Aunt Helga, Frau Jacobs, Herr Jacobs, Dad.
Herr Jacobs and Dad really getting into a photo album.
Looking at their 7th grade class photo. Picture by Judy Petrie.
Frau and Herr Jacobs, cake and two very old teddy bears. Picture by Judy Petrie.
Several years ago my Aunt Helga was reading the Ostsee-Zeitung, the Stralsund area's daily newspaper when she saw an old class picture. She recognized one person in that picture, her older brother. The person who submitted the picture to the paper was Mr. Jacobs, a close grade school friend of my father's. They were sent in different directions near the end of the war and never saw each other again.
Aunt Helga was able to get in touch with Herr Jacobs and met him a few years ago. The Jacobs invited us for coffee and cake and a little personal reunion. The two guys started talking like they had seen each other the day before, not with a lapse of sixty years between conversation. There were photos to discuss, people to remember, and, literally and figuratively, war stories to tell. A grand time was had by all.
We thought we were there for coffee and cake. I could not refuse Frau Jacobs generosity and ate a slice of her homemade berry cheesecake and a piece of the chocolate cake. With a little whipped cream on top. Frau Jacobs then turned her considerable little old german lady charm on and convinced me to have another piece of each. I'm a sucker for the impish grin. The cakes were great but it felt like spontaneous adult-onset diabetes was about to occur.
The table was cleared as the conversation continue. It seemed like the visit was winding down when Frau Jacobs starts setting the table for dinner. There were salads, cold cuts, bread, cheese and meatballs. All were delicious, but I have to say that I was in some serious pain after that meal. About all I could do was sit in the corner in a food coma until it was time to leave.
7th grade or 7 years old. I thought the photo was dated 1937.
My stomach aches thinking of all that food.
Posted by: judy | 14 July 2006 at 09:07 AM