Tell Us About….Time
I feel really privileged to be asked to join a group of awesome bloggers in a writing challenge to flex our storytelling muscles. Each month one of us chooses a very general topic, that we can go any direction with. This month our fearless leader Gail Hanlon, who writes Is This Mutton, has asked us to write about Time!
All of us are mature women, and I think it’s good to have a few “miles on the tires” to give you a perspective on time. Someone once explained to me that when you’re 5 years old, a whole year (like before you can go to first grade, or until next Christmas) seems like ETERNITY, because it’s 1/5th of your whole life (so far). To a 62-year old, it’s barely a speed bump, because it’s 1/62nd of your life.
Once upon a time, this car (below) was my fondest wish – a Mercedes 380SEL, in fire-engine red. And a few years ago, someone I knew had this very car for sale. In mint condition, for $8,000. I took this picture in the parking lot at work before I took it out for a test drive.
The door shut with the satisfying “ka-chunk” of high-grade steel. It roared like a tank on the country road, but sadly, it was built for the autobahn and I didn’t get the chance to get it up to speed to really let her run…
Why didn’t I buy it, as it was once a dream and I actually had the funds available? Because the owner was forthright, and warned me that every time it went for service – for ANYTHING – it would be a $1,000. Older-and-wiser current Me knew future Me would regret this every time we had an oil change…And so, it is but a wistful dream – never attained, but never sullied.
I do remember a delicious little adventure in the past when time was not my friend. I lived in Germany in the 1980’s, with my roommate/sister-in-law Allison, in Wiesbaden on the Rhein (you can read more about that here). We decided to take an overnight bicycle trip with our British friend Ian (picture a 28-yr old Woody Allen with blonde hair). We took the train (with our bicycles, carefully placed in the luggage car) from Wiesbaden to Koblenz, where the river Mosel meets the Rhein. After some confusing moments navigating the city center and an industrial area, we found the beautiful riverside road with bike lane that would up the fairytale Mosel, through postcard-worthy villages and past castles, and stopping at every roadside weingut – winery stands where you could taste and buy. We did a lot of both…
As we neared our overnight destination of Cochem, our bikes were definately more wobbly! We stayed in a simple gasthaus (inn) and explored the gorgeous town.
That night, while we had dinner in the hotel restaurant, we noticed a large group of older Germans in the back dining room, dancing, singing, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. We got Ian (who was far more fluent in German than we were) to ask the waiter about who they were.
The astounding answer was that they were the remnants of the last group of German POWs released by the USSR in – get this – in 1956! The waiter told us they had a reunion in that hotel every year, and had for decades. Now, imagine how time moved for them in captivity, and how they must’ve treasured every minute of their freedom.
The next morning, we retraced our route along the river, with sore heads and bulging saddlebags clinking with bottles of wine. The hands of our watches seemed to move quicker as the time of our train departure came neared, and we seemed to pedal slower! We jogged as we wheeled our bikes through the station, and the station attendant snatched our bikes from us, tut-tutting as he slid the train car door shut and we sank into our seats, all 3 of giggling all the way home.
I do hope you’ll check out what the other bloggers had to say on the weighty (but fun) topic of time! Here they are:
Gail: https://www.isthismutton.com
16 Comments
Jill James
I am so pleased to meet you through this monthly writing challenge.
I agree that as women with life experience we will all have our stories to tell.
I did smile when I saw the Mercedes my husband was faced with the same choice in his early working in life and sadly had to make the same decision.
The joy of travel always fun to look back on.
mkmiller
Thanks so much, Jill. I’m delighted to be included as well, and just now have the time to read everyone’s posts – I’m looking forward to yours! I get a pang whenever I see a red Mercedes coup – so let your husband know he’s not alone in that boat…
jodie filogomo
You really have the best stories Mk, and I love how you also have the photos to go with them.
I am annoyed that I still don’t get your emails. I’ll try with another email address. Either that or will you tell me when you have a post go live? I hate to miss them!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
mkmiller
Thanks so much, Jodie! I’m looking forward to trading more stories IN PERSON one of these days! Maybe our emails are taking revenge on each other’s? I’ll always post a link in IG as well. Just now reading yours from today and so excited for your trip. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in San Juan, but only gotten out of the city to the east of the island to the luminescent lagoon and 2 islands off the east coast. I can’t wait to see what your resort is like, on a completely different part of the island. Safe travels, friend!
Gail
Loved the story about the veterans and the evocative picture painted as you and your carefree friends cycled through the beautiful German countryside. Looking forward already to February’s challenge!
mkmiller
Thanks so much, Gail! I’m just delighted to be included in this group, and have something to prod me into posting. Too often I let the perfect be the enemy of the good and the weeks slide by…
Debbie Harris
What great stories and memories you’ve shared. along with the photos MK, I loved reading your post. It’s fabulous to have these blogging connections isn’t it? I’m pleased to be invloved in this collab with you all!
mkmiller
Thanks so much, Debbie! I’m delighted that Gail collected all of us. I’ve had a crazy busy week, and just now having the luxury to go read everyone else’s posts – looking forward to yours…
Suzy Turner
What a wonderful post! I would have loved to have seen those joyful Germans making the most of their time together.
I love Germany. My husband and I visited for the first time a few years ago, and have returned a couple of times since. It’s a wonderful country…and a pleasure to drive in too!
Hugs
Suzy x
mkmiller
Thanks, Suzy! My husband’s parents emigrated from there, so have plenty of family to visit there – planning another trip soon (fingers crossed).
Michelle
There is much to be said for being older and wiser – having the forethought not to buy the Mercedes in spite of it having long been dream.
What a wonderful bicycle trip! Seeing the German POWs celebrating life and their connection through great hardship must have been emotional and enlightening. Some of the people who have experienced the worst things life seem to know how to appreciate life the most.
mkmiller
Isn’t that the truth, Michelle? I try to be inspired by that to live my best life. I do have a small pang whenever I see a red Mercedes coup, however….
Susan
This is such a great article on time. I loved the part about the prisoners of war celebrating.
mkmiller
Thanks, Susan! Both my MIL’s brothers fought in the German army and were captured by the Russians. One was released in 1946, but the other lived many years in Russia where they were desperate for skilled labor (he was an engineer).
Leslie Susan Clingan
What a memory. Those men had so much to celebrate. I am sure their energy was contagious and spilled out over the entire establishment. Thank you for sharing.
My once-upon-a-time dream car was a baby blue Camaro, a ’67 or ’68 model. With white leather interior. Not even sure such a thing was ever available but it was a combination I sure would have liked to have owned. My ’69 Ford Maverick, blue with black checked interior was cute but no Camaro!!
mkmiller
A baby blue Camaro with white leather interior sounds like a dream! My sister had a royal blue ’68 Camaro and my brother had a gold one, gifts from ancient and indulgent aunts. I drove a yellow Super Beetle in college myself, and am pretty happy with my oh-so-middle-aged Honda SUV now!