Yesterday was one of the best days we've had here in Hannover because we spent some time window shopping and then, enjoying time with our family since it was a holiday here and things were quiet. Relaxing around the table, enjoying wine, telling stories, digging out old photos, chatting excitedly about current events from politics to religion and beyond. The conversation switched from German to English constantly, flowing like a wild river, a river I couldn't quite tame despite how hard I tried.
Most of the time, I feel like I am starting over again, like a child in grade school, anxious to learn vocabulary and sentence structure. It can be frustrating, but a very positive experience because I continue to deepen bonds with my family and friends because I relay on them for so much help with the language. Needing something from others who genuinely want to share helps to solidify friendships by creating a sense of closeness. I can tell that people here really enjoy working with me on my German, and the young people especially love it when I speak English. The little ones show me their animal books and point to each animal, identifying them in German and then I point to the same animal teaching them the English word. Children love to teach adults, something I never really realized until I had to learn a new language. When I studied Spanish in school and Russian in college, I studied with peers and older ones. I never realized that some of the best foreign language instructors are children! Are you in the process of learning a new language, too?

When with family here, I'm especially fond of my mother-in-law, who studied classical music and has such fine taste in music. Each time I visit her, I anticipate what she will introduce me to next. Yesterday, it was Eleni Karaindrou and Kim Kashkashian's "Ulysses Gaze", and two CD's from Keith Jarrett, "Vienna Concert" and another with whom he collaborated with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, "Standards of Norway". I'm not familiar with these artists yet, but I enjoy expanding my tastes to include music that I wouldn't usually gravitate towards if left to myself in a music store.

I always play music in the home, especially when reading or cooking, I think it enhances the environment, adding warmth, and depending on the music, either energy, peace, reflection, or a festive atmosphere.

So, those are my thoughts for today. We're heading to the hospital this afternoon to visit with my brother-in-law, although he is still in a coma, I'm certain he can hear us and is aware of his surroundings. Just the other day, I held his hand and as I started to caress it, his thumb began to move back and forth. This was very touching. I want to take a moment to thank all of you for writing in with such caring thoughts, I share your emails with my husband who is encouraged to know that so many are praying for his brother right now. I haven't had time to respond to your emails, I've very sorry for this, but please know that I really appreciate your concern. :)

I'll be back in a moment with some goodies for the day before I head out. Back soon!

(images - love these window decals and the lamp and moose candles, too. Here's a photo of some random textile installed around a pole outside of a textile shop here.)