Meine Vaterländer

I was elated that Sven had gotten Heini’s sled. It was large and secure for our trip to the Schloss and Heini’s horses were the best to be found in Buhl. Sven was an expert horseman and would know how to pace the horses and keep them healthy. I was really looking forward to being with Liesel again and could hardly wait for the day to pass. I hadn’t been to the Schloss for a few years, but I knew it would be a romantic place especially with the fresh snow. The Schloss was in ruins now, only the huge tower remained, but the view from the grounds of this former robber baron fortress was spectacular. The Schloss’s Raube Ritters (robber knights) could view the surrounding country side from its tower for traveling merchants who would be obligated to pay a crossing tax or pay the consequences. The knights would gallop down from the heights wearing their armor and brandishing swords and demanded payment when they spotted a merchant with his wagons of merchandise. It was an easy life that attracted many scoundrels and was viewed poorly by the surrounding communities. Fortunately, these robber knights were eventually overcome and their fortresses were destroyed or left to decay. Today, they were a memorial to the injustice and inequality of former times when the use of force allowed those few the right to rule over and terrorize the many. I sometimes had the feeling that the mentality of those days still existed in the minds of our neighbors. I truly hoped that someday all people would be safe from these kinds of aggressions and would be able to live in peace, to raise their Kindern (children) and to enjoy the fruits of their labors and to see and love the children of their children. Maybe I expected too much, but I knew that the gift of life comes only once and to have it squandered needlessly by endless jealousies and the greed of others is a sin of the highest order. My mind wandered to der Altforster and to his sorrow and to Sebastian’s Vater who had been wounded and left on the battlefield to die by the French. I could easily understand why Sebastian made the decision to leave his Heimat (homeland). I didn’t know if I could do what Sebastian did. He says that he would do it all over again, but look at everything that he has lost. He lost his homeland, his Mutter died before he could see her again, his Vater is now very sick and if he goes back to Amerika as he said that he would, he will probably never see him again. These thoughts made me very sad.

The day was beginning to wane but the thought that I would soon be near Liesel increased my mood to the level I experienced on the morning I first saw her. The clouds cleared and the weather changed into a frosty and crisp winter day with an unbelievable bright Mediterranean blue sky. As the afternoon sun started to slip toward the horizon, I was preparing for the Ausfluge (trip to the Schloss). Mein Vater gave me a small flask of brandy and told me to only sip it to stay warm and meine Mutter insisted that I take the woolen scarf that she had just completed. She also gave me a pair of woolen mittens that she was going to give me on Weihnachtstag.

Sometimes I felt that my parents were too protective of me, but I knew that they meant well and I would not have expected less.

The time for Sven to arrive was approaching and I was ready. I could hear the bells on the sled as Sven turned onto the Rhein Strasse. I ran down the steps to the front door just as he had reined the horses in. Meine Mutter und Vater came down and waved to us as I got into the back of the sled with Liesel.

<Hurry, Hermann, come get under the blanket. I see that you brought a wool scarf, it’s going to be a cold night. >

<Liesel, I even have woolen mittens and a woolen hat. It’s going to be a wonderful clear night with a sky full of stars. >

<I hope we’ll see some shooting stars, I have a special wish to make tonight. Do you believe that a wish made on a shooting star will come true? >

<Liesel, yes I do. I have a wish that I want to make too. The view from the Schloss will be ausgezeichnet (excellent) and it will be so nice to be with you there to enjoy it. It has been a few years since I’ve been there myself. We may even be able to see the lights from Strassburg tonight the air is so clear. >

<I was there one time with mein Vater, but that was years ago and I was very young. I can still remember how excited I was then and I’m just as excited now to see it again with you. By the way, Sven brought some plum Schnapps to help keep us warm and our spirits high. >

The snow was a fine powder and our tracks through the streets and lanes were soon filled with drifting snow with the help of a light breeze that was blowing softly from the north. The moon was full and Sven had sufficient light to drive so that there was no need to light the side lanterns. He was an experienced horseman and could control the horses easily. Liesel and I snuggled close together under her woolen blanket. I slipped my arm around her shoulder and she nestled her head close to mine. Having her close to me felt very natural. We didn’t speak much during the long trip to the Schloss, but enjoyed the warmth and closeness of each other ignoring the others.

That night at the Schloss we saw several shooting stars, made our quiet wishes, saw the sparkling lights from the many villages across the land and those from distant Strassburg, dreamed our personnel thoughts and shared our first tender kiss. With Liesel in my arms I could think of nothing else but her and how I would miss her when she went back to Goslar. Liesel was so beautiful. I could never remember being so warm and comfortable as I did that night. The trip back to Buhl went much faster than