Retreat
Hands joined
Fire activated
Water flowing
Us. Brought together to heal.
To hold my sister up.
Moving, mending, started off mechanical ‘cause we want to do it “right” often
when you’re a woman.

Then, witness –
Breath dropped in deep.
Fears tackled
Hearts opened
A sit-down by a tree with centuries old wisdom. Listen.
Air whispers.

Breathe Earth feeds.

Breathe

We moved around a lot. It wasn’t because one of my parents was in the military or had a job that necessitated transfers. It was because I had a very unstable childhood. I don’t remember ever living more than two years in one place until I got to high school. By then, I had gone to six different schools. So nearly every year I was the new girl; forced to quickly catch up with my peer group, many of whom knew each other for years already.

​

I’m thinking back to when I was younger, before I got to spend three consecutive years at one school. I often reflect on my last years of elementary school. Specifically the year between 5th and 6th grade, which is a blur with a few vivid memories sprinkled along the timeline. I met a girl who immediately took it upon herself to make introductions. 

​

Tracy Miller. She had such an authentic and sweet smile. Surely I couldn’t trust that she had a genuine interest in friendship. I almost didn’t know if I could take her seriously. I certainly wasn’t about to invest that much time into really getting to know her. It was pointless since my family would probably move again without warning and there would go another year spent making a friendship that would abruptly end when I was whisked away to another school without warning. 

Now let me tell you that you haven't lived until you discover the REAL meaning of quitting time.
That, I have just learned from Germany. In my first week. 

Germans don't play.
When it's time to go, it's time to go. 

This includes whether or not you made it into the store 2 minutes before closing!

Just a little note in case you don't know or have forgotten, electrical devices made for the USA do not plug into European outlets.
That said, here's the lesson:

I was all ready to have a nice Friday evening in. Unwind from a whirlwind of a week. I turned on my laptop and was in the middle of talking on skype to my BEST friend from University aka my "twin sis" when I realized that the battery on my computer was very low. In fact probably 10 minutes away from being completely empty. 
No problem, as we talked I reached for my cord to plug it in and saw that the US plug was missing the converter that I had put on it. I had just the one for the 2 things that I brought from the US that I need to plug in. After searching my 2 rooms and my computer bag, I assumed that I had left the converter plug in the extension cord at my office 40 km away! There was no way I was going to drive all the way there at night in a new city.

I was in a panic because there was no way I was going to go the entire weekend (not even Friday night) without my computer!!! 
Emails, skype! My connection to folks back home. 
I might be the adventurous one taking off for Germany, but sometimes I just want to hear a familiar voice, you know? 

I was feeling the need to be in touch with some familiar folks.
So, after getting the scoop that the was a store near me still open if I hurry I could just make it.

I seriously doubted I would be so fortunate as to find it without getting at least a little turned around, it's so easy to do in this city, but I had to try. One wrong turn and that was my chance lost. But, it was possible! And lo and behold, I actually made it there with barely 2 minutes to spare!

I ran inside and tried my best German asking the girl behind the counter where I could find a converter. 
Blank stare....

"Damnit!" I thought. 

"...plug, for my computer..."

"Ah! Computer. 3rd floor." Computer - That universal word. 

Ok, 3rd floor, Which to us is the 4th floor. See, it's all the little things...

I RAN up the slow moving escalator and just made it to level 3 slash 4 when I heard a booming voice one level below.

"Feier-abend." said the security guard and he gestured with a sweeping hand movement as if to shoo me out of the store.

"Oh! Eine moment, bitte." 
(inner monologue which went unspoken) Please Mr. I made it into the store, just let me buy my plug or cord whichever...

I stood frozen in my spot. This guy looked serious. And he was wearing one of those clear "secret service" earpieces.

I looked around... someone, anyone... Help! I need a distraction. I untied and tied my shoe. That bought me a few seconds...

Ah, one employee guy, passed, "Excuse me, I actually said it in German, "Entschuldigung..."

He walked right past, completely ignoring me! Ah! The nerve, but what could I do? He had cds to stock before he could leave.

Travel blog at: http://larena-movie-makinggermanstyle.blogspot.com