Wyhl Germany

It is early Sunday morning and I feel much better than I deserve. Yesterday was like a dream, a very good dream.

Patrick & Hannah picked me up at the Freiburg train station. We did not have a place to meet and we had never met, but he came up to me, smiled, and said Bill? We jumped in his car and drove off to their home. There Julia was waiting and after a visit on their patio she brought out great food. It was spaghetti with a white sauce and asparagus. It is the season now and it was delicious.

Julia´s grandmother, Eva, lives in an apartment, attached to their home. She is delightful and speaks English very well. Her sister lives in Killen Texas with her husband who was in the military. She was very friendly and I really enjoyed our visit.

Elke, Patrick´s sister came for a visit and brought a half-dozen fresh eggs. We visited for awhile. She was like a ray of sunshine, laughing and happy, and it was a great pleasure to meet her.

Then we went to visit the wine growing region. It is very impressive. Terrace after terrace of grapes and the occasional winery and village. We stopped at a beautiful winery where Patrick said he had worked as a teen. He and I sipped a very tasty glass of red wine while Hannah played with some children on a swingset. It was very peaceful, beautiful and charming setting.

On the way back we listened to a bit of the Stuttgart-Bayer football (soccer) match. It was being held in the stadium next to the arena where the concert had been held. It was a big game and Stuttgart won.

Wyhl is bigger than I thought, about 3800 people and is very close to the Rhine river and hence to France. On the way back we drove over the river, into France, and then back to Wyhl.

When we arrived, there were many people there. Patrick´s parents, Alfred & Agnes, Elke and her husband Bernd (who leaves shortly for a fishing trip to Alaska), brother Juergen and his wife Ute and many children. Anke, Steffen, Kerstin, Hendrik, Sophia, Gina were all there as well.

We had a barbecue and it was amazing. Beef, chicken, fish kabobs, lamb, and others all went on the grill. A wonderful salad, a potato salad made by Agnes, a carrot dish and many others. I told them it was a feast and I was very grateful for their thoughtfulness and care.

It was a lovely meal on the patio and everything was so good and tasty. After a while we had sparkling wine, espresso and then more red wine. They were drinking beer so it was my job to work on the bottle of wine and I did OK. That is why I am lucky not to feel worse this morning.

We were talking about music and Kerstain, daughter of Elke and Bernd, went to get her guitar. She came back and played several songs. She was great. We were clapping and singing along. Then they sang a song they sing for birthdays. I did not understand the words but the sentiment was unmistakable.

Now the candles were on the table, the yard so beautiful and peaceful. I felt like I was among family and I was. It was a wonderful feeling.

Patrick and Julia are two very special people. Julia went out of her way to make me feel welcome and to let me know how happy she was that I had come for a visit. Their home is so lovely, beautiful wood, tile and windows everywhere. Next door live sister Ute and her husband Marcus but sadly for me they were away on a trip. I hope to meet them next visit.

Yes the next visit. I am already planning a visit in the near future and I am still at their home. That is how welcome they made me feel. I am very lucky to have met them and it is due to the work Sister Liz has done on the family tree and her connection with our European relatives.

I have many photos (I think) and hope to load them soon. Now it is off to Vittel, France and Evelyne, Paul and maybe Ludmilla. I am very anxious to see them. But I do not want to leave Wyhl. A part of my heart stays here. I am so glad I came but so sad to leave.