedl. I would love to meet her, talk with her and get to know her in time. 

Time went on and I got my wish. 

I met Karin – we met, talked and made eye contact when she would come out of her corner. We had nice conversations when she was between patients or on a break. I had such interest in Karin that I told my husband Hal about her. As we became acquainted, I looked forward to see Karin on the days she worked for Dr. Reavelle. 

It developed into a wonderful friendship while I was working there over the years. We would get together outside our workplace, enjoy shopping, style shows, lunches or a glass of bubbly together at the newly built Hyatt Hotel. All the wonderful things one does with a loving friend or sister. But since Karin was thirty years younger than I, it was more like a wonderful daughter. We spent hours together, laughing, talking, shopping in Seattle and never got tired spending quality time together. 

After 14 years I retired, the first time, but we stayed friends. It was then a great friendship between Karin, her wonderful husband Karl, me and my Hal. We had many memories together. I went back to work at the Eye Clinic some more years after my beloved Friedl died. Karin, my dearest friend had asked me. It helped me tremendously to manage my grief. Finally I retired and settled into that life, but our friendship continued, we got to be a happy circle of four great friends. Dinners at either homes, dinners out, maybe an evening at a concert or at the Rep. Theater in Seattle or an evening visiting together. 

Now, in my final years having lost my Hal eight years ago, feeling sad and lonely at times, Karin is always there in thought and often in person and with Karl. 

I am writing short stories for a website, another dear friend who had invited me to do this to keep my days filled with something meaningful and enjoyable for me. When the stories appear I can always count on Karin to write something nice or something complementing into the comment column. Karin is a lot of times the only one. 

Karin and Karl live now a three hour drive away from me, but they do come and visit me most times when they drive across the mountain passes to visit their family members or their friends.  

A 45 year friendship! A long and loving time in my life, which started with a glimpse of a lady in a brown knit dress, reminding me of my beloved Friedl. How Karin has enriched my life and still does. Soon, we can say, we have had this loving bond 46 wonderful years! 

Thank you from the heart my dearest Karin and Karl! You have enriched my life in so many ways. 

Germany 1938 Christmas

I, Ilona, was eleven years old, my sister, Friedl was thirteen years old and my brother, Wolfgang was seventeen years old. As it turned out, it was our last Christmas all together since my brother came home from School in Sonthofen, located south in the Alpine Mountains. A big University where he also learned to fly Gliders.

At that time, we were not aware that our lives would dramatically change with our new leadership of Adolf Hitler.

This will be a wonderful Advent season, since we had quite a bit of snow already. What we looked forward to was that our Mrs. Kramer had her younger sister, Marga, coming to visit her for the Christmas Holidays.

She was a lovely lady, just like our Mrs. Kramer. She will be here until December 27^th when she takes the train home to Baden Baden in the Black Forest.

Mama and Mrs. Kramer had wonderful plans made for the Christmas days, December 24^th, 25^th and 26^th. Of course my father agreed with their plan.

Today, the work in our kitchen was going full speed, since we are having our Christmas dinner, also we are celebrating Marga’s arrival. She is coming by train and our papa will take Mrs. Kramer to pick up her sister to come here. Our mama, Friedl and I will pick up a Herren Torte at Mr. Espenschied’s Patisserie. This glorious confection will be the centerpiece on our Christmas dessert table. It is four layers of Genois cake, in between layers of coffee crème and on the top all around the outer edge, little swans of Pâte à choux dough, filled with coffee crème. 

It is stunning to look at and delicious to eat. The dinner will be Goose, crispy outside, well done and moist inside with a very delicious paté filling. A wonderful flavored sauce, white asparagus and a casserole of potatoe/apples à gratin on the side. Our papa will bring from his wine cellar the appropriate wine. Every body is looking forward and hungry for this great dinner tonight.

Tomorrow morning we will be packing up the cars, ours and Mrs. Kramer’s with the Christmas gifts, enough warm clothing , boots, skis for papa, Marga and my brother. Our destination is in the Taunus Mountains, a most beautiful ski resort, a wonderful Hotel, we will stay in for December24, 25^th and 26^th. My papa, Wolfgang and Marga will go skiing, while mama, Mrs. Kramer, Friedl and I will be spoiled in the Hotel Spa and after, we will sit by a big fireplace with music in the back ground and being served “Gluehwein.” (A heated wine with orange slices, cloves and cinnamon sticks.) Friedl and I will enjoy hot chocolate of course. YUM.

The snow coming down outside as it is getting dark. Wonderful conversation, laughter and love. Later, in the evening we will all enjoy the Christmas Concert of the Messiah in the Cathedral down in the city. A glorious Christmas, good food for stomach, soul and senses, and family with lots of love. A Christmas we all will remember for many years to come.

Good and kind that we can not anticipate what Christmas 1939 has in store for our family.

Advent Season and Heilige Nacht (Holy Night)

Right after Thanks Giving here in the United States, Europe starts the  season of Advent and preparations for Christmas festivities go on full swing. Goodies for the Advent Sundays are making their appearance and with that the good smells coming from the kitchen and for afternoon tea time wonders appear along with beautiful wreath decorated and with four big candles in the center of the dining and kitchen tables. Each Sunday one candle is lit. There are four Sundays during Advent. The front door also gets beautiful decorations and of course the large foyer is beautifully dressed in Christmas attire. A gorgeous Chinese vessel holds three white Poinsettias decorating the Grand Piano and the center table holding a Lalique vessel with white French tulips and some evergreens.

Growing up with these activities and holiday transformations we enjoyed very much because of what followed in just a few weeks: Heilige Nacht (Holy Night), Jesus’ Birthday when the beautiful tall Noble Fir will appear to be decorated and beautify the living room.

The main attraction for my brother, Wolfgang, my sister, Friedl and me was always our “grocery store” while we were growing up. It had a counter, behind was shelving with little drawers. It was always freshly painted and filled with eatable things, food made from Marzipan. Miniature loaves of bread, miniature Broetchen (little rolls). On the counter was a scale and little paper bags to pack up what our friends had chosen. One of us would stand behind the counter to serve our friends, our customers. Hopeful we have learned over time, not to eat all of what we had in little paper bags at once or our tummies would feel bad. But one forgets by next Christmas and repeat it again. The rule that followed, we could not eat any of it, until we had our supper.

The fun part of it was really not the eating, it was the friends who would love to pick the marzipan confections to take home and share. Christmas eve our mama, our father, Mrs. Kramer and Mrs. Nietsche would be our customers in our little store. The big surprise was for us, they paid!

Die Rosen Hoehe (The Rose Hill Park)

I, Ilona, am painting a picture with words of a most beautiful park in the city of Darmstadt in the state of Hessen, a Dukedom in Germany up until 1933, when Germany became a dictator ship under Adolf Hitler, becoming the chancellor, appointed by the Emperor Friedrich the Great, after Germany’s complete destruction during WWI in 1918.

The Grand Duke and his family still remained our Gross Herzog (Grand Duke) but no longer in power, just as our Symbol, highly respected and honored. The beautiful park on the hill of the Artist Colony had a grand entry of a sculpted iron gate with tall pillars, on top each pillar a Lion, the code of arms of the grand Duke’s family. Going through this beautiful, ornate entry, one may pause by a white/blue little house, the amazing interior kept up by the family with dolls, furniture and fresh flowers. It was the play house of Princess Elisabeth. A rich and ever lasting history to be proud of.

The Garden is a symphony of flowers, alabaster statues and white crushed rock, rolled, a soft, firm walk on your feet. Benches to sit and dream and continue on to the far end of the park. Here we are standing in front of a grave side of a beautiful child, Elisabeth the youngest daughter of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig.

Before WWII started, the whole family were flying to a royal wedding in England for the princess of the family in Darmstadt. There were three sisters in the Duke’s family. His wife, her sister who married into the British royalty and the third sister who had married the Russian Czar, the Czarina Alexandra. On their way to England the plane crashed and killed all on board, Elisabeth, the little girl, not being with the family on the plane, later died also. The story that was told, she died of poisoning. A very tragic story ending part of the Grand Duke’s family.

They left behind the most beautiful and artistic buildings, parks and endless memories to the people of Darmstadt.

1. The entry to the Rose Hill Park.

2. The play house of Princess Elisabeth.

3. The Graveside of Princess Elisabeth.

4. The funeral procession of the royal family. Horses, pulling a flat truck with all the coffins, draped completely, coming up the Rhine Street to end at the Rose Hill Park.

Halloween

It was 1980 and my Hal was notified by AT&T that we were being transferred back to Seattle October 30th. We had been waiting in anticipation for this day for 10 years, since this transfer from Seattle to Longview and Vancouver was only supposed to be for two years and it ended up to be almost 13 years. I had been working all these years for two wonderful Doctors in their Clinic as manager and accountant. I drove from Vancouver, our home every day to Longview and back to Vancouver.

The two doctors were wonderful to work for, but they were very strict and conservative on how the nurses, technicians and employees in bookkeeping should dress and appear. The nurses especially should be dressed professional in white uniforms, dresses not pants and white nurses shoes. I was the person who purchased them in Portland in a uniform shop. It got harder each time to find the white nurses dresses. My last trip there – no more dresses, they were replaced with tops and pants, but luckily they were white, which made it a little easier to present to Dr. Neal, the older of the two brothers. His word was law in the clinic.

I had a difficult conversation with him, but the outcome was, he had to give in. The requirement though, his last word: “They have to be white not these McDonalds colors.” After a deep breath I went on my way, relieved.

In another few years I had to confront Dr. Neal again, this time no more white tops! Unless we could have them special made, they would now be in color. I chose solid color, like navy blue or light blue, dark green or maroon. So far, they were accepted by Dr. Neal, I could take a deep breath and went on my way.

I am telling all this for a reason. My last day of work would also be Halloween. I thought to bring it to a lighter side, since I was very sad to leave my Doctors nor did they wanted me to go, they offered me an Apartment in their building and a car to stay during the week and drive home to Seattle for the weekend. My thought was to dress up for Halloween but not sure as what. I went to a party shop in Portland to look around . I found a Witches Costume, all the trimmings, a tall, pointed hat, a big ugly nose with gold-rimmed glasses attached, a black

robe, a dress held together with a rope and a broom. I rented it for two days.

My Hal was out of town for his job and will come back that night of Halloween and I will pick him up at the Portland Airport. Time after work was short, so I left the costume on. Walking through the Portland Air Port, I got a lot of looks, laughter and “thumbs up” Hal did not recognize me at first, but when he did, he was shaking his head in disbelieve.

On Halloween day I left Vancouver in my costume and drove to Longview, hoping I would not be stopped by a Trooper.

I got to Longview and went directly to the Montecello Hotel where we gathered with both Doctors for breakfast and a meeting. No one recognized me, when I walked in, but as I took off my hat, the nose with glasses, they all stood up and gave me a heartwarming ovation, even Dr. Neal.

It turned out not to be a sad and heavy meeting, but lighter and congenial. I took a deep breath and listened.

Memories of Germany

One of our many summer destinations in Darmstadt, Germany: (Der Woog) the lake Woog (in English pronounced with a long O). A most beautiful, landscaped and prepared lake for swimming, cold clear water for swimming, jumping from a high tower and swimming lanes marked for events and competition. An island in the center with an area of white sand for relaxing and taking in the sun, cabins for changing to bathing suits and showers for after swimming. It was in the outskirts of the city, a 15 minute streetcar ride from the center of the city. A beautiful, park-like area with orange-colored stucco buildings with flats for our city employees, like Professors at our Universities and city government. Landscaped with beautiful gardens with exotic trees, colorful flowers, little ponds with water-lillys and a lot of benches to rest and take in these colorful surroundings.

Once one realized at a certain age, the treasures we had right here in the city and the surroundings all reachable by street car, one could enjoy and treasure all this beauty, but… there always seems to be a “but” at the finish of a sentence like this.

I was born in 1927 and these beautiful wonders, gifts from our Seat of Power, the Duchy of Hessen, our Grand Duke and Duchess to the State of Hessen and the City of Darmstadt we were privileged to live, play and enjoy all the beauty surrounding us. Until 1939 when our lives were forced into a different direction. Dictatorship in Germany in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came to power not much did change for me up until then, we enjoyed all these gifts with gratitude toward our Royal Family until we lost it one by one when WWII and the bombings of cities started. Being children, we did realize then what we once had and now lost.

Two weeks of summer vacation from school, sunshine, swimming in the Woog, visiting the Gardens of the L’Orangerie, feeding the ducks in that beautiful pond in the Herren Garden with carefully saved crumbs in a napkin from our afternoon tea at the outdoor cafe in the Garden with our Mrs. Kramer.

Another memory is our trips to the island of Ruegen with mama, our Mrs. Kramer, my dear sister Friedl and me. Once at home, summer was still present and we could enjoy swimming at that beautiful lake Woog. We sometimes got to go by ourselves, but were told by Mrs. Kramer:

“stay safe, don’t stay too many hours in the water and get overly tired, come home safe and in time before supper”. We made the most and the best of our time – in the water. At some evenings we realized, when getting out of the water to get showered and dressed, that our lips were blue. Being aware, that was contrary to our orders we had received by our Mrs. Kramer, so we made a point on the way home to run, keep the blood pumping and not to forget to “bite our lips”. Mostly, it worked. Arrived at the correct time and looked very refreshed and smiling.

Reward from mama and our Mrs. Kramer? Big hugs!