We are home in Minnesota now. The trip was as smooth as could be, thanks in large part to the careful packing and weighing that Mary and Alex did. It was a loud and often tense last day, I really did not want to leave. But the flight was nice, Austrian Airlines even had a family check in to make life a bit easier. We got our 8 big 23 kg bags all back to Saint Paul and dragged them into our house. Andrew had kept it in order for us, but it couldn’t help but feel a bit, as Nathaniel put it, “lifeless” after the magnificent clutter of family history that is Huschkagasse 9. Still, we are happy to be home, impressed by our new Super Target, and ready to pick up our friendships and commitments.

 

 

Oma, thank you for such a marvelous six months. We won’t ever forget it. May the memories of tension and health challenges be outshone by the memories of walks in the woods, classes in the basement, and lunches together in the side garden! We miss you and very much look forward to our next visit with you. Thank you for opening your life to us so generously, it was an amazing gift.

 

...Eric