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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!

Another Evening with Harry Belafonte

It was September 1988 and my beloved husband, Hal and I were looking forward to our trip to Germany to visit my dearest sister, Friedl and her family.

It was a beautiful, sunny day as we landed at Frankfurt International Airport. My sister and her husband, Georg waited for us to clear customs. After an emotional greeting we were on our way to Darmstadt, my sister’s home. We will spend two weeks with them this time. We have tickets for Saturday evening at the Musik Haus (music hall) to enjoy the great artist Harry Belafonte. We felt very lucky to hear him again. His concert many years ago in Seattle, Washington during the “World’s Fair” at the new Opera House was a wonderful experience. My sister, Friedl, my Hal and I have never forgotten that beautiful evening.

Saturday afternoon arrived. We enjoyed a glass of champagne to toast our upcoming experience with the most beautiful music in some years, a toast to Harry Belafonte.

Dressed, not formal as the time previously in Seattle, but very nice: Friedl in a cashmere suit with chic suede high heels. Georg in a dark gray suit, white dress shirt with a silver/gray tie, very elegant. My Hal wore a brown wool/silk suit with white dress shirt and brown with silver pattern silk tie. I wore a brown silk dress with a narrow gold leather belt, long, full sleeves with gold buttons and high heels in brown suede. I thought we all looked very spiffy.

We found our seats, center and almost up to the stage and settled down in anticipation of a repeat of a great performance many years ago. Midway through the concert we enjoyed a break with conversation and a glass of a beautiful Riesling from the Mosel Valley. The second part of the concert was more relaxed, his songs more nostalgic, slower in rhythm, beautiful and sensual. Like Friedl’s and my favorite: “My Island in the sun” the lyrics bring tears to our eyes.

My Island in the sun,

willed to me by my father’s hand

all my days I will sing its praise

of your golden shores and your shining sand.

We were still humming some of the songs on the way home. It was an unforgettable evening, and so very special because it was again with, not just my Hal, but also with my very dear sister Friedl.

The dinner that evening was equally unforgettable, at least for my Hal: “Pastete” his favorite dish. It is pastry dough and layered onto are layers of Swiss Emmenthaler cheese, thinly sliced, Jambo, (French ham) thinly sliced, a layer of thinly sliced apple, on top a layer of caramelized sweet onions, thinly sliced. The dough is folded over to make a pocket and baked in the oven until golden. It was served with a green salad with tomatoes, cucumber and endive with Friedl’s own dressing. Georg brought from his cellar a white, beautiful, fruity Burgundy.

Yum!

For dessert, served in the living room, aromatic coffee and Friedl’s Rum-Baba cake, very delicious.

A wonderful vacation with my Hal and my beloved Friedl, always to remember!

Love Affair with Paris

But our choice for a retired life settled on Provence, the south of France, close to the Luberon mountains. Heavenly, mother nature in its prime, lush lavender fields, relaxed, friendly and congenial people. Sun ripened melons, beautiful, lush vines, nice fruity table wine, Truffles, delicious food and outdoor living, relaxed, a deserved life. Outdoor markets with the abundance of all your heart and taste buds could desire, offered by jolly merchants, happy to please.

Music and writing an occasional short story of love and contentment, what more could we, my beloved Hal and I wish for?

We tried our hand at an early retirement at Lake Chelan, but it was not what we had imagined. After six years we returned to our city on the West side in the State of Washington. I went back to work, it was to be for a year, but turned out to be four more years. Our plans were still open to retire in beautiful Provence. Our trips during my summer vacation, were more frequent over seas, to Germany and France. More frequent were our visits just to Germany, maybe just a few days to Paris, beginning of our trip. Mostly we visit my sister Friedl and her husband Georg. By that time they had lost their younger son, their third child. Georg was not doing well at this time and the following year he passed away. My duty now was to see my sister Friedl as often as I could manage, to give her love and support. My beloved Friedl was longing for a visit from me and my Hal. Her sad and upsetting news she had for us, she had cancer, already in the advanced stage.

Our retiring destination, sunny, beautiful Provence was put again on hold.

My beloved Friedl, my lovely sister had cancer.

I quit my job to be able to stay longer to be with my mouse, as I called her when I was tender with her all our lives. My precious Friedl died during that year.

Forgotten, at least not making plans for our retirement at this painful time in my life. It was, for me, unimaginable my life continuing without my beloved Friedl. Pain and hurt every hour of the day and often tears on my pillow during the nights. The year 2010 would again be a year with unbearable news. Thoughts of retirement for my Hal and me moved further and further away, just a glimmer, looking on the time, we first had made aloud this dream.

My Hal, my life, my light was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Visually, it already was here. The short steps, no more manly gate, not too steady in his walk and falling often. The brain-scan at the clinic showed it clearly. It was devastating news for my Hal and me.

Our love will take it in stride!

I vowed, my Hal will be mine to care for from now on until that dark day, when I will also lose him.

That day came, seven long years, but I treasured those years every day and every night. Thankful for another day I would have with my precious Hal.

I had books on Paris, the Luberon, Provence with wonderful stories, no longer our dream, but I thought reading the stories out loud by my Hal’s bedside and hoped, he could take in the romance and get some enjoyment out of it.

My Hal left me January 2017, a very dark, dark day for me. Once in a while I sit down and read a story about Paris and Provence a loud, I cry, put the thoughts out of my mind.

Right here, in America, is my love and my life, at Tahoma, Washington State and that is where I belong too.

Provence, not in the distance and memory any longer.