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André Rieu Summer Concert in Seattle

Our dearest friends, Karin and Karl, joined my husband, Hal and me, Ilona, in this never-to-forget concert in Seattle with the well-known violinist André Rieu and his amazing orchestra. We got together for a nice supper in our apartment in Bellevue first.

I set a festive and inviting table and my Hal served the champagne. I had made a baked Brie with the most delicious D’Affinois, triple cream French cheese and a homemade, melt-in-your mouth crust. On top of the crust, I put a cut out of a music note to get our attention to this upcoming, exciting concert, we were privileged to hear tonight.

It was to be so much more to hear it with our dear beloved friends Karl and Karin. It was a lovely way to spend an evening and it only could have been more romantic if it had been outdoors like it is in the summers in Europe. Like a beautiful summer night with a little cool breeze, sounds at times by little birds visiting, or an owl up in a tree. Getting cool by the second part of the concert and one would feel good, wrapping a large shawl around one’s shoulders or a little jacket, a beautiful cashmere scarf, taking the chill away, but also it would look smart. What keeps one warm too is the rhythm and tempo of Rieu’s music.

But here in the Seattle area we have an opera house, a music hall or sport stadium arena. No beautiful park, sound of water from a fountain or a grassy meadow.

We had our seats up high, the sight of the individual players not too clear, but it was a concert, not an opera or operetta or stage play, one just sits back and enjoys the beautiful music. They had also large screens on both sides of the stage to give the audience a clear view. The concert was entertaining, mesmerizing and gave us all a warm and wonderful feeling.

The Rieu concerts shown on television always attract a lot of viewers, listeners and people with love in their hearts and souls. This was a gift, a wonderful fairytale emotion. It stayed in our hearts during and after the concert, on our way home and a long while into the future. I was still humming the tune of some of the selections of this lovely music the following days.

Bravo! Mr. André Rieu.

My Realization

It was February 14^th, 1954, Frankfurt/Germany. I, Ilona, had gotten married to a wonderful American gentleman, Halvor Le Grand Cole on November 14^th, 1953. My new husband, Hal, had served his three years and according to a law of the Armed Forces, marrying a German national, the soldier then must leave Germany. Hal’s three years were up, December 6^th and he was shipped out from Bremer Haven with a troop ship going back to the United States, Seattle, Washington, his home.

I had to wait until after we were married for my Visa and entry permit into the United States, which sometimes takes six to eight months. But my waiting time should be shorter, since I worked for the American Armed forces, General Eisenhower’s Supreme Allied Command Headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, and for that job I had been cleared for classified and top-secret work.

The call from the American Consulate came in on February 14^th for me to come by, that my application was approved, my Visa was ready, and my voyage could now be scheduled.

I asked my Colonel if I could have an hour off and told him the reason. He of course said yes, and had his Aid drive me to the consulate, and the Aid waited and brought me back to the office. I had a wonderful boss, a very nice Colonel I worked for, for over five years. My interview at the consulate went well in the beginning, all my paperwork was complete, but when it came to my “travel plan” I was told that the first dependent ship that would have a space for me would sail in May and if an American dependent would want it, I would be bumped.

I called my Hal with this news and told him that it would be a while. He was not happy, and we decided that I would get a ticket with TWA and fly from Frankfurt to New York and a domestic flight to Seattle in the State of Washington, my Hal’s home and my new home. The first flight I got a seat on was February 26^th leaving from Frankfurt International Airport.

On a Friday afternoon I received a phone call from the TWA office, here in Frankfurt, to come by to pick up my ticket and seating assignment. I left work and, to relax a bit, I walked from the headquarters building through a beautiful park through the center of the city and right before the train station was TWA.

As I entered, a nice lady waved at me to come to her window.

I suddenly, like a bolt of lightning struck me, realized what I had done!

I could not believe what I had done!

I started crying and the lady, thinking I feared flying, came out from behind her window, put her arm around me and walked me over to a seating area to sit down. She wanted to give me assurance that flying would be safe, not to fear, “it is safer than driving on the Autobahn (Free Way) every day.”

 I assured the nice lady that I would be alright and asked her if it was fine with her if I walked to the train station to take my train home. She asked if I was alright to go by myself or she would send someone with me to accompany me to my train.

I left with my ticket, still crying, saying to myself “What have I done?” Everything seemed to move so quickly, getting to meet that wonderful man, Sgt. Halvor LeGrand Cole, getting to know him, becoming great friends, falling in love, a very touching proposal, designing my wedding dress, getting married, all are wonderful happenings. A beautiful long dream!

Now comes the reality: I must leave my home, I must leave my beloved sister behind and my dearest father, who not long ago returned from a prisoner-of-war camp in Siberia. My heart was shattering and hurting, I kept crying all the way home during my train ride, I could not stop.

When I arrived at the Darmstadt train station, I stopped at the flower shop to purchase some dark purple “March Violets,” my dearest sister’s favorite little flower. The lady put a beautiful Biedermeier bouquet together, tied with a dark purple silk ribbon and big bow. The fragrance was heavenly. My dearest sister, my Friedl, will love them.

I was walking home; it took longer, and I needed the time to compose myself. When I arrived at my sister Friedl’s home and rang the bell, my Friedl opened the door, and I could see in her eyes and on her face that she too had been doing the same, crying, all day. We both looked at each other, put our arms around each other and cried. I told her how sorry, how

heartbroken I was to leave her behind.

That evening was very quiet, my dearest sister Friedl nor I spoke a word, we just sat together holding hands, looking at the sweet bouquet of dark purple violets in a little Asian vase, letting our tears dry. Each in our own thoughts.

Frederika’s Birthday Party

Picture below: Friedl at 16

My dear mama, Mrs. Nietsche, and our governess Mrs. Kramer were all together planning a big party for my lovely sister Friedl, I called her my mouse when I was tender with her. It was her seventeenth birthday.

The foyer featured the grand piano and a most awesome Chinese screen in Chinese red lacquer, carved with gold and black figures and scenes, standing behind the piano, cutting off the view from the side entrance, kitchen, and guest bathroom doors.

In the center was a large, round table with an onyx top, holding a beautiful Lalique vessel filled with seasonal flowers. The floor was highly polished wood, inlayed toward the center forming a star. This was the place, always decorated first. It was the entry into this lovely home. The home of two sisters Friedl and Ilona.

White fragrant lilac in two floor vases, inserted, a branch of large orchid blossoms in white with a touch of green. On the center table, a Lalique vessel held some more of these breathtaking white orchid stems. A large chandelier coming down in the center glistening, the light and atmosphere in this space was calming. The space around the table was for the young people coming to the celebration to dance. Mrs. Kramer or mama will play the piano.

The dining room table had also been decorated with white lilac and the same orchids on a white organdy tablecloth with a rose-colored underlay. The beautiful Meissen China looked lovely on that. Everything looked festive.

The two ladies, mama and Mrs. Nietsche, departed into the kitchen to create magic, the food. A variety of “melt in your mouth” tarts and some vol-au-vents (puff pastry pockets) filled with cheese and spinach and some with lobster and a gruyere cheese crème or shrimp in a white wine crème. Little quiches with pear and blue cheese or jambo (French ham) and Swiss Emmenthaler cheese. A large bowl with pear, blue cheese and chopped pecans, fresh dill and fresh parsley salad. A tray with freshly baked, small brioche rolls, served with sweet butter.

The first guests started to arrive. Some lady friends of Friedl’s, Liesl the lady we went with on our escapade to the Odenwald (Ode to a Forrest) and a wonderful swimming facility and on the way home we dared and snitched cherries fresh of the trees and got sick. Irmgard, the good friend of Friedl’s who always goes to the opera with Friedl, now both have season tickets for a box. Two young men, Philip, and David along with another friend of Friedl’s, Eva arrived. Philip, her brother and David, Philip’s friend.

Two more young ladies from finishing school came a little late. Margot and Anna, living in Bensheim by the Berg Strasse, that beautiful “mountain road” that runs along and through a fertile valley with orchards of peach, cherry, and plum trees, all the way to the old and beautiful city of Heidelberg. The two ladies came by streetcar and walked the rest of the way.

Now, the festivities can begin! I went upstairs to my room to study and do my homework. The beautiful piano music though kept me from doing my schoolwork, so I sat on my window seat, looked out on to the beautiful garden and the fountain, still dressed in their winter mode, and listened to the mesmerizing music. Mrs. Nietsche and my mama brought up a tray for me, laden with a variety of tarts and a wonderful vol-au-vent and mama had a plate with a piece of her delectable “Torte Sorano”. The base of this torte is many layers of almond meringue with layers of praline crème in between. Powdered sugar on top and topped with edible flowers, dipped in egg whites, sugar and dried. A symphony!

I sat with my “Bearly” my Steiff bear and enjoyed the music, the satisfying food and this dessert! The homework was right now not on my mind.

That evening after Friedl’s party and all her guests had gone, our conversation around the dinner table was about the Birthday Party. Friedl was one young, happy lady. I was incredibly happy for my dearest sister.

This was 1942 and our future would only hold heartache and sorrow. Enjoying this day, this precious moment of happiness was well earned and well received.

Happy birthday my dearest beloved Friedl!

My Doll, Named Dale

Quite some time ago, I told a short story about a beautiful, large ragdoll.

How excited I was when I was told about many different dolls.

How fast I climbed the stairs to the extra space in a loft for all kind of French and Italian items the owner of the shop purchased.   

How I reacted in finding just the right doll.

How fast I gave the doll her name.

One look at the doll and she to me was the image of my dearest, beloved sister. All that it existed of was linen material, yarn for the hair and big brown button eyes, yet she represented for me an image, a clear vision of my sister, I lost long ago, but still had her in my heart. She was to me, my Dale. The shop was in Portland, Oregon and at that time my husband Hal and I lived in Vancouver, Washington. It was one of my favorite stores. Certain times a year, the owner, Kathleen Rockwell travelled to Europe in search of very beautiful and unusual items, had them shipped and offered them in her beautiful store. On her last trip she discovered beautiful dolls in France, and she told me about them, when I came to visit her store.

Now I would like to tell the story of how the name “Dale” came about.

In Germany, depending on the geographical location and (Dialect) one would be able to describe the item, a noun, with attaching the ending of: “chen, le, or lein on the noun to tell if this item is small, petit, little or cute. For instance, if I would want to describe a small, petite or cute dog, I could just use the noun dog “Hund” and end it in chen, le, or lein. Like a Hundchen, Hundele or Hundelein. Just the noun transformed with these endings. My sister Frederika’s name was for a small child rather hard to properly pronounce. So, my father who took “his little lady” in the car quite often, shopping for lovely items for her, used the shortened version of Frederika, Frieda.

And since she was only maybe three, four or five, he would use the ending for little or cute and her name would be Friedale. When my sister started to talk, she would of course only grasp part of this name: Dale. When I came into this family and started speaking, hearing this name Dale, for me then, she was always Dale. As my sister grew up and the Name Dale or Friedale was no longer suitable for her and Frieda interfered with one of my mother’s sister’s names, it was changed to Friedl.

But for me, in my mind and in my heart this very important lady in my life always has been “My Dale”.

The doll Dale has always been admired. How a doll made from only linen, yarn and big buttons can possess such attractiveness and personality is hard to explain, but my Hal’s sister Bev fell in love with her too.

Two Christmas’ ago, I dressed Dale in a white linin dress, red ribbon with a big bow around her waist and in her yarn-hair both sides, big red bows.

 I surprised my beloved Bev with this lovely gift, my Dale.

Little Anecdotes and Memories

In the years from 1968 to 1992 I worked at two different Doctor’s offices, not as medical assistant but on the accounting side, manager, accountant, bureaucrat and billing clerk. Jobs, doctors do not appreciate, but have to have and must support.

AT&T transferred my husband, Hal, from Seattle to Longview, Washington and later to Vancouver, Washington.

As times before, after every transfer I had to give up my job and in the new location I had to find another. 1968 came and my Hal had to report to his new job as the manager of the communication department of Pacific Northwest Bell Co.

We found a beautiful apartment at “The Huntington” right by a park and within walking distance to downtown. Next to our apartment lived a lovely lady, named Janet. When she found out that I had knowledge in accounting and experience to set up an office with a great accounting system, she asked if I would be willing to use my knowledge and come to work for her dear friends, two brothers, doctors who had a clinic in town, but could not find competent people to establish and run an office.

Janet told me they were great doctors and wonderful people and her dear friends. After she kept asking me and stressed the part that they cannot find people to establish an office, that would yield more money, competent bookkeeping and a correct and timely insurance billing system, I gave in and went with her to meet both doctors, the older brother Neal and his younger brother Wendell.

After an interview, the older brother walked out with Janet and me and asked: “Ilona when can you start?”

That evening I talked it over with my Hal and decided that I would begin my new position in an unknown field, medicine. I was rewarded for my decision. It was a very busy clinic and as I already could tell, I had a lot of clean-up, progress and big changes to make, which I enjoyed.

The doctors and nurses’ staff were very appreciative of the work I tackled right away. To modernize and streamline this office and to automate the insurance billing was the first step. There was no interference from either doctor on any suggestions I made and presented to them. These two brothers, Janet’s friends, were nice people, as Janet had told me.

After 12 years, The Kirkpatrick Clinic was a proud clinic for the two wonderful doctors, especially Dr. Neal, the older brother. When a new doctor opened his practice in town, Neal would volunteer me for my service to set up an accounting system, modeled by his.

After 12 years, my Hal was again transferred, this time back to Seattle. It was the end of October and Hal had an appointment for an eye exam with his ophthalmologist in Bellevue. When he returned, he asked: “Would you like a job?”

I had a double garage full of boxes to unpack, but since there was an offer, I should at least check it out. By the 1^st of November I started my new job as bookkeeper. Again, I had a big job, clean-up! Progress and change!

After I became manager, I was free to make more changes, but I had to show restraint and patience, I did not deal with the same caliber of men as I had in Longview. They were still with three doctors on a Peg-board system, after disappointment in a very expensive computer due to the incompetence of office employees. Getting a sophisticated computer is not an answer to a messy office, it will not clear the mess, it will only make it faster. They also had tried an on-line computer firm and that too showed how inapt this bookkeeping office was. The printouts of corrections on the month-end reports gotten longer, more pages, month after month, no one knew how to correct the original mistakes.

After months of explanations, discussions and pleading about the benefits of a computer, combined with computer savvy people, with the help of one of the younger doctors I was allowed to purchase an IBM personal computer, they just came on the market. I got busy with studying the software manuals and started to program an accounting system onto the computer. All was working well, but I ran into a big problem with the printer. The computer would not recognize the printer. I worked for days on it but could not fix it.

My husband Hal, knowledgeable in programming and computer software, was my answer. I shall ask him to help me with this dilemma, so I would be able to give the three doctors a legible and easy to understand printout at the end of this month and every month.

I went home that night with high hopes that my Hal will get me on the right track with this problem. At the dinner table I explained it all to him and hoped he would volunteer and come by the office to show me. After I explained it all to him, his answer to me was: “Read your manual.”

Well, after this disappointing answer that evening I studied until late and by the end of the next day, one could hear the printer in Ilona’s office, printing out the day’s accounting work!

Kudos to the manual, kudos to Ilona!

Hal’s Birthday Celebration

My husband Hal’s birthday present was a great success. His birthday celebration with friends tonight will equally be great. We invited his dear old friends who also have keen interests collecting antique guns, beautiful old rifles or pistols. Kurt and Ruth, Ronnie and Esther, Richard and Marilyn were our guests. I had the narrow pull-out table brought up to my husband’s library, it will easily seat eight people.

On Hal’s desk I displayed the beautiful mahogany box with the two John Manton dualling pistols and all the tools in pristine condition in it, next to it, the leather case for the boxed set. For my Hal and for our guests this will be an unbelievable treasure.

The friends of Hal’s could not believe how easy it was to secure this set and how lucky Hal was with the amount of his bid.

Everything worked like clockwork, once Hal decided to take this chance. It was easy and not stressful to work with the Auction House Christie’s in London by phone or fax. But more precise, prompt and accurate than now with e-mails and internet. No glitches like now with temperamental computers, one could miss the time for the bidding and be disqualified. The description in Christie’s catalogue about these fine dualling pistols was not overstated they are exactly as they were pictured and called: “Property of a Gentleman”, precious old guns, even still the key for the box, all in pristine condition.”

Hal was like a little boy, who peeked at his Christmas present to find out that it was what he wished for.

By the side of the desk on the floor I had a most beautiful Haviland floor vase. In it I purchased white lilac branches and with it five beautiful pink “Bird of Paradise” flowers from Hawaii. On the white tablecloth I made a bed of white lilac branches spread out on the table and into the lilac I pulled a celadon green silk ribbon and inserted pink roses.

By every serviette I put a pink rose bud, the guests could take home. I used my white Rosenthal China “Magic Flute” all white with a sculpted rim of the images of characters from the operetta and underneath these large dinner plates on the rim the Libretto text of the operetta “Zauber Floete” (Magic Flute) with gold handwriting by the designer of this awesome China, Bjorn Wiinblad.

Beautiful glasses and silver flatware added sparkle. My table was inviting and ready. My dinner, prime rib with all the trimmings, a wonderful sauce, made with half a cup of fine “Opus One” wine and white asparagus and little potatoes, braised in clarified butter on the side. For this tasty dinner my Hal opened a bottle of an elegant, full bodied “OPUS ONE”. Everyone enjoyed the dinner, one could tell, it got very quiet.

For dessert I had made from white Toblerone chocolate a creamy mousse and served a Melba sauce (fresh raspberry sauce) on the side and my wonderful Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee.

Owning these precious old pistols, this excellent dinner and the wine and sharing it with wonderful friends, what more could a Gentleman wish for?

Wiesbaden, a Beautiful City of Spas

After graduating from the University in 1948 I had an offer to model for a Furrier, located in Frankfurt/Germany. Later, as the city of Darmstadt was being rebuilt, they opened a store there. My city of Darmstadt was destroyed by a bombing raid 9-11-1944. I accepted this job offer, it was mainly weekends when we had to travel and give a show of all the new styles, different pieces and different furs.

I joined the group, and we showed the newest models of fur to an excited audience. The city of Wiesbaden was the place we mostly had to travel to. It was a bus ride of only one hour. The “Kur Hotel”, Spa Hotel was the venue for most of our style shows. They had, in a large auditorium, a stage where we would show the most beautiful creations in fur.

Sometimes we would model at the “Kur Kasino” (Casino) in Wiesbaden. It was a striking, stately building of gilded marble with large columns by the entry. We had a stage inside in a large room with several beautiful chandeliers, red velvet upholstery on the chairs for our audience, and music in the background. After the show we would be allowed, as guests, to enter the casino to watch, or if we were brave enough to play a game.

Formal attire was required when entering the Casino. Several times when we entered, I would see this gentil old lady, I would sit beside her. She was well groomed, well dressed, and she held a little beaded purse on her lap, open. Inside was a big roll of money. She was always at the same table, roulette. She was by herself, she would not engage in any conversation, her eyes were fixed on the game.

I wondered if she was a widow gambling her husband’s fortune away, or she was a self-sufficient, self-assured woman all her life and this money is her savings and now her recreation or hobby. In order to gamble there, one’s finances would be checked, and one would be thoroughly vetted, before joining this club. We were only allowed to join for the evening of a show, just as a courtesy.

This all came to a stop when I met a wonderful young American at the place of my job, American Armed Forces Headquarters, General Eisenhower’s Supreme Allied Command Headquarters in Frankfurt. I was secretary to the Communication officer. I did not want to spend my weekends modeling any longer, if I could spend them with Hal.

We developed a wonderful friendship, fell in love and Hal put in the paperwork to the State Department for permission to get married. We married in November 1953. My Hal’s time in the Army was ending in December and he had to leave to come back to Seattle, Washington, his home. I kept on working, waiting for my visa and entry permit to join my husband Hal in my new country at the end of February 1954. I became a United States citizen in 1957.

My Hal and I visited my sister Friedl and her family during the Christmas season of 1963 for seven weeks. During that time, I visited the new fur salon they had opened in Darmstadt. I had designed a garment for myself of fur and wanted, first, to greet my former friend and employer and order this garment to be custom made. It was to be of black Russian Broadtail in the style of a bloused sweater with V-neck and long sleeves. Both trimmed in black leather. I took my design to the store and ordered it.

While we were visiting for seven weeks, this garment could be custom made. The sweater was full and bloused, to wear over a sweater or a nice silk blouse. I had, in dark green, a beautiful wool gabardine skirt, with a slit in the back with French pleats showing. It will make a striking and elegant ensemble. Our seven weeks stretched over Advent time, Christmas and New Year. We had a wonderful time and my Hal got to know well my dear sister Friedl, her husband Georg and their two little boys, Joachim and the younger one, Rainald, called Kiki.

We travelled to the Burgundy region and the Champagne area of France. We visited other Cities in Germany, Wiesbaden, a beautiful place and Frankfurt. We saw for a day mama’s younger sister Katja in the idyllic Odenwald (Ode to a forest) and Aunt Lilli with her sister Anita and her brother Georg. They lived together in a beautifully furnished flat in Darmstadt. Their brother Georg had an antique shop and dealt in beautiful antiques, furniture, old grandfather clocks, beautiful inlaid wood desks, chests in rare wood, exquisite chairs, tables with onyx tops or wood inlays, sterling silver items, antique monogrammed sterling silver pieces and crystal vases. Some beautiful Asian art, silk screens, small furnishings and ornate pottery. Anything to furnish a gorgeous home.

It was a warm and wonderful vacation for my Hal, my dear Friedl and her lovely family and for me. A time in our lives we will always cherish and remember. It was a tremendous help for me, to get over my homesickness for my beloved Mouse, my dearest sister, my Friedl.

A Weekend in Beautiful Munich

Hal and I had planned a summer vacation to Germany. We received a letter from my father’s very good friend Peppi inviting us to meet with him in Munich. Date and time and the name of the hotel we would stay in. We flew to the airport close to Munich, took a taxi to our hotel, freshened up and changed clothes and went to the hotel bar to meet with Peppi. We enjoyed a drink together and talked of the reason we had this meeting. Peppi was so excited, had tears in his eyes and gave me a big hug. He brought out the papers from his attaché case, let me read them and we discussed maybe in the morning, during breakfast here in the hotel we could get the Notary with two witnesses to join us for completing this legal paperwork. This visit with Peppi was twofold. He wanted to see me and Hal. It had been a long while since our last meeting, my father, Peppi, my Hal and I at Lake Starnberg, sailing together my father’s 12-metre sloop, the beautiful “Anmut.” Peppi was my father’s very best friend, his deckhand on the “Anmut.” Peppi invited Hal and me to a weekend of sightseeing and exploring this city of Munich, a beautiful and great city with many interesting sites to explore. Downtown Munich, if we would be interested to do some shopping. A most beautiful and serene park, Nymphenburger Park with a large lake, a big fountain and a little castle with the same name and very fine porcelain with the same name on display inside. On the lake we could watch three beautiful swans, one black and two white swans. We could visit some of the awesome churches and cathedrals with all their splendor inside and decades of history. It was Peppi’s treat for Hal and me.

Peppi was reminiscing with my Hal about our last sailing weekend with my dear beloved papa and how well Hal took to the lady, bringing her out and into her slip. Peppi said: “like a true sailor.” A wonderful memory of a time in our lives never to return. Peppi revealed his plan for the weekend and told us that tomorrow early evening he had arranged to get our food and drink from the Hotel kitchen to take to the October Wiese, “October meadow” a vast area of grassy landscape with the large statue of Bavaria standing guard. A big stage was set up and we would hear a summer concert, which sounded great!

Today was filled with a little shopping downtown in the Theatiner Gasse (Theatine Street) a very well-known street with the finest stores, I loved to browse in and pick some little gifts for my sister Friedl, her husband Georg, the boys and my Hal. A lingerie shop caught my attention and a wonderful purchase for Friedl followed me out of the store. A stunning silk pajama by Donna Karan and on the perfume counter I noticed a little black velvet pouch and inside, a gold sculpted little container, shaped like a flower/blossom with pressed parfum powder by Donna Karan, Cashmere fragrance, I knew Friedl would love.

For my Hal and for Georg each a great Dunhill pipe. For the boys we found in a book/music store a beautiful, appointed album with vinyls of “all nine Symphonies of Beethoven’s” they surely will love. A great chocolate shop got my attention, as we came around the corner and I fulfilled MY wishes in there. Brandy or liqueur filled chocolates from different manufacturers, and I had a taste for quite a few of them.

We were in awe, seeing the inside of several Catholic churches and a cathedral with all its splendor across from a wonderful Café. We took the elevator up. We were seated by the window, the café was on the 7^th floor of the building, the view was amazing and spectacular, one could see much of Munich, while enjoying good coffee and one of their delectable desserts. We discussed this evening with Peppi and had to admit that my Hal and I both were tired and would love to finish this day a little early. It was for Hal and me a very long day after our 12-hour flight. Peppi understood and suggested we all go back by taxi to our hotel and Hal and I order something from room service, so we could be comfortable and go to bed early.

We got together by the dining room entry for breakfast the next morning. We were seated and the concierge from the hotel arrived,   accompanied by a notary and from the hotel staff two witnesses. Hal invited them to our table and had them join us for breakfast. The paperwork that needed to be completed was right there in front of me. My father had decided, after discussing it with his personal lawyer and me to will his 12-metre sloop “Anmut” moored at Lake Starnberg along with her slip, all sailing equipment, main sail, jib and spinnaker to Peter (Peppi) Solo, my father’s sailing partner and dear friend. This statement was now notarized and needs my signature as my father’s legal representative for his estate. My dear beloved father gifted his lady “Anmut” to his dear friend of many years, his sailing partner, deckhand and caretaker of “Anmut” all year round for more than 30 years. This was a legal transfer of title and a great gift. Our dear friend Peppi was so happy, tears were shining in his eyes.

This sunny day, just starting for the three of us, we decided to spend the afternoon by the pool. People watch with a nice drink and good conversation or a little cat nap before we get dressed for this evening’s concert. Peppi picked up the basket with food and drink from the hotel kitchen. There was foie gras, French baguette and sweet butter, a small, round, delicious Brillat-Savarin triple cream cheese, excellent. Three half-bottles of fine French champagne, a big bunch of sweet, ripe grapes, sweet tiny pickles and green olives filled with blanched almonds.

The concert was awesome, and we still talked about it as the limo let us out by our hotel. We were still humming tunes on the way to our rooms. We said a warm good night and were looking forward to a good night’s sleep and to our breakfast in the morning. For Hal and me, a flight to Frankfurt to meet my beloved sister Friedl and Georg and for Peppi a train trip to his home, and lady Anmut’s home in Starnberg.

The good news we will have for Friedl is Mission accomplished!

A Trip to Baden Baden: World Famous City of Spas

Baden Baden: A beautiful, picturesque city in the Black Forest. Twelve natural springs well up from a depth of 2000 metres, supplying thermal spas with 68C hot spring water to pamper visitors from around the world clear back to Roman times.

My Hal and I had waited with anticipation for this year’s vacation. We are flying to Germany and planning to take a trip with my sister Friedl and her husband Georg to the Black Forest, the beautiful city of Baden Baden. We will meet our dear friends, while there, Kurt and Ruth Pieper, who lived in the United States for over forty years, working for Boeing airplane manufacturing company in Seattle, Washington. After Kurt retired, they came back to Germany to live. They now live outside the city of Karlsruhe not far from Baden Baden.

We had purchased tickets for all six of us for a concert at the Festival Hall, with a capacity of 2500 seats, one of the largest classical music venues in Europe. Guest conductor will be Claudio Abbado, the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, who has died in 2013 at the age of 80. Sounds exhilarating and food for the soul.

Speaking of food: After we arrived and met with Kurt and Ruth, we had reservations in a wonderful restaurant. There was an attractive and picturesque courtyard outside all glass front of the dining room. In the center was a large fountain, white crushed rock around it with numerous flowerpots, that showed off all different color, beautiful Rhododendrons and blooming Azaelia’s and garden art. Tables were set very festive, music playing softly in the background and the guests could choose to be served inside or in this paradise outside. We were seated by the fountain and the lovely music made this very idyllic and relaxing. We started our lunch with lively conversation and a bottle of bubbly. The Pieper’s, of course, wanted to know anything new about Seattle and the State of Washington and I thought for a moment I recognized some longing and nostalgia, at least from Kurt, regretting a little that they left.

The waiter came to our table to discuss the chef’s delicious choices for today. Very intrigued we were about one of the appetizers: The chef, from fresh foie gras had prepared a smooth, like velvet, warm mousse and served with little wedges of brioche bread. The mousse was very rich but was served in small ramekins. The main course was just as delicious and special. Veal tenderloins, filled with walnuts, cranberries and apple finely chopped in a béchamel sauce, served with white asparagus, heated in clarified butter with fresh dill. My Hal and George ordered the wine, a beautiful crisp German Riesling and it was heaven! No one could even think of dessert, so we ended this feast with an espresso, one sugar cube and a curl of orange rind. We had several hours until the concert, so we started to walk along the tree-lined main street, through the park and to the Festival Hall. The most beautiful ground about this stately building. Flood lights were already shining on this old building, and it looked impressive! Hal took a lot of pictures we will enjoy looking at once we are home again and want to bring our memories back to this wonderful journey.

The evening was unforgettable in a stately old place with a lot of history. A first-rate orchestra and a great guest conductor, Claudia Abbado. When he entered the stage, the whole Festive Hall erupted in applause and standing ovation. The music was touching, mesmerizing and one did not want this evening to end. Beethoven’s fifth symphony had the audience on their feet. It was a once in a lifetime experience and will stay in my heart and memory for ever. I have, in thought only, a little idiosyncrasy on keeping and storing all wonderful journeys, depending on beauty, importance, lasting power and endearment. The way to store them, and to save them to peek at them now and then.

This journey is worthy of the finest and most beautiful box, awesome ribbon and much tenderness and gratitude for ownership of this lovely experience. It shall always be in my heart and mind.    

SCHUETZEN FEST (Long Rifle skeet and target Competition)

It was the beginning of summer 1941. I was fourteen years old. My aunt Frieda and uncle Christopher called to get permission for me to come during my summer vacation in the last two weeks of August. There will be a festivity called Schuetzen Fest, a competition of skeet and target shooting with the most beautiful custom-made long rifles and in the Calau area it is happening every four years. They thought I would surely enjoy it. All the participants, men with titles, are very proud of their rifles and very serious about this sport. Uncle Christopher was thinking that I would enjoy watching. It is a lot of fun.

My mama thought it over and considered that this war could last a long time and I would not be able to see my favorite aunt any longer, so she gave her permission, if she could be assured that Franz, their driver, would pick me up at the Calau train station. Of course he would, for the safety of Ilona, Franz would be right at the train. So, the date and time was set up. The month of August arrived and after the second week Ilona got ready for her long journey. I arrived at the Calau train station and as I got off the train, I saw Franz waiting by the entry of the station. After our greeting, a big hug, we got into the car and before we started out Franz had a big thermos with ice cold lemonade. We drank some and then started out into the beautiful forest and to the estate. The greeting was with big hugs and thanking me for making this long journey all by myself.

The Schuetzenfest (the rifle competition) will start this coming weekend and in the open meadow, not far from Uncle Christopher’s estate, they will have the targets, the stands for the shooters and the booths with fun entertainment and all the lights set up. When my aunt Frieda and I arrived on Saturday the festival was already in full swing. We joined uncle Christopher by his set-up for skeet shooting today and tomorrow the shooters will switch places and Uncle Christopher will be at a stand with his beautiful Schuetzen rifle for the target shooting competition.

During the lunchtime break food and drink were being delivered and all shooters could visit with their families. After, I was invited to try my skill in target shooting. I was scared and very nervous. These shooters are the elite of long rifle enthusiasts and I, only fourteen years old, have not had the practice in order to be “showing off” here. Other than when I would go with my father to his gun club, which was not often. I took three chances and did not hit the target. So, my dear uncle convinced me, I needed another chance, that the first three were practice runs. Number four! Bull’s eye! I received a big hug from my uncle and aunt, they were proud of me.

My uncle’s Schuetzen rifle was specifically made for him, and it was a beauty! It was not custom-made for me. It did not fit my underarm perfectly. The wood on this long rifle could hold its own to any special piece of fine furniture. The gun was in every way first rate, and so were the shooters.

A lovely summer vacation, not to forget, ever.