It is time to meet for our virtual coffee date March . Let’s meet outside with a coffee in a thermos and do a little walk along the river and back through the woods. Spring is on the rise here in Germany and we do have some lovely sunshine. But get a thick coat and shawl because it is still rather cold. We meet down at the river by the bridge that oversees the water and enjoy the view bit before we start moving. Along the way we chat.
If you and I had coffee…
…I share with you a very peculiar but joyful moment the other day when I opened my letter box. There was a letter in from the U.S. I first thought it might be the obituary I was expecting. But that would have been a bit too quick as the passing had just occurred a couple days prior. I didn’t immediately recognize the sender. I knew I’ve heard the name and I knew to place it in HSB – the town I stayed at some 20+ years ago as an exchange student. Anyways, I started reading the letter and it turns out it was from my art teacher from the high school I attended when I was in Idaho. She somehow came into possession of a card I wrote. (I send Christmas cards to the church congregation I attended since 2000. I was actually thinking about not sending one this year because I have never received any info if they are read or even delivered. But I decided to do it anyways in case anyone finds joy in them. And apparently the did end up in the art teachers hand. ) I was so touched that she remembered me. And went to the length of sitting down and write me. Once I could place the name I had so many moments of art class come back to me. I think I can recall every image and project I did in her class. And it was one of my favorite classes because I could just be myself and get into my flow. It is a wonderful card and I’ve read it a couple of times. She is 82 now so 40 years my senior. I hope to sit down this weekend or next to reply. But if you read this beforehand Mrs F. know that it made my day.
If you and I had coffee…
…I celebrate with you my 7th business year. Which I just remembered the end of the day while we are chatting. In 2017 I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and started my freelance business. I was very lucky that I was approached with a job offer only a couple weeks after and landed a 16 month job at Henkel (their brands Schwarzkopf is know in the US market I believe). That gave me the confidence to believe I know what I am doing and also a financial boost, lots of learning experience and some wonderful business connections. I am very very happy. And I can not imagine being an employee anywhere and giving up freelancing. All that said…
If you and I had coffee…
…I would also tell you that lately it’s been tough and I actually filed for unemployed late February. I knew it will be a while until I would find a new project after my last big one ended in September. I had not accounted for being sick from October into February for at least 2 weeks each month. That slowed me down in my efforts in applying and sourcing new opportunities. Also I did not expect the tax office wanting to get my taxes for three years within 2 weeks. I did have that many stashed away but getting to within two weeks was a bit tough and also not very good for my over all comfort. So here I am celebrating the start of my 8th year with unemployment. I have to admit I had hoped for a bit more glam. But I am glad I paid volunteering insurance to get some support now. Which cam in today. Though it doesn’t even cover my share of rent. Anyway, I do not want to complain, I am – in most parts – optimistic that I will find a new project. If I had typed it this morning though I might have shared a different state of mind though. So it is tough but I am resilient.
If you and I had coffee…
…I need to tell you about an alert I received through my phone app last week. I am sitting at my desk and I get this push alert that debris is falling down from space. I kid you not. It said “Information on debris entering the earth’s atmosphere”. I had not heard about any of this on news or such. So I send it forward to the husband and then started looking for more info. Apparently some batterie packs from ISS space station “were being directed” over Germany to land in the Atlantic. But a supersonic sound and light flares may be heard. This was such a weird moment. But then when you start thinking about it it’s a surprise this doesn’t happen more often with all the trash humans have left in space. Anyways, the alert was the most exciting thing I didn’t hear or sea anything. Did you ever get an alert like this?
If you and I had coffee…
…I tell you that the husband and I decided to re-instate date dates or nights again. Tomorrow will the first day we do it. While we spend a lot of time together during weekends and at night it isn’t really something special special. Often it s a tv show or movie. And since I am always in the home office I feel like life happened a bit without me. The husband tells me about all the places he sees and eats at and I have no clue. I can only share a new path in the woods. So here we are trying to make memories together. Tomorrow he is in charge of deciding what we do. I have no clue but I am excited.
If you and I had coffee…
…I mention that I spend the entire day yesterday with my dad. We met for breakfast and started talking and suddenly it was 3.30pm. I figured now I can just stay for dinner hoping to see my mom. She happened to be home by 4.30pm and so I was able to chat to her too and then at 8pm went to the husband’s office and we drove home together. A whole day. It was really nice. My dad is doing ok. He had his first surgery that went really well and he is staying of his legs to not have the healing disrupted. But its gonna be a long three month. Next surgery is scheduled for mid April. So I think I plan of visiting him during the week a few more times. I have it already planned for next Wednesday.
If you and I had coffee…
…I share with you my image from the office window. You can see spring is on the verge. The trees are almost read to burst with greenery. The light is different. I have bought some herbs and soil to get the balcony garden ready. I didn’t manage to do so today as planned. Maybe Sunday.
Tell me a weird but joyful moment you have experienced! Do you remember a teacher from your school days? Did they have an impact? Did you ever have debris fall on you?
10 comments
I have never received a phone alert about falling debris, and I can tell you that I’d probably freak out about it! That’s scary! But you’re right, there’s a lot of garbage up there to fall down on us – not to mention wheels falling off airplanes!
It’s wonderful that you still send Christmas cards to the church congregation, and even more wonderful that your teacher wrote to you! Yes, there are many teachers who are dear to my heart from my school days. And a couple of not-so-dear ones too!
I was torn between amusement and seriousness when I got the alert. It was just so out of the blue. But you are right falling wheels… we live within the departure/arrival routes of Berlins airport so that is probably a bigger hazard than space trash.
I do have a lot of memories of my teachers. Art teachers are among the very vivid ones. The not so good ones I have mostly erased from my brain.
So glad to hear your dad is doing well.
The unemployment situation sounds disheartening, but I’m hoping some new projects are just around the corner for you.
The alert sounds quite alarming! I have never heard of such a thing, but you’re right — I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more frequently.
Hope your date went well!
We had a wonderful day out in the town. Happy but exhausted.
Also very happy my dad is doing fine so far.
Fingers crossed for the employment situation. I am more anxious this time around but I probably shouldn’t be. I guess it is just because everything costs so much more theses days
What a strange alert. We just get alerts about missing children and elderly people and weather alerts on our phones!
I’m sorry to hear about your job situation. It’s a tough market out there and I hope you find something soon.
Thank you Engie. Some days are tougher to be optimistic other I just breath through it.
Missing people on phone alerts that is something I’ve nerved heard. I am sure that wouldn’t go through here.
I have never had an alert for debris, I didn’t know they did that. I saw something burning up in the atmosphere last week, probably some kind of space debris.
I’m sorry about the lack of work for you at the moment. That is tough, and you have had a hard few months. I hope things start to turn around for you soon. I love that you will have a date night tomorrow that you don’t have to organise. That will be ufn.
I’m glad you got to spend a good chunk of time with your dad and he is doing well. Now that my dad is in the moon boot he is allowed to walk on it, which is heaps better for him.
Yes, the work situation is a bit tough and when I am perfectly honest not as easy as previous situations when the economy was better and I didn’t have such high fixed costs… those moves really didn’t give me much puffer this time around. I am hopeful it will turn around buts a bit tougher.
My dad still can’t walk and is not supposed to even put down the moon boot when walking on crutches. Let’s hope all this is worth it in the end. Glad your dad is almost skipping again.
Date night was really fun.
Oh, the letter from your art teacher made my day. What a sweet surprise! It does pay off to send Christmas cards, apparently ;)
I am also so happy you got to spend time with your dad (and I wish him well for the surgery and recovery!). Family time is so precious.
That was so surprising. I’ve received another letter from her and haven’t even replied yet (shame on me). Family time is great. We just learned yesterday that my dad will have to have yet another surgery and there will be 12 more weeks in the moon boot. It’s hard on him so I try to spend a day every week with him.