Berlin And The Hollow Tooth

Tip three:  Discuss Holiday ideas with those who live in the area.  That’s my uncle! Consider Rick Steves guidebooks for additional information .  I like his books.

Sitting in my Uncle Peter’s small, but efficient flat in the Charlottenburg borough of Berlin,  we studied very old photos. He lived within minutes of the largest surviving royal palace in Berlin actually called Charlottenburg.  Sharing these pictures brought him happiness yet also caused him such consternation.  He recalled as a boy how he and my mom ran to the castle for protection when the city was being bombed by the Russians.  While hiding and playing on the grounds, he did not comprehend WWII.

Berlin: Who Are You?

Thirty years ago Berlin’s wall came down.  I was working in Germany when that happened from 1989-1992.  After a nightshift at the military hospital, I went home to watch the news on the Armed Forces Network.  It seemed surreal to visualize the East Germans and many others excitedly chiseling the stone wall away!

On my recent trip to Berlin, it was with the wall in mind that I began another day exploring my mother’s hometown.   In my last post , I gave the tip to spend at least two days in the Mitte area.  Tip two is to look at Berlin through the eyes of history.

Berlin: Past,Present,Future

Hello from Berlin! To start off, I am wearing Peek&Cloppenburg’s Cashmere and a gorgeous scarf I bought on the Ku’damm, an avenue in the heart of the city.  When I think of fashion, we know the past definitely impact future clothing styles.  Peek&Cloppenburg is a German family run department store that has been in business 120 years! I like my classic look from them.

Photo Time

Nikon

Blackcap Chickadee: The little bird you love listening sing..Photo credit Nikon Camera by Alesia

 

Waking up to these birds always make my day:  Photo Credit Nikon Camera by Alesia

A Tree Suspended In Midair

I was staring at it and twisting and turning my head this way and that.  I was not seeing it wrong, however, the visual was secretive.  A large part of a tree had broken off and was suspended in midair.  It was protected by growth from another tree so the illusion was deceptive to my senses.  It reminded me of the quote from Henry David Thoreau, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. ”

VINTAGE SEATTLE

My life is a moment.  A moment summarized as the sun sets magnificently and gloriously all that and more.  Credit: Alesia

Luke’s Life

My autistic son Luke never ceases to amaze me.  This fun photo of him sitting in his favorite rocking chair creates a look as if he does not have a care in the world.

I often think about the impact autism has on our medical and governmental communities including, but not limited to social workers, physical therapists, special ed teachers, speciality physicians , behavior therapists, and social security experts.  As I focus on the twenty six years I have vested in my gorgeous son and his journey,  I vastly underestimated how much would go into all that we have aspired for Luke.  Looking back, it is hard to think about all those years, but know this it was an honor for me as Luke’s mom to give him my best and find all the resources I did.

Getting Older

My view from my home

I am an old soul.  It is a good feeling to know exactly what and who you are and how you determined your own point of view in this world.  The initial encounters in my nursing career were always beneficial in understanding myself.  After graduating from college and moving on to hospital nursing, it occurred to me I enjoyed one on one time with my patients that were geriatrics the most.  I loved hearing an 85 year old’s perspective on life.  Getting older can be a joy.  This was a good lesson to learn early on.

Coffee Break and Birding

I got a great treat today when I had some bird couples drop by.  I wish you could have heard the arguments going on between the woodpecker couple and the Blue Jay couple.  I was wonder why they were so mad at each other?  But then again they could have just been flirting!!! It makes my heart sing to hear and see all the fuss going on in my yard!