Germany....16 Years Later...Part One

Flint often spoke about surprising our former German neighbors. A wedding invitation from someone we knew when she was a high school student in Nurnberg finally put us into action. Not only would we visit the area where we met, we would celebrate our 19th anniversary at a wedding!

The first person we ran into was Flint's former colleague, Mel. He invited us to the gospel rehearsal in the new post chapel. (It's to the side and back of the other one. Both are used.) As we listened to the rehearsal, I thought of all the 'regular' people we hear who are every bit as good as the 'stars.'

Too cute for words!

The beautiful field on the left as one enters Hammermuhlweg, our former street. The sheep in the distance must be descendents of those we petted when we lived there.

Flint entering the street once affectionately called  'Flintstrasse' by the neighbors. Sixteen years ago it dead ended into another field. More houses have been built and the street extended.

First stop was to surprise Herbie and Friedi...and we did! They said they knew whenever Flint returned he would just show up and ring the doorbell...and he did.

Our former landlord, Hans (on the right), his wife , and his brother who lived next door...Out for an afternoon walk, Frieda told them who was back in town as they passed the house.

With Sepp

Lissy expressing her surprise! Herbie and Frieda just told them to come over for coffee.

Tanja was only 20 when we left.

Tanja and Momo...he's a new addition to the group.

Many more happy memories made around this table this day. Frieda always has plenty to eat, and we were stuffed when we left. It was just coffee and delicious cake, but then the food kept coming.
Corinna (between her daddy and Flint) was a toddler when we left. She knew Flint from the stories she had heard!

Our first place...it was white then, and we lived downstairs. Hans and his family lived upstairs. The porch enclosure is a new since Hans now lives downstairs.

With Siggy, Lydia, and Harold. Flint would always stop and play basketball with Harold who is a Chicago Bulls fan. A middle schooler when we left, he's a dentist and working on a medical degree in jaw and facial surgery

Thinking we were leaving the neighborhood, the 'American' living on the street passed. We knew him!  Bill and his wife continue to teach at the Hohenfels School. Although Ann had just returned from a cruise, they  graciously invited us in to catch us up on their family and colleagues who remain in the area. We visited with their son (now also an educator) briefly when he came on a sports trip here several years ago.