I really think the most important organ in the body is the Heart. It is what separates Humans from all Animal Kingdom. This simple ten ounce organ is what makes us laugh, cry and everything in between...and sometimes all at the same time. It lets us soar to new heights we only dreamed of. It is also easily torn with only the hope of a repair. Without our heart, we would not live. As I approach the wonderful age of thirty-seven, I look back at what my heart has given me. The passage of time has not weaken the rhythm it beats, only has strengthened it, only the tempo changes. That ever-changing tempo is what keeps us alive.
Today the tempo is a Malincònico. Last week a good friend of mine got some very distressing news. This now entails a fast flight back to the states sooner than was planned and there is along road ahead for her and her family. Though I was fine this past week, after visiting her today, I realized how much my heart aches for her. I want to return back to her house and tell her. "I'm not fine. I'm pissed! This should not be happening to you!" However, I want to be strong for her as well. It was my heart that today let me cry and made me realize how much a care for this wonderful person and I am so thankful to call my friend.
I look back, and I realize that in only the last ten years, I have lost many friends, and many members of my family, and I'm scared I'm about to lose another one. Just this week, a building, to the post we will be moving to, was dedicated to friend lost last year. This same week, I realize that I may lose another friend, all in the prime of their lives. At the same time, my heart has never been so full as when I held each one of my babies today. It is the heart that says, you will love and you will lose, but you will always love again. One can only pray that the wound heals sooner rather than later. My heart tells me to be strong for my friend, then, when everything is quiet, cry until I can't cry anymore. Now my heart needs to tell my brain how. It's my brain that tells my heart that my pain is not even to scale as the pain her family is feeling right now. In the end, it's the heart that will give us the courage to smile through the tears. It's the heart that makes us live. But for now, my day must continue and my heart must go on. I have my little heart strings to gather up..yep and one is pouting.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Where to begin....
...That is the question. I have been off the net for awhile for good reasons. In exactly a month from now my family and I will be on a plane heading back to the states. We will all miss Germany, but we have to admit...we are Americans, through and through. Yes, we are "Convenience Consumers" and appreciate begin able to run errands to the store on a Sunday. We have been overheard saying that we miss our Lowes run through daydreaming about our Forever House. How nice will it be to enter a store, or many different stores, and find a sale and items that you initially went into the store to acquire. So often, we go the many PX's in the area, and not one of them has a simple item that we need, or if they do, it's a lot more than what we are willing to spend. Target and Kohl's, watch out because here comes the Nagy Family.
Now there is great food in Europe, and we have enjoyed it immensely; but I'm dying for some real BBQ and a truly authentic Cuban sandwich. I love American food!! I want a big, juicy American steak with a big American size potatoes. Both, one can't get here, even at the commissary. They just don't carry the cuts of meat or the big Idaho potatoes. Let's not even go into the restaurants. Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-let, IHOP (go figure), and yes, I will say it...even Chuck-E-Cheese. You know, all those places that have created the mass epidemic in the USA. Moderation, that's all I will say.
I'm looking forward to finding a place to take my kids on a rainy day that doesn't cost a whole paycheck. There are museums, libraries, pools and all the wonderful places that let the kids explore and let their imaginations roam. Don't get me wrong, there are places to take the kids here, but tickets to anywhere are practically the same price as the adults, and so are the menu prices for that matter. It seems as if the USA is more kid friendly than Europe. It will be nice to go into a restaurant, or a venue without stares from the staff because I have three kids..which by the way is an anomaly here. "Drei Kinder?!" We hear that a lot.
However, as I look around my empty house, or sleep on my very uncomfortable german mattress, I begin to appreciate the experiences I have had here. For Starters, you can't beat the Flea (Floh) Markets here. Cheap cheap cheap!! The bike paths and outdoor places are outstanding. The public transportation's better than any other I have experienced. The food, well, I have put on a few pounds for a reason. The crime rate, so much lower. The indoor swimming pools, parks in their own right (though expensive). Garmish and the Alps....I will miss. The experiences my family have had, irreplaceable. Then there are the Christmas Markets and the Fests. But in the end, I wouldn't give up my home in the States. I know, from experiences, if one looks around, one can find similar experiences in their own backyard. There is SO MUCH in the Sates still left for us to explore and we are looking forward to it.
In the end, truth be told, I just want be able to walk into a store and find sandals for my kids and clothes in the season we are currently in and not for $40 for shoes and $30 for outfits. I want my SALES!!! Yes, I could go on the economy..H&M is my favorite, but with the exchange rate, it is so expensive. I want to find clothes for my American Size body. It seems European women and men are supposed to be stick then. And apparently, Europeans will pay 50E to 60E for a pair of kids shoes and they go up in price depending on the size.
Finally coming to my point of the ramble is this; in the end, we are Americans, and we love the American way of life. We live for the BBQ's in the backyard and hanging out with family and friends. We love the connivence and the family friendly environment. I'm proud to me and American and God Bless my American Family both here and at home. It's no wonder the flight we are taking back to the states is called the Patriot Express.
I FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!! Sports during the day!!!!! Sundays in this family..BIG DEAL!!! NFL better get their stuff straight before next season. I want to see the 1PM game at 1Pm, not at 7Pm and see the game I want too...well that's if its not blacked out. And Jay is all about the 10 months of Baseball...can't wait to hear the sound of a ball game on TV...during the day.
Get ready, because here we come!!!!
Now there is great food in Europe, and we have enjoyed it immensely; but I'm dying for some real BBQ and a truly authentic Cuban sandwich. I love American food!! I want a big, juicy American steak with a big American size potatoes. Both, one can't get here, even at the commissary. They just don't carry the cuts of meat or the big Idaho potatoes. Let's not even go into the restaurants. Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-let, IHOP (go figure), and yes, I will say it...even Chuck-E-Cheese. You know, all those places that have created the mass epidemic in the USA. Moderation, that's all I will say.
I'm looking forward to finding a place to take my kids on a rainy day that doesn't cost a whole paycheck. There are museums, libraries, pools and all the wonderful places that let the kids explore and let their imaginations roam. Don't get me wrong, there are places to take the kids here, but tickets to anywhere are practically the same price as the adults, and so are the menu prices for that matter. It seems as if the USA is more kid friendly than Europe. It will be nice to go into a restaurant, or a venue without stares from the staff because I have three kids..which by the way is an anomaly here. "Drei Kinder?!" We hear that a lot.
However, as I look around my empty house, or sleep on my very uncomfortable german mattress, I begin to appreciate the experiences I have had here. For Starters, you can't beat the Flea (Floh) Markets here. Cheap cheap cheap!! The bike paths and outdoor places are outstanding. The public transportation's better than any other I have experienced. The food, well, I have put on a few pounds for a reason. The crime rate, so much lower. The indoor swimming pools, parks in their own right (though expensive). Garmish and the Alps....I will miss. The experiences my family have had, irreplaceable. Then there are the Christmas Markets and the Fests. But in the end, I wouldn't give up my home in the States. I know, from experiences, if one looks around, one can find similar experiences in their own backyard. There is SO MUCH in the Sates still left for us to explore and we are looking forward to it.
In the end, truth be told, I just want be able to walk into a store and find sandals for my kids and clothes in the season we are currently in and not for $40 for shoes and $30 for outfits. I want my SALES!!! Yes, I could go on the economy..H&M is my favorite, but with the exchange rate, it is so expensive. I want to find clothes for my American Size body. It seems European women and men are supposed to be stick then. And apparently, Europeans will pay 50E to 60E for a pair of kids shoes and they go up in price depending on the size.
Finally coming to my point of the ramble is this; in the end, we are Americans, and we love the American way of life. We live for the BBQ's in the backyard and hanging out with family and friends. We love the connivence and the family friendly environment. I'm proud to me and American and God Bless my American Family both here and at home. It's no wonder the flight we are taking back to the states is called the Patriot Express.
I FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!!!! Sports during the day!!!!! Sundays in this family..BIG DEAL!!! NFL better get their stuff straight before next season. I want to see the 1PM game at 1Pm, not at 7Pm and see the game I want too...well that's if its not blacked out. And Jay is all about the 10 months of Baseball...can't wait to hear the sound of a ball game on TV...during the day.
Get ready, because here we come!!!!
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