Auf wiedersehen

Why do you go away? For an adventure? For a change? To escape?

So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors.

It’s hard to believe we have already been “back” for six months!  Time’s winged chariot fools us once again. Honestly, the days and months have been whittled away easily, consumed by “modern American conveniences.” Even after six months, being back in the world of instant gratification feels new: the mesmerizing, devil-colored glow of a Target sign after 6:00pm, the empowerment of walking into a place of commerce on a Sunday, the joy of not having to wait 8 weeks for something to arrive from Amazon. If you don’t appreciate the aforementioned, or believe they are truly “American”, then find the courage to go away for a while.

Despite the reverse culture shock, it has been back to life as usual. Catching up with old friends, now six years the wiser. Spending evenings watching stupidifying TV instead of researching foreign lands. Filling the silence of deployment with a honeyed symphony of Jimmy Fallon and the cocktail shaker.

Over the last six months, I have waited to be hit with prolific lessons from our years abroad, clear evidence that I have changed and that everyone can see it…or at least some titillating content with which to fill my final blog post. Instead, the rearview mirror of my mind has made everything traumhaft. Faded are the outbursts of anger that were truly rooted in stress and fear. Funny are the moments that were once embarrassing and frustrating. Magnified are the special memories with our favorite people. I find this skill to be Father Time’s most endearing quality.

We have learned important lessons, but they are subtle ones. They show themselves in surprising ways at unexpected times. We are unbelievably happy to be here, but are also immensely grateful that we left.

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.

So…here I say adieu, auf wiedersehen. Thank you to everyone who has kept up with our journeys. The Walls in Germany are closing this chapter, looking forward to the next. Macht’s gut!

Freiburg's Blaue Brücke

Freiburg’s Blaue Brücke

Click here to revisit where it all started.

Inspirational credit: Terry Pratchett

Die Freiburger Bächle

My favorite part of Freiburg! I loved the Bächle. I loved watching the kids play in them. I loved the Bächle boats. I loved when Liv would willingly jump in to cool her feel or take a drink on hot summer walks. I loved that 100% of our house guests appeased my request to take photos with the Bächle.

Liv

For those of you that didn’t get the Wall’s Grand Freiburg Tour, the Bächle are the town’s most famous landmark. They are tiny streams running throughout the Altstadt, and exist nowhere else in Germany. This medieval water-supply system was never used for waste disposal, playing instead a critical role in fire prevention, snow removal, and irrigation.

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This post, one of the last of our German Geschichte, is dedicated to all of our house guests during our time in Freiburg. Thank you to all of you made the journey, ventured into our little corner of Europe, and begrudgingly fulfilled your “assignments”. We are so thankful to be loved by so many wonderful people; all of whom who had at least a tiny bit of creativity and humor. We have unique and treasured memories from each of your visits. So…here’s to you! Prost! Hopefully you will appreciate the importance of your individual contributions, now that you can see them in context. I thank you all, again, for making so many sacrifices to join us in Freiburg and for making my grand vision a reality.

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Please, pass no judgment on our friends and family. Most of these quotes were influenced by copious amounts of Deutsches Bier and all of them are taken out of context!

Murphy Clan

“Yacht Rock, Napoleanic Rugby Wars, Ladybug costume fittings, the Murphy record of 4 play grounds in one day (even with Molly’s “puke n’ rally” efforts), lots of beer, great food, and extraordinary company.” ~The Murphys

"Beware of pantless visitors in the morning." ~The Olsons

“Beware of pantless visitors in the morning.” ~The Olsons

"I love you both very much and I am extremely grateful that I have been able to share a little bit of this great adventure with the two of you." ~Tammy

“I love you both very much and I am extremely grateful that I have been able to share a little bit of this great adventure with the two of you.” ~Tammy

"And let's not forget the Spargel times. OMG. Green asparagus will never, ever, be the same. May the Spargel Queen never become old, may she always wear red ball gowns in a dirt field & forget her shoes at home." ~Mom

“And let’s not forget the Spargel times. OMG. Green asparagus will never, ever, be the same. May the Spargel Queen never become old, may she always wear red ball gowns in a dirt field & forget her shoes at home.” ~Mom

"Thanks to the "wallsingermany" I will have incredible memories of this moment in time." ~Jerrett

“Thanks to the “wallsingermany” I will have incredible memories of this moment in time.” ~Jerrett

"But for now, to you three & Freiburg, I say "Bravo!"" ~Tyler

“But for now, to you three & Freiburg, I say “Bravo!”” ~Tyler

"- Jolly Man who cook good food and bier flow freely - Tiny Woman who take many photo and carry large backpack - Little 4-Paw who lick much leg and scheisse carpet." ~The Menges Family (aka The Mengi)

“- Jolly Man who cook good food and bier flow freely
– Tiny Woman who take many photo and carry large backpack
– Little 4-Paw who lick much leg and scheisse carpet.” ~The Menges Family

"The professional photographer and the professional driver you secured were wunderbar!! Love you more than you will ever know!" ~MIL & FIL Stickford

“The professional photographer and the professional driver you secured were wunderbar!! Love you more than you will ever know!” ~MIL & FIL Stickford

"My visit was practically perfect in every way. I can truly say that I have no better friends in Germany....well, strike that...Freiburg?! LOL - Obviously I am joking." ~Blair

“My visit was practically perfect in every way. I can truly say that I have no better friends in Germany….well, strike that…Freiburg?! LOL – Obviously I am joking.” ~Blair

"Bayern Munchen kicked butt that night vs Wolfsberg...and I must say...if one more person got on the train there might have been a problem." ~Daryl & Denise

“Bayern Munchen kicked butt that night vs Wolfsberg…and I must say…if one more person got on the train there might have been a problem.” ~Daryl & Denise

"Sorry to be pedantic, but if memory serves me correctly, construction was begun around the same time on both your Munster and our Cathedrale - early 13th century." ~The Tanners

“Sorry to be pedantic, but if memory serves me correctly, construction was begun around the same time on both your Munster and our Cathedrale – early 13th century.” ~The Tanners

"We are apprecciative that our visit was free of bats & oversized grasshoppers although I'm certain both could have been incorporated into a quiche or soup." ~The Senkowskis

“We are apprecciative that our visit was free of bats & oversized grasshoppers although I’m certain both could have been incorporated into a quiche or soup.” ~The Senkowskis

"I'm not much of a "world traveler," but Switzerland, Germany, Austria, & France ain't bad for an "old man." Sorry you got sick, glad I didn't!" ~Dad

“I’m not much of a “world traveler,” but Switzerland, Germany, Austria, & France ain’t bad for an “old man.” Sorry you got sick, glad I didn’t!” ~Dad

"Copenhagen on the front side with Tammy and Rhine River Castle Tour on the back side with Tana ~ what more could a mother ask for?" ~Mom

“Copenhagen on the front side with Tammy and Rhine River Castle Tour on the back side with Tana ~ what more could a mother ask for?” ~Mom

"Always try the WC doors before paying! Best mommy-cation ever!" ~Tana

“Always try the WC doors before paying! Best mommy-cation ever!” ~Tana

"Clearly, lots of folks love you guys, but none like Liv! You'll never be as awesome as SHE thinks you are!" ~Stew

“Clearly, lots of folks love you guys, but none like Liv! You’ll never be as awesome as SHE thinks you are!” ~Stew

"What can I say but "no one likes [ladies of the night]"!" ~Briony

“What can I say but “no one likes [ladies of the night]”!” ~Briony

"While the town was amazing we will just as much cherish the evening time, kicking back with some 2L's, reading from the book of Chuck Norris, and of course, judging History of Rap videos." ~The Alhstroms

“While the town was amazing we will just as much cherish the evening time, kicking back with some 2L’s, reading from the book of Chuck Norris, and of course, judging History of Rap videos.” ~The Ahlstroms

"I only wish that we would have eaten more, as well as consumed more beers. I didn't feel as though I got enough of either."   ~Tamorre "I enjoyed the sites and all the time spent with you."  ~Jody "We are best friends and no matter of time or space can keep us apart. That being said, bring your asses back to the States so we can reunite!"  ~Steve

“I only wish that we would have eaten more, as well as consumed more beers. I didn’t feel as though I got enough of either.” ~Tamorre
“I enjoyed the sites and all the time spent with you.” ~Jody
“We are best friends and no matter of time or space can keep us apart. That being said, bring your asses back to the States so we can reunite!” ~Steve

"You have made our Honeymoon the most amazing time. I am glad we were able to spend the last 3 days with you. The food, beer, and wine were fabulous and getting reaquainted after so many years." ~ Glenn "We loved our "home away from home". The best part was getting to know the 3 of you and dining at 'The Walls'." ~ Kelley

“You have made our Honeymoon the most amazing time. I am glad we were able to spend the last 3 days with you. The food, beer, and wine were fabulous and getting reaquainted after so many years.” ~ Glenn
“We loved our “home away from home”. The best part was getting to know the 3 of you and dining at ‘The Walls’.” ~ Kelley

"We wish you the very best and look forward to following your adventure! We will definately have to return some day to see the water flowing through Freiburg." ~Jim "Thank you for walking us through Freiburg for the 1000th time and letting us know the history. Please keep an eye on the clouds for me." ~ Laurie

“We wish you the very best and look forward to following your adventure! We will definately have to return some day to see the water flowing through Freiburg.” ~ Jim
“Thank you for walking us through Freiburg for the 1000th time and letting us know the history. Please keep an eye on the clouds for me.” ~ Laurie

"Liv - You, my friend, are even crazier and more awesome than I remember! Thank you for taking 4 minutes to lay on my couch with me, and for tolerating our walk together. Extra special thanks for the liquid brown gift on my foot. I love you." ~Tammy

“Liv – You, my friend, are even crazier and more awesome than I remember! Thank you for taking 4 minutes to lay on my couch with me, and for tolerating our walk together. Extra special thanks for the liquid brown gift on my foot. I love you.” ~Tammy

"German Hospital Food Sucks! 'Nuff Said." ~ Dad

“German Hospital Food Sucks! ‘Nuff Said.” ~ Dad

"I'm so glad we have been able to reconnect while we have been on our adventures in Europe. It's a decade later and we were able to pick things up like there was no interruption." ~ Amanda

“I’m so glad we have been able to reconnect while we have been on our adventures in Europe. It’s a decade later and we were able to pick things up like there was no interruption.” ~ Amanda

"After months of planning and countless hours of coordination...made it to Freiburg, Germany." ~ Jeff

“After months of planning and countless hours of coordination…made it to Freiburg, Germany.” ~ Jeff

"If I had known turning 60 would be so much fun, I'd have done it years ago!" ~ Patti & Paul

“If I had known turning 60 would be so much fun, I’d have done it years ago!” ~ Patti & Paul

"So much "learnin' & drinkin' & celebratin'"!"  ~ Aunt Melanie "I personally have gained more respect for the German culture and people and the food, mostly the beer!"  ~Uncle Willie

“So much “learnin’ & drinkin’ & celebratin'”!”
~ Aunt Melanie
“I personally have gained more respect for the German culture and people and the food, mostly the beer!”
~Uncle Willie

"...massive amounts of drinking & partying & celebrating... you made it look easy..." ~ MIL Lisa "The time you two have spent here is absolutely a gift and we are so happy that you brightened our lives with some of it." ~ FIL Tom

“…massive amounts of drinking & partying & celebrating…
you made it look easy…” ~ MIL Lisa
“The time you two have spent here is absolutely a gift and we are so happy that you brightened our lives with some of it.” ~ FIL Tom

Life is too short to learn German.

Life is too short to learn German.

We hope that all of our house guests were able to expand their personal horizons and world visions, just as we did. We know that each of you saw Germany in a way that no tour group or WWII movie could ever depict. We look forward to reminiscing with you about our times together in Freiburg, wherever in this world we meet again!

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P.S. – Feel free to share your favorite memories with us below!

Totally Shocking

Completely and utterly astonishing…when the military says your household goods will arrive in 60 – 90 days, and they actually show up in 62! I was expecting to be sleeping on an air-mattress until Thanksgiving.

You know what else will take your breath away…when the 18-wheeler shows up and you think to yourself, “There is no way ALL that crap could really be mine!”

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Hmmm...I guess it is mine.

Hmmm…I guess it is mine.

I’d like to take a minute here to dispel a few myths. Most non-military members think that moving is “soooo easy” because the packers show up one day and put everything into boxes and then the movers show up the next day and haul it all away. Wrong.

Moving with the military takes days…weeks…maybe even a month…of “pre-packing”. See, when you move your own possessions, you are the one who wraps everything with an extra layer of bubble wrap, you make sure the salt and pepper are in zip-lock bags before going in a box, and you are the only person who touches your underwear. The average military member must also, prior to every move, sort every single item they own into one of the following categories: suitcase, unaccompanied baggage, DITY move, regular shipment, or storage.

Hence the need for “pre-packing”. If you don’t want to open a box of towels and find pepper all over them, you need to pre-pack. If you don’t want every four-legged piece of furniture you own to turn into a three-legged piece, you need to pre-pack (and pre-disassemble!). If you don’t want to open the garbage can and find your bed sheets, you need to pre-pack.

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Yes, those are my bed sheets. With the garbage can and fly swatter…of course!

I think Joe and I did a pretty great job of pre-packing this time around. Classifying ourselves as highly organized to obsessively organized on the Likert scale gives us a genetic predisposition for excellent pre-packing skills. That being said, I did learn an important lesson during this move: no matter how many hours you dedicate to pre-packing, no matter how many times you bag and re-bag, and tape and re-tape certain articles of clothing…your unmentionables will still end up on the street. I’m talking directly on the pavement.

There is no metaphor here, dear readers. I am speaking in black and white, completely literally, no smoke and mirrors. I couldn’t even make it to the scene of the accident quickly enough to pick them up myself. Walter, the mover with only half a mouth of teeth, fumbled over them like Leon Lett trying to sneak a peek at the Jumbotron, while I watched helpless from the stands.

That's Walter in the back.

That’s Walter in the back.

Sorry…no picture of Victoria’s (not so) secret.

Our car, on the other hand, has not been heard from. Bangkok has her now. Or the Mariana Trench.