A demanding day, for me personally means, that I was exposed to a lot of overstimulation for too long of a period, without an opportunity to get away and calm down. After such an experience, a dark room with either just moonlight or another small source of light and my favorite songs via iPod is the best way to recharge and process this overwhelming day . 🌙🎧
Category: Question
Solid – Benzsoul
Thanks for stopping by. I hope your weekend will be a lovely one.
A-Z Challenge: Quotes
Busted! I’m a quotes junkie, yes I admit it. I can read them for hours. They help me understand myself better, often times they express thoughts and feelings, I can’t manage to put into words myself. And, quotes can provide “food for thought” or be a comfort as well.
Below, I am sharing a few favorites….
“I am lonely, yet not everybody will do. I don’t know why, some people fill the gaps and others emphasize my loneliness. In reality those who satisfy me are those who simply allow me to live with my ”idea of them.” – Anaïs Nin
“No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.”
– Louis Sabin
“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
Mount Everest Is Waiting
“Oh what fun, the Mount Everest of laundry is waiting to be dealt with today!” [sarcasm end]
Fellow Animal Lover
Daily writing prompt
Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
I will never forget the day, when my mom and I flew back to Germany with Aubree. Besides the worries about my new beginning back home, O’Hare Airport with its hustle and bustle was challenging enough. But being anxious about how my little puppy girl would get through that 9 1/2 hour flight was yet another emotional difficulty to be dealt with.
While my mom was at the check-in counter I stayed with Aubree, who was in her kennel and quite worked up due to all the commotion around her. And obviously, she picked up on my nervousness as well. I tried to keep both of us as calm as possible, with very limited success. Then, a man came to get Aubree. That’s when the crazy reached a new level. I could no longer keep it together and a full on panic attack became unavoidable. The man tried to calm me, by showing me pictures of his own dogs at home and promised, that he would personally keep an eye on Aubree for as long as he possibly could. After getting my cell phone number, he send me a video about 30 minutes later, holding my sweet little girl in his arms, cuddling her, smiling big. That really helped me relax a little bit. To this present day, that was by far the sweetest gesture of a complete stranger towards me. And I’m so unbelievably thankful to him, for his kindness. A fellow animal lover, who did what he could to help Aubree and myself get through this stressful situation. Aubree was perfectly fine, when I finally got her back in Frankfurt. She was all excited to be back in momma’s arms, and ready to explore her new environment. 🐾💯💗
A-Z Challenge: Picture
The picture above my couch has a very special meaning. Every time I look at it, I remember my best friend Jamie and her husband Allen. They loved to go antiquing on the weekends, and quite often I was invited to join them. One of those Saturdays, we ended up at the Water Street Vintage Store in New London, Wisconsin, where I found this picture. Do you know the feeling when you see something and are drawn to it immediately? Spotting this picture, among all the other beautiful items being displayed at the store, was such a moment for me. It is precious, because it will always remind me of the quality time with two of the best friends I was ever blessed with in my life.
A-Z Challenge: Operetta
Just a few months ago, my mom started treating us both to evenings in the theater. Most often we enjoy an operetta, because traditional ballet [my favorite] is mainly on schedule around Christmas. Until recently, I had completely forgotten, that those evenings at the theater used to be a part of my life fairly regularly, and how much I actually missed them. During my 20 years in America I stopped going, because I could not find anyone to join me…..
“Do I look like your granny to you?”
“Operetta, are you bonkers?”
“Oh hell no, that’s for old people!”
“That awful music is an offense to my ears!”
Responses like these prevented me from asking. And going by myself wasn’t an all too appealing option, honestly. Thanks to my mom I have a theater companion again. Hopefully we will enjoy quite a few more evenings with lovely performances, no matter if operetta or ballet. 🎻🩰
Breaking Free
Daily writing prompt
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
I had a happy childhood, but grew up overprotected. My parents did what they were supposed to, and raised me to the best of their abilities. In hindsight, they guided and guarded me a little bit too much. Although, I think every teenager feels micromanaged by their parents. Am I wrong?
The best decision I ever made for myself was, to break free from this sheltered environment and move to America with my ex-husband. When we divorced in 2001, I was on my own for the first time, which was scary and exciting equally. Suddenly I was responsible for my own life, knowing precious little about anything. There wasn’t anyone to take charge, make decisions, plan for the future. Uh-oh! It was up to me, the good, the bad – all of it. I learned to love my independence right quick, even though this newly found freedom came with lots of trials and errors. As I got myself established in America, and through amazing friendships, I truly started to get to know my “UN-micromanaged-self”. It may not have taken a different continent to become an individual, but it certainly didn’t hurt either. Moving back to Germany in 2014 feels like 10 steps backwards from how far I fought myself forward. Still, I learned what I am capable of, and I can always look back on that time in America with pride and joy.
Holy Nightmare
That would be Australia, I’m sorry to say. Surely the country is beautiful, the people friendly and lovely. Not only is it way too hot over there for my well-being, they also have way too many of these slithering, creepy animals I am terrified of. They’ve been causing more nightmares, than I care to admit. As wonderful as this country certainly is, regrettably, I will never visit. Sorry! 🐍🌡
A-Z Challenge: No
The 47th president of the United States shakes up the entire world. And it has been what, three and a half months? The American people voted for Donald Trump, but the rest of the world didn’t. Yet, we get to read about him, and see his face nearly every morning in our newspaper. Not only the Americans have to worry about, which ridiculousness they are going to wake up to next.
The antics of this president and his troll brigade have negative and challenging effects on so, so many people, well beyond the borders of America. If I would not have left my heart in the States, I would say “Sir, go ahead and ruin your own country, but leave the rest of the world to their own affairs, please. We’re all stocked up on crazy over here, and certainly don’t need your help”! Unfortunately it is not nearly that easy. The worst part is, that this president doesn’t care in the least about “the common folk’s problems”. He is an attention-needy, power hungry old man, who should enjoy time with his family and play golf. To three and a half more years of his presidency, I can only say “No. Please. No.”
Trivialities & Intricacies 
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