"My" Place
Submitted by Tedd on June 29 1999 at 03:22:06
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Well, I can't sleep (Again) and thought I would write some things that I have been thinking. Well, actually, remembering. While in the Army, I spent some years in Germany. If you have never been there, it is an absolutley beutiful place. Anyway, from time to time, after duty, I would wander around the country side. At times taking a train, subway, trolly, or bus, other times just walk wherever my legs would take me. I never really knew my destination nor actually cared. Germany is full of farmland mixed in with urban buildings, mostly sunflowers, grapes, mustard, etc. growing on steep slopes, stairs built to enable easy access up and down. It was while one of these wanderings that I found a place that, for the remainder of my time in Germany, became "My" place. I was wandering down a street just because it happened to be going the same direction I was at the time, when I saw a small local store and decided to stop there to get a drink and maybe a bite to eat. Rather than attempt to find a way to get there by following the road, I decided to cut through some brush. I found a small trail that looked as if it might lead me in the direction I wanted to go and followed it. After a short walk through some fairly thick brush, it opened up to a small area. In this area was a bench, a jungle gym, and a couple of swings. I sat down on the bench and after a short while, when I was about to get up and continue, three small boys perhaps 8 to 10 came running through the brush, looked at me for a moment and continued on to the swings and proceded to play. The boys were obviously related, same dimples in thier cheeks as they smiled, same blonde hair. They never said a word to me and I never said a word to them. (I can't speak enough German to converse anyway). Well, perhaps a Gruscott here and an Aufvedersine there. As I watched these boys play, oblivious to the rest of the world, or even the rest of the neighborhood, it reminded me of my childhood and the obliviousness that we all felt at that time. For the rest of my time in Germany, I would return to this playground often, sometimes thier parents (Or sitter, I never knew) would join them, playing along with them in the identical way you have seen countless Americans do. Pushing the swings, helping them on the monkey bars, catching them from the slide. Each time that I was there, the boys would smile at me, as well as the adults. I would wave or give a greeting in German with an accent that made them wince. I always wished that I was an artist so I could capture the love that was in that playground with a drawing or painting. A photo just would not do it justice. They never seemed worried that this lone American was usually there when they were. A man that, when they showed up, would place his book on his lap and watch them with a small grin and a twinkle in his eye. On most ocassions, they would offer me food and drink that they had brought along, which I would accept with a smile and a "Danka". Although I am sure the adults could at least speak some English, they never did. (Germans are required to study English from Kendergarten up). Maybe they knew that I was just enjoying the country, and the culture. Maybe they knew that I longed for a family. One as close and as full of love as they were. Later, after I met a friend of mine that came to the unit. I would take his five year old boy to that spot and watch him play with the boys. American and German, neither one able to understand the other, and yet, it seemed that they had another way of communicating. A way that only children can. With innocense. The boy's parents would play with him just as much as they would thier own. I never learned thier names, the boy's nor the adults. But thier memory will last forever. And perhaps, they will remember me for a while. Perhaps they have already forgoten about the wierd American. I hope to someday find a spot like that here in America, but I do not think I will. Americans are too suspicious, to tense. Maybe someday I will return to Germany and to "My" place. Altho ugh I doubt the boys still play on the jungle gym, or the swings, I will see them there. I will always see them there, hear them, smell the soap as they run past me. Perhaps one day I will have children of my own and find a place to take them. Just me and them, to play and laugh, and love. If you have read this far, you must be as bored as I am right now. :) Thank you for listning to the ramblings of an insomniac. Perhaps I am just depressed that I am about to be 30 and still have no family. Take care and love all the children you can, boys and girls. Thier innocense and love will fade. |