Last Night in Germany

It's hard to believe, but we leave Germany tomorrow. Things have been so busy that this is only the second entry I've written the whole trip.

There's lots to tell and I'm sure Patricia will add an entry when she's ready too, but for now she's busy going through her old things with her mom.

Momentos from childhood, books long forgotten, pictures, CD's, letters, clothes she just can't part with.

Things that take her back to a simpler time. So as Patricia and her mom look through box after box of old things Christoph, her father Freidrich and I went for a walk through the woods to Friedrichshutte.

Friedrichshutte is an old travelers' Inn where the Brother's Grimm penned some of their tales. They journeyed through the German countryside gathering stories and stopped there to rest.

They watered their horses, ate and drank, slept for the night and as I'm told sat under a tree outside and wrote.

That's where we walked to. We lunched on Schnitzel and Bratwurst and Beer. It was a good German afternoon.

The hike through the woods was pleasant, maybe three kilometers long, with a view of the villages below, green, green fields, the blue sky above and the ever present waft of hay floating through the air.

But now we're on our way to the airport and will be back in Vancouver tomorrow.

We've got a Venue and Date

After several busy days, eating and drinking really, we finally get a moment to update the details. The details about our wedding we've been promising everyone for months now.

We've worked hard. Our parents have helped immensely. And we finally have a date and a venue.

Mom and Don, Patricia and I have been staying with her parents, they've been gracious hosts, we've toured around the German countryside - Patricia's father driving 200 km/h - and now we have the perfect venue.

Rub your pennies together and plan for May 31, 2008.

Above are some pictures of the venue. A thirteenth century Abby. It's Gothic and melancholic, but not too melancholic for a wedding, over seven-hundred years old, with a huge open courtyard for the reception.

Even though it's hard to see from the size of this picture, we're standing in front of the entrance. We're excited and could not have found a better place.

Things have been hectic. Patricia's parents and mom and Don helped immensely by providing input, planning the trip and taking us around the country. But this, the Kloster Cornberg, http://www.kloster-cornberg.de
is a special place.

We're excited. we hope you will be too. More details to come...

Off we go.... 1 hour to go

This will be a very short blog entry and the last update from Canadian Soil.
We are all ready and fully packed, sitting at the gate and waiting to board the plane.

This is very exciting and I think I still haven't realized that today is THE day. The day we are going to Germany to see my family. And we are going as a family.

We are ready, after a 3 hours wait at the airport, Tim Hortons and some Duty Free window shopping....it's time to take off!

We'll see you soon, on the other side of the globe!
We love you all!

Tomorrow We Fly

Well today Patricia and are I doing our last minute preparations for out trip. Mom and Don arrive tonight, we'll have a quick visit and bite to eat and then it's sack time.

Patricia is so organized, despite working six of the last seven days, she's pretty much got us ready to go. Packed.

Our biggest trouble right now is deciding which shoes she's going to bring, "these ones or those ones?" she asks.
I say "those ones".
"But what about these? Maybe I need these ones too."
"Ok bring those ones too then."
"really not these ones?"
"Uh..."
Now I'm not sure exactly what was decided, but I noticed a couple pairs in my suitcase...

Yesterday I had a nice lunch with Jelly at Helen's Grill. A Main Street institution for cheap eats since just after the War. They haven't changed any of the decor since they opened save a few sports paraphanalia on the wall. Even those are getting old: old logos and teams no longer in the league. Remember the Hartford Whalers?

Even the table Juke Box's have the original music. We have a fast talking waitress, a veteran of diner-style service, complete with jail house tattoos and whiskey voice.

We were happy. Dad and I had a stack of pancakes, two eggs and sausage. Innumerable cups of coffee.

Kelly a plain chicken sandwich. Perfect. We ate and chatted, had a very good visit. The news of the day: a new condo in Langley for Dad and Kelly, affectionately know as Jelly, they take possession in October and we look forward to our first visit.

Fully sated and after a quick pit-stop to the ladies room for Kelly, we wandered up Main Street window shopping and stopped in at a little gallery, Arts off Main.

We wandered home, dad had a "gentleman's break". We took a couple Photo Booth shots said goodbye's and I settled back into getting ready for the trip and Jelly took off for Jeannette and Chris' house to look after Sasha.

And now we just wait for tomorrow. Flight time 9.10 am.

It was a good visit.

Family Reunion - My side of the story

Coming home from work tonight, checking the computer and reading the new blog entry posted literally brought tears into my eyes.
Steven has been working on the entry about the Fraser Family Reunion for a few days, and today, he finally came to an end with it.
It took him a few days to post it, but the result is touching and makes me being moved to tears.

It makes me happy and very proud to see his attitude towards his family and family in general.
I know he loves his family a lot, and so do I .
I have known the closest part of his family for almost 3 years now and from the first moment on everybody made me feel very welcome to the family. I can call myself very happy to being taken into the family as a member from the very first day, no exceptions. I am very proud to be part of the crew.

He is right, I haven't met the majority of the people who were at the Reunion before, but again: I felt like I have known most of them for a long time, just because everybody is so affectionate and lovable.

I enjoyed myself very much and I had a wonderful time with the folks, that's a fact. How can you not, within a bunch of happy, open and lovable people?

The other side of the coin is that the moments being spent with our loved ones always makes me realize how much I miss my family in Germany and how much I wished to be able to spend an afternoon with them having laughters and good times. Maybe even crying tears, it doesn't matter, just spending more time with them.
I can't change the fact that my family is so far away and that our time together is very limited.
I can only try to make the time we have more special and unforgettable.

My side of the family is just as great and lovable than the Fraser and the Tait Family, and we are looking forward to unite everybody next May at our wedding.
Even though they haven't been around Steven as much as I have been around his folks they love him just as much as I can call myself being loved from his side.
Talking on the phone, emails, chats....all these things do bring people closer together over time, at least in our case.

We are so happy to see everybody in just a week, and we are so excited to finally sit around a big table and drink, eat, laugh and enjoy a special time.
I am very happy about taking my In-Laws home to my country and to my family. This trip is very special and means a lot to me.

Family is important, probably more than anything else. Everybody needs to be loved. Sometimes being here without them makes me very sad and I feel lonely.
But Steven makes sure I never feel unloved. And so does his family.
So here is my personal conclusion:

I was forced to leave my family geographically in order to have an own one.
The family that I was welcomed to and grew into couldn't be any more loving and special to fill the void of those I left behind in Germany.

To close my thoughts on the recent and the upcoming events, I'd like to quote Lynne, my mother in law. After the reunion she sent me an email and these were her last words:

"PS I'm so glad you and Steven came to the Reunion as I think it is important to keep in touch with family but as we are so large it does get harder and harder. I think the people who didn't come because they were shy or just thought it was hokey missed out. We'll be doing a similar thing in Germany on Sept. 8th with your family and friends and I look forward to it."

I couldn't have said it in better words myself. Thanks Lynne!

One Week To Go (Fraser Family Reunion)

Today Patricia and I hopped on the Skytrain and headed east. My mom and step-dad picked us up at King George Station and we drove to Chilliwack.

Destination: Fraser Family Reunion. My mom's maiden name is Fraser; her father was born in Scotland and is where I get my
Scottish roots from.

I was happy to see my mom's brothers were there, my uncles. Three in total. Kevin the affable one, Keith the studious one and Chuck well... the smart ass. (we love you Uncle Chuck it's part of your charm).

I haven't seen a lot of them over the last several years, but my childhood was full of time spent together. Sometimes I miss them dearly and wish we saw more of each other.

But memories of my childhood remain. The times spent together over Christmas and different holidays comes marching back whenever I see them. I never feel more like myself than I do when I'm around this side of my family.

Sadly My mom's father, my hero, my inspiration to be a man, and my grandfather passed on in July of 2003 from cancer. And could only be there in spirit. A spirit gracefully embodied by a cousin playing the pipes to the crowd - echoing majestically through the misty Cascade mountains.

I think we all cried a few private tears then in loving memory of my grandfather.The sound of pipes, just the thought of him always fills my eyes with tears and my heart with sadness.

He was a strong man - fought in the war at a young age, was proud of his Scottish heritage, knew right from wrong, loved his home and family dearly and was always respected by those around him.

He had a temper that rears up inside of me at times too, but he was a wonderful person and we all loved him dearly. Our lives were blessed by his presence and we all, the entire family, are fortunate to have had such a man as our father, grandfather spouse and friend.

It was Patricia's first introduction to my extended family and sadly she never had the opportunity to meet him. She'd met some of the family members before but the Reunion marked the first occasion where most of the family were together. It was exciting for me to see everyone and exciting for me to introduce Patricia as my fiancee.

And Donna, Ed's wife did a great job collecting family artifacts and putting together a chronicle of the family history.

The Angel of the family, Jenna Morach, my sister Jeannette and her husband Chris's daughter, was there too marching around in her cowgirl boots. Happy and full of life. She is my mother's pride and joy and makes me feel proud to be her uncle everytime I see her.

Patricia and I hope to give her a little cousin to play with someday soon and, should it be a boy, will pay tribute to my late grandfather and my father by naming him Fraser James Tait.

Of course, and thankfully, my grandmother Jacqueline Fraser was there too. A plucky woman of eighty, strong and smart as a whip. I know it was probably difficult for her as she's in a little pain these days, but it's always good to see her and hear what she has to say. She's always ready with an honest word. And we sincerely hope she is well enough in May to travel to our wedding in Germany.

Where incidentally, we are going with mom and Don in just seven days. Next Tuesday we fly to Germany. We are excited indeed. So stay tuned and keep checking the updates.

I'm writing this entry alone today. Patricia's at work and I'm leaving soon too, but she may add to the entry, give her own thoughts on the Reunion. Anyway, thanks for reading and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

And a special thanks to Morris and Judy for hosting the party.

PS
Check the bottom of the page for another picture.

12 Days to Go,.....& about how to be a freegan

nothing worth today to write a blog entry about,...
today was the opposite from yesterday: getting up early in the morning at 6, going to work, well: working all day, little doctor appointment afterwards and then going home on the stinking bus in the middle of the afternoon. everybody is hot, sweating, and dying to have a cold drink anyway.

Since I am back on the sauce again.... we went to the Reef. The sun is shining right into our faces, the beer is cold and already makes you forget about the looong day at work or the shitty ride home on the bus.
This IS summer! And it totally feels like it!

Anyway: we need our friends' help here for a second: we were quiet amazed about what we learned about some peoples' eating habits today, just by watching and listening to out table joiners:

Who knows what a freegan is???? Has anybody heard that expression before? Well, we haven't, but we now know what it is supposed to mean.
A freegan is a vegan who is a vegan until it comes to eating free food.
Let's say: (and this is the case that we observed today at out table): the girl orders her dinner and makes sure it is vegetarien/vegan. OK fair enough. Shortly after the order was taken the server brings bread up to the table. A little bit confused she asked her buddies if the bread is vegan. He says no, but it comes with the meal.
Again, a little confused she wants to know if the bread is vegan, but unfortunately the answer to this question is out of her friends knowledge.
OK...it didn't take long until she decided to be freegan instead of vegan tonight, because why would you turn down free food?

It's easier to be a militant vegan when you're full, but when you're hungry and there's free food floating around, it's a little harder. Good work Freegan's .

"But chances are, you've heard that "other" definition of freegan. You know the one-- the one about the person who's usually vegan, but then someone gives her half a ham sandwich, and since she didn't pay for it, says it's "freegan" and eats it. Basically, someone looking for loopholes to still eat meat."

You suck. You Vegan hypocrites. I'm so sick of these vegan/vegetarian, climate change exaggerating, but do nothing about it, smelly, hemp wearing and fair trade coffee drinking reprobates.

More on climate change in upcoming blog posts but for now, you either eat meat or you don't. Political, health, trend what ever your reason for deciding not to eat meat, do it all the time, but shut up about it.

I don't want to hear it. We did not climb and claw our way up to the top of the food chain for millions of years, just to sit around smoking apple flavored Hukkahs and eating Tofu. Do I extol the virtues of eating meat? No. I just do it.

13 days to go,....

Here we are again, 13 days before we leave to Germany...
I am off today and I couldn't have spend the day better than I did.
First of all, we got up late, and then, Steve went to work. That meant I had all the time in the world to spend with my new baby, the MacBook, which I am still sooooo excited about.
For the first time today I used it for phoning Mama & Papa in Germany via Skype with the videocamera. Sooo much fun I tell you!


Then I met Rebecca (that's her in the picture),and most of my German friends won't know her, but just to fill you in: Rebecca and I have become very close friends in the last year and I think I can feel very comfortable considering her "my best Canadien friend". She's an angel and I am sure you guys would love her as much as I do.
Anyways: we went to the Reef patio, one of our neighborhood bars, watching the sun go down and having some beers.
We were being good girls and left early enough not to be hungover tomorrow morning at work. We all know that's no fun!

Now it's 8.15 and here I am lying in our bed, covered in the white summer sheets, where you can barely see the Mac Baby in, as it is white as snow as well.
That's what I ALWAYS wanted: lying in bed chatting on the computer or doing stuff. We all know these movie scenes......
I love it!

Two Weeks To Go

Here we are lying in bed writing our first blog entry on Patricia's new Macbook. How trendy blogging on a Mac.

We're going to chronicle our journey to Germany with pictures, stories and plans for our wedding. Rather than send everyone an individual email we can communicate to everyone at once.

And you guys can comment on the photos and plans we make as we go along. We leave two weeks today and travel with my mom Lynne and my step-dad Don (who recently became a senior citizen). My mom wanted to help get the plans together. I've never flown anywhere with friends or family before. So it's very exciting in many ways.

Germany is great. Patricia and I were there for a month Christmas 2006. That's where we got engaged. And above is a picture taken in Leipzig, seconds after I asked Patricia to marry me. Yeah I know I was surprised too when she said yes.

I'm not sure she heard me properly, but it was too late to go back; and now here we are almost two years later heading to Germany to plan our wedding.

I know you guys are going to be pretty sick of us by the end of this, but the stories will be interesting and the pictures will be great and there will be lots of other people involved as well. So check it out once in awhile and be sure to make some comments.

Also, for those of you coming to the wedding you can easily track the planning and find out the latest updates and details.

It's the first day of writing too, so check again soon. As the content will become more interesting as we go.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Steven and Patricia