There and Back Again

Well, yes, that was the alternate title of the J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel, The Hobbit, over-filmed over the last three years by Peter Jackson. But it serves as a reasonably good title for my first post since last Monday ... brief though it will be.

Once again, thanks to all of you who expressed your condolences on the deaths of Agnes's and my fathers, by comment, e-mail, card, letter, and Facebook post. You are truly great friends, virtual or not. We just got back from Germany on Saturday night, and my brain is still not quite sure what time zone it's in, so I'm just going to share with you a few brief observations about the last week. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

1) It was as cold in Germany as I ever remember it being, and I lived there a long time. On the day of the funeral for Agnes's father, it was so cold and windy that the holy water in the bowl at the cemetery froze .. the celebrant had to break the sprinkler loose from the sheet of ice that had formed around it in the short time the water had been out in front of the burial niche.

2) A large and loving family is a treasure beyond price. So are good friends, live and virtual.

3) Germans are always amazed when they find that an American speaks their language. When we went through passport control in Frankfurt on our way home on Saturday, my passport was inspected by a young female police officer. She asked where I'd learned to speak German, and I told her that I'd studied it in college and had a German wife. She replied that it could be dangerous to have a German wife (and the officer at the next window agreed with her). I said that it was not that bad, and that Agnes didn't hit me more than twice a day. The second officer said that was pretty good, and I was lucky. The first one stamped my passport and started to hand it back, then quickly pulled it away and asked if I wouldn't rather stay in Germany ... I told her that it would be too dangerous not to go back. Agnes, of course, was standing on the other side of the barricade (having gone through the EU-citizens line rather than the darned foreigners line) listening to the whole thing. That was interesting ... not everyone manages to joke with the inspectors at passport control!

4) German beer is wonderful.

5) So is German food.

6) German trains have gone downhill considerably over the years since the system was privatized. When I arrived in Frankfurt on Thursday morning I bought my ticket to Singen and headed for the right platform ... where I was met with an announcement that the train had been cancelled. I waited for the Ersatzzug (replacement train) for about 20 minutes, long enough to miss my connection in Stuttgart* and ensure that I arrived in Singen nearly two hours behind schedule ... bad enough, but when your trip is only two days long, it's extra annoying.

7) When you leave Washington on Wednesday afternoon, arrive in Germany Thursday morning, attend a funeral on Friday afternoon, and fly back to the States on Saturday, it really messes with your body clock.

8) I am still jetlagged and am running out of coherent thought, so I'll quit here while I'm ahead.

Have a good day. More (and, hopefully, more coherent) thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

* If you are traveling by train in Germany, avoid the Stuttgart main station at all costs. I can tell you stories that would curl your hair.

I Will Be Taking a Break from Blogging This Week

I want to take a moment to thank all of you who expressed your condolences over the past few days for the death of my father. Your comments posted to this blog, on Facebook, and in personal e-mails and notes were a source of comfort and solace in a difficult time.

As those of you who are my friends on Facebook already know, Agnes's father passed away this past Friday, the day we buried my father. I will be flying to Germany on Wednesday to attend his funeral, returning home with Agnes on Saturday.

With all of this, I find myself temporarily unable to concentrate and produce the sort of posts you have come to expect and ... hopefully ... enjoy, and in any case, I will not be able to count on regular Internet connectivity from Wednesday through Saturday. Therefore, I'll be taking a break from blogging until Monday, February 9th. I apologize for the interruption, but I don't think my heart and brain would be in it this week, even if I were here. If you're with me on Facebook, check there ... I'll try to post an occasional short note as I have the opportunity and the connectivity.

Have a good day and a great week, and I'll see you in this space again next Monday.

More thoughts then.

Bilbo

The Things You Learn About Your Readers...

Over the life of this blog, I've managed to build up a stable (and I use the word advisedly on several levels) of regular readers whose comments I always eagerly await and enjoy. I've learned a lot about you, Dear Readers, in that time ... but you can still surprise me.

Yesterday, I took a serious virtual beating from some of you over one line in my post: I wrote: "...I'll take Nessa for a walk and then go to work. It's too early to drink."

The comments were not long in coming.

Gilahi wrote: "I'm sorry, sometimes I just don't understand some of the nonsensical sentences that show up here."

Banister commented: "It's never too early to drink. For an otherwise brilliant man you can say some of the dumbest things!"

Margaret (Peggy or Peg, Too) fired back: "Too early to drink? My grandmother always told me that it's 5 o'clock somewhere. How did you not learn this as a child?"

And Mike noted, characteristically: "That's why I sleep until noon. So it's not to early to drink."

You guys are the best! Your point is noted and appreciated (particularly since living here in Disneyland-on-the-Potomac will drive anyone to drink), and I am hanging my head in digital shame for my unfortunate comment. Of course, it is only 5:10 in the morning as I write this, and the coffee seems a bit better to toast you with than the gin and tonic I will surely enjoy after a stimulating day at the office ... nevertheless, I appreciate that the sun is over the yardarm somewhere, so enjoy the beverage of your choice.

Gilahi and I have enjoyed several happy hours swilling beverages and solving the world's problems (or, at least, making them no worse) ... if you find yourself in the DC metro area and are interested in doing the same, the first round's on me. You can help me repair my battered image as a cheerfully tippling bon vivant.

But after 5:00, please ... the boss frowns on drunken snoring at my desk.

Have a good day. Cheers, salut, down the hatch, etc.

More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo