Mühltal, January 10, 2007
I feel very much like on a day back in March 2003. Spring was in the air and skies were sunny and blue. It was only weeks before the war in Iraq started and I felt as if I had not deserved it. I was going to enjoy a peaceful beautiful day in Germany, whereas American soldiers were soon to fight a brutal dictator in Iraq.
On my way to work I saw my American neighbour saying good-bye to his wife. He was wearing his uniform, I had never seen him wearing his uniform before. I turned around my car to tell him how welcome he and his family were. But when I arrived he had already gone. (Read the whole story here: Second Chance)
And today quite the same. Although we are in the middle of January, it is warm, almost 15 degrees, the sun is shining and skies are blue. A wonderful day.
I receive an email. Written by an American soldier.
“I am going to the Middle East sometime in the spring …”
We have been emailing occasionally. “Going to the Middle East in spring”, - if we were living in different times it could just mean a tourist tour, but these days …
I want to quote from his email:
I am a Major in the U.S. Army. I lived in your beautiful country for almost 5 years. (…)
I do enjoy what you write and I appreciate your comments. I love your country very much and I am saddened by some of the comments that come from German media and politicians. Karin, we are not warmongers, however there is a great threat in the world and it is only getting more powerful (I think you know what I am referring to.) I just hope Europe awakens from their long slumber……
I am going to the Middle East sometime in the spring and I hope to spend a couple of days in Germany on my way home. I hope it will be as I remembered.
I share your hopes. My thoughts are with you and with all the American soldiers trying to make this world a safer place, protecting our freedom. A freedom I never had to fight for.
God bless you!
Warmest, Karin