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It was Close to the “Holidays”

The city of Frankfurt/ Germany is divided into areas or districts. The story comes from an evening close to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the “Alte Roemer” the old Roman district. Frankfurt’s tourist attraction from Roman times with the most striking cathedral, the Paulus Cathedral, art shops with works from local artists, and the most interesting and beautiful buildings with old timber architecture and artwork on the facades. The cathedral was the vocal point for us, my sister Friedl, her husband Georg, my Hal and me.  A performance of a Christmas concert. The orchestra, performing the fascinating music to captivate the audience with Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and Handel’s works. It should be touching, and give us all the guidance into the holy, and mystical Christmas holidays. These concerts, full of the meaning of Christmas always touch one far more, when performed in a church or cathedral, than on stage, in an opera house or a music hall. It is so very inspiring and for me brings out the tears.

We enjoyed the intermission with a glass of wine, conversation and our critique on the music so far. Everyone enjoyed this lovely and powerful music.

The second part of the concert brought us a wonderful surprise. We knew we would hear part of the Messiah, hopefully the Hallelujah chorus, but were astounded and surprised by the most beautiful Roman garments on the performers of the chorus. It reminded me of, many years before, when I saw “Aida.” This choir, dressed in these beautiful garments on stage in front of the large, awesome leaded and stained window as backdrop was mesmerizing and gave me goosebumps. The finale started and could not have been a better choice. “The Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah by G.F. Handel. One felt refreshed, cleansed, free and in awe.

We called for a taxi and told the driver: “Home, Darmstadt, please.” It is a 45-minute drive to Darmstadt, Friedl’s and Georg’s home. There was silence in the cab, there was thought in every one’s heart and mind.

O, Heilige Nacht

Oh, Holy Night

Sans Souci Palace in Potsdam

It was the pleasure palace of Kaiser “Emperor” Frederick the Great and it featured beautiful Rococo style architecture and a magnificent Palace Garden and vineyard that Frederick the Great had planted, terraced by the stairs. On April 14^th, 1745, the foundation stone was laid for today’s world-famous Sans souci Palace. Sans souci is a masterpiece ensemble of architecture, sculpture and garden art. Frederick the Great was the Emperor of Prussia.

It was the summer of 1943. I was 16 years old and was allowed by my mother to take the train one more time to visit my dear Aunt Frieda and Uncle Christopher in Calau, outside Cotbus, south of Berlin. The bombing situation got to be too dangerous for me to undertake this journey by train. It was a great target for the B-17 bombers. I often spent my summer vacations there, while growing up. My Uncle Christopher was a breeder of fine horses, and I loved horses and riding.

My train took me to Berlin and my father, stationed there, picked me up and before I would continue my journey to Calau I spent the day with my father. First, after arriving in Potsdam my papa took me for an awesome lunch to a restaurant called “Café Repin” near the picture gallery and Sans souci palace. A beautiful buffet was laid out in this charming and very elegant Café, of all kinds of seafood salads or seafood, grilled dishes with green or fruit salads. A very aromatic French press coffee and an endless list of wonderful desserts on a dessert menu. We had a two-hour lunch and while we enjoyed this awesome food, we loved our time together. When the afternoon sun disappeared, it was time for me to return to the train station to continue my journey to Calau, where Franz, Christopher’s driver awaited me with his horse-drawn carriage.

The drive from the Calau train station to the estate brought us through a serene forest, passing by an idyllic lake with wild geese enjoying the clear, clean water, and we arrived at Aunt Frieda’s estate. Franz took care of my luggage and after big hugs from my aunt and uncle we went into the house. Aunt Frieda and her husband were breeding and raising beautiful horses. It was a marvelous place to spend some weeks during summers. There was a pond for swimming, a wonderful meadow in which to play in or just sit, relax and daydream of one’s future, what it might yet hold for a 16-year-old girl. Or wander through the poppy fields, picking a bouquet of poppies for my aunt, only to have all the pretty red petals fall off before I would get to the house. What beautiful sight to behold, as far as the eye can see, beautiful red poppies moving in the summer’s breeze.

On Sunday afternoon I would await anxiously Aunt Frieda’s specialty for teatime. A delicious pastry my aunt called “Kalte Schnauze” cold snout. It was built in a loaf pan with alternating layers of lady fingers and chocolate ganache. Put into the refrigerator overnight and sliced into thin slices and served with whip cream. I would love it and the guests would love it. Later that year I wrote to my aunt and asked her for the recipe of this wonderful dessert. Soon a package arrived, and in it was a beautiful tin with the “real thing” a wonderful cold snout and with it, the recipe. I still to this day know the recipe and have made it many times for my dear husband Hal.

This was my last visit to my favorite place with my favorite aunt and uncle. Bombing attacks on trains in that part of Germany were very frequent and my dear mama thought it too dangerous for travelling.

The war ended and made an end to this life-long relationship. When the Russian hordes came through that pristine area in 1945 on their way to Berlin, all these beautiful estates were pilfered and burned to the ground and the families who lived there were murdered. Uncle Christopher and Aunt Frieda’s son lost his life already in Africa at the battle of El Alamein. His parents gave their lives in 1945, the end of WWII.

Sightseeing and Shopping at the “Alte Roemer” –Old Roman Sector in Frankfurt

My husband, Hal and I, Ilona had planned another visit to my sister Friedl and her husband Georg, who lived in Darmstadt/Germany south of Frankfurt. Since my Hal was reluctant to park his new car in the “long term” parking lot, Doug Hal’s brother and his wife Nancy suggested we park the car at their home in West Seattle and Nancy would drive us to Sea Tac Airport. That was very generous and very nice of them. I, therefore wanted to do something nice for them too.

As Nancy was driving us to the airport I asked her if she had a request for something we could bring her from our trip to Germany. She said if I could find a beautiful etching or Lithograph from one of the art shops in the old Roman district in Frankfurt, she would love that.

One morning during our stay at my sister’s home in Darmstadt my Hal and I decided to take the bus to Frankfurt and have a fun day there, and at the same time look for art. It was a sunny, but very cold day. After being in the bus for about half an hour, we noticed how cold it was in there. One could not feel legs and feet any longer and we still had another half hour to go. Someone asked the driver if he could turn on the heating system, please. Reluctant, the driver told us that this morning the heat went down and that he is very sorry. We had no choice but to sit there to the end. As we arrived in mid- town by the “Haupt Wache” we got off, walked across the street and into Café Kranzler. Our legs and feet were like ice, very stiff and all we could think of was a nice warm place, nice hot coffee and a tasty breakfast. We enjoyed hot, steaming, aromatic coffee and a variety of breakfast pastry, a dish of wonderful fruit and warmth. We stayed about one hour at least until we could feel our feet again and started out toward the old Roman district. We looked into the display windows of some art shops on our way to the one we were familiar with, purchasing etching and stone lithographs for our home over the years. As we walked in, all the walls, glass counters and on easels already framed ones, beautiful etchings and lithographs on display. Almost overwhelming, one salesperson and so many pieces of art.

We found several beautiful ones. We got one for our Nancy and Doug and two for us to display in our hallway. As we came outside with our treasure, we looked for a taxi to take us to the train station not the bus. Friedl and Georg liked very much what we had purchased. We had also purchased a heavy cardboard roll to carry the etchings in on our flight home.

When we arrived in Seattle, Nancy picked us up and once at their home we presented them with the etching. Their faces and smiles showed that they were pleased and happy. As we were having a conversation about our trip from Darmstadt to Frankfurt’s old Roman district I remember another journey there with my Hal, Friedl, Georg and I. A wonderful day, an experience not ever to be forgotten still so vivid in my mind and heart.

Next dramatic chapter in life

Next dramatic chapter in life…Getting glasses

It was the summer of 1980 and I– Ilona –was 53 years old. Going to and from Vancouver where we lived to Longview where I worked, I had noticed the strain on my eyes trying to read the signs on the streets, the Interstate five freeway signs and of course the work at my desk. I thought the time had come for an eye exam and most likely glasses. Oh my, I had been holding off on this… I hated glasses. Over fifty and here goes my looks, I was saying while driving to Portland for my eye exam. What comes next? False teeth, hearing aid and eventually sensible shoes?

After my exam Doctor Zell told me, exactly what I had feared. I needed glasses. I picked a gold frame; it went well with my auburn hair and the Optician ordered the lenses.

I walked a few blocks to my favorite florist, before picking up my car, to get myself a bouquet of beautiful flowers. No occasion, just because I deserved them after this drama I just went through. Luke’s Florist my favorite flower shop always had gorgeous stems of large orchid blossoms, so I picked the white with purple inside and also purchased a lovely Asian vessel where I could arrange them with some greens, when I get home. All the way home on I-5 I was crying, feeling sorry for myself, until I got home and got a big hug from my sweetheart Hal. At the dinner table my Hal wanted to know what made me cry. I told him my sad tale, we both started laughing, and I started to feel better.

In a few days on a Saturday, I picked up my glasses and after that weekend wore them driving to Longview. This was quite different. I could read all the signs on the road, the freeway, the name of the clinic I worked in and things in general looked much clearer. I was most likely embarrassed or uncomfortable about my glasses. Every time Doctor Neil came to my office to talk with me, I removed my glasses and then looked up to speak with him. After this went on for a few days Doctor Neil asked…”Ilona can’t you hear with your glasses on?” We both had a good laugh and from then on, I kept my glasses on and just got used to what was eventually inevitable.   

To be Someone