When I returned to Germany, I discovered that my good friend, Angie had moved away to another town. Our friends, K. and Peter were in entirely new relationships and we had a new neighbor that just moved below us.
This morning it began to snow. The weather was overcast, dark, wet and cold. There was an underlying melancholy that's difficult to describe
These shots were taken during our walk into town. Eric needed to take yet another passport photo for his Green card application. The entire procedure was once again on hold because apparently the photo we supplied was inadequate: "His hair can NOT cover his ears"
I'm beginning to fear we'll be trapped in Europe forever.
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Last night after work I was in a low place. I felt stress, worry and concern over a situation out of my control. I sat on the sofa feeling lost and saddened. Eric suggested we go rent a film and have a few drinks .
We ended up with "The Brothers Grimm" and a bottle of Tequila. I thought it would be a pleasant fairytale film. I was surprised to discover it was rather dark, disturbing and obscure. However, It made me want to read the real versions of the fairytales I grew up with.
We went to this site and read the translated collection of Brother's Grimms tales. Many of them had more violence, crudity, Christian undertones and freudian meanings than the ones I read as a child. Some just strange, Like this one. I read a number of fairytales outloud to Eric as he lay on the sofa beside me.
The last one I read was Little Red Cap (little Red Riding Hood)
"Oh, grandmother, what big ears you have!"
"All the better to hear you with....."
What was interesting about this version, was that Little Red Riding Hood was saved by a huntsman that cut open the wolf's stomach. The one I remember just consisted of her being eaten and that's it. It was a warning against trusting strangers. But in the original Grimm tale, not only is she saved... But she learns from it and the next time a wolf came along, she wasn't fooled.
I read the final line to Eric. "....And Little Red Cap returned home happily, and no one harmed her. The End", I smiled and said to Eric "Was that the version you remembered?...Eric?"
When I turned to him, I saw that he had fallen asleep in the middle of the fairytale. He looked so peaceful and I was just filled with so much love for him.
I gently kissed him awake and the two of us went to bed.
