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Frohe Weinachten!

 Frohe Weinachten aus Deutschland!


Our landlord brought us this sort of Christmas tree, for which we are very grateful. I had a handful of decorations I brought from home to decorate it with. I found some good yarn to make Christmas stars with a few months ago. It's our version of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. There will be no presents under it this year, as we will already be overweight with luggage unless we shed a few items coming back. But, with no presents, we gain a new perspective on the feast of Christ's Nativity, a valuable lesson. We had Vespers and Compline every evening this week, with Vigil tonight, and Liturgy in the morning, followed by a gathering at the Monastery. Living so close to the church enabled me to get there every evening. My heart is full of hymns.

Now that the decision has been made for us by circumstances, I am more at peace as I contemplate retirement life in Alaska. Things I will miss about Germany: the architecture, proximity to church and shopping, inexpensive groceries, great bread, sunshine even in winter, people from different cultures, and being able to walk in interesting places year round. 

Things I will not miss: smokers in public places, people chattering on the bus in Bayrish (which is an incomprehensible dialect to me), illogical TV program schedules, and culture shock. 

Let me elaborate on the illogical TV program schedules. They don't pay attention to time. A program could end at two minutes past the hour, and the next one comes on at 6 past the hour. Crazy. Commercial breaks last long enough to make popcorn in a pan and take a potty break, but then a program like Death in Paradise can run two episodes in a row without a break. I haven't figured it out, yet. 

It's time for me to get ready to go to the Nativity Vigil. For all of you on the hind end of time, so sorry. I'll beat you to Christmas by up to 10 hours! 

Gute Nacht



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