Getting our arms around Marie again was a joyous moment. She arrived from camp in France the morning after we landed in Frankfurt and she dropped her bags and came running to scoop us into big hugs. The camp returnees were bonded as only those who have shared survival on canned ravioli can be.
The whole Thode family has taken us in as long lost relatives. Gitta has added two more plates to the table and made us promise to help ourselves to whatever we want from the fridge. Since it was over 32 C (90 F) when we arrived, they even stocked some ice cubes, knowing that Americans can hardly survive without ice. Outings were planned. Saturday Marie, now 18 and a skilled German driver, drove us to a nearby swimming lake, a welcome reprieve from the heat. Gitta endured a little lecture from the lifeguard meant for me because I had unknowing used a noodle toy to float around on.
Ulrich, Gitta, Sophie and Marie walked us around the town and posed in front of this church est.1600.
Saturday morning we set out by bike to the farmers market in Giessen. The heat was wilting the produce and us, but the atmosphere was festive and colorful.
We stopped at an Eiscafe on the way home in Licht. Ben and I thought we would just have a scoop each, but soon we realized there was much more on offer. We can't find an exact American equivalent to the Eiscafe. "Ice Cream Parlor" doesn't suffice.
Marie joined me in my plank workout that evening and tried to get me to add "burpys". Let's agree I made a halfhearted effort at that exercise. She is building strong legs for her role in Legally Blond at school.
Marie is fresh as a daisy even in the unseasonable hot sun. Ben is in his favorite milieu with his last AFS daughter :)
These curious creatures caught my eye. What a way to sell pasta!
That evening the Thode family planned a barbecue and invited the kind friends who had already loaned us their bikes for the family excursion to farmers market. The whole family pitched in to get the house ready.
A delightful warm evening on the patio ensued. Dana, Amelie's best friend, told me all about her recent travels to Turkey in flawless English (though she has never studied English outside Germany) and how she greatly enjoyed new friendships with Turkish youths. She and her Mom felt perfectly safe at their island resort as the coup unfolded. Around 11 we joined the group game of Werewolf, a game I don't understand at all but somehow won with Sophie.
We are so glad to be part of this busy, fun-loving household :)
Jackie--So glad you are blogging again! I'd been asking around if anyone had heard from you. Looks like you've been delightfully too busy, and now there are 3 posts for me to get my vicarious thrills. Thanks for taking the time... We leave tomorrow on our 3 week road trip to the national parks. I will probably just post on Facebook, so if you are interested you can check there. Look forward to following more of your adventures while on the road... Sharon
ReplyDeletePS Good job with the stuffed pasta dish!