If I recall correctly, I tried answering this question a time or fifteen. My response will remain the same: to live like a gypsy. I romanticize the idea of not being tied down to one specific place. I’d rather be free to leave anytime I want, to wherever my heart is happy at that point in time. With a sweet dog by my side, a few essential possessions as well as a truck, I’d be quite happily on my way, to follow the tip of my nose. That is my idea of freedom…
Since my return to Germany, I find myself comparing the life I live now with the twenty years in America. And as frustrated, or disappointed, as I am to admit this, the conclusion I reach is always the same. Here in Germany I feel like a caged animal. How good it is, that you can’t ask me to explain myself because I’m quite sure, that any attempt would end up being an epic fail. I can only share, how I feel. It’s a restlesness within, a desire to get away. Why? I don’t know. Strangely enough, in the US I didn’t feel that way at all. That is my self-imposed guilt trip…
I should count my blessings and be damn thankful for all of the positives in my life. Everything my mom does, to make sure that I’m okay, as well as the financial assistance I get from the German government. My life is so good, compared to the lives of millions of other people around the globe. I should really stop my whining, don’t you think? I mean, I have so many liberties every single day, that other people dream about, or pray for every night. But it’s never enough, is it?
You may be certain, that I am not happy with my response to this question. But, without some in-depth-thinking, I can’t give a better answer today. Sorry.
Tag: Being Thankful
A-Z Challenge: Milwaukee
It was my home, sweet home for nearly 20 years: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
You’ve been so welcoming. I learned so much, met a lot of truly lovely people. The country roads and highways have been frequented by me quite a bit, especially during the warm months….moonroof open, music loud. Lots of long nights and tired mornings. Countless walks by Lake Michigan. And the Starbucks on HWY 100 was my second home. When they saw my car in the drive-up, my coffee was ready when I got to the window, without having to order. It’s a bit scary in hindsight, how much money I left there. Just like Barnes & Noble. I think at the Mayfair Mall location, which was my favorite, they silently cheered when they saw me coming, because they knew, that I’d leave quite a bit of money there. The same goes for Best Buy, TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Pier 1 Imports, or JC Penny Outlet Store, to name a few. And I really miss Chili’s restaurant. Every Sunday night I’d get a take-away Southwestern Cobb Salad, with extra Cilantro Dressing….yumm-tumm-tumm, that was so very good. I loved that salad. Another highly frequented place was the observation area at Milwaukee Int’l Airport. How many afternoons and evenings I did I sit in the grass or the car with my puppy girls and watched the planes take off or land? Gosh, I don’t know. And the very cool thing was, that you could tune your radio to the frequency at which the pilots were communicating with the tower!
A great thank you goes out to my last employer Dental Associates, headquarters on Burleigh Street. They’ve been like a family to me for almost 13 years. They saw my potential and gave me a chance. Hopefully they never regretted hiring me.
Milwaukee, it wasn’t always a cakewalk, because there have been some difficult and dark years, that I gladly could have done without. But overall it’s been an amazing experience, that I will always treasure, and be thankful for. I would never be, who I’ve become, if it weren’t for these 20 years in the beautiful Midwest of America, in which I had to fight my way through life alone. Thanks so much for having me! Love, always 💓
Trivialities & Intricacies 