A celebration of AMERICA in NEVER NEVER LAND....**

HI BLOG!


Weather: It has been cold and rainy but the Universe blessed us with a beautiful day for the 4th of July!

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. ~Hamilton Fish

Happy INDEPENDENCE Day!!!! Today in NEVER NEVER LAND: I am going to cut my grass, eat hot dogs, and drink beer with THE BRAVE!!! Living oversea's I have learned that we are quite fortunate in AMERICA, even though most people won't admit it or aren't smart enough to see it. A humble thank you to those that protect our way of life, I am a proud AMERICAN and a PROUD MILITARY WIFE!

LEGS and I have an amazing yard, so we decided to have a BBQ for the 4th of July.  At first it was a casual, come see our house, we will cook out, close friends type of deal.  But then we made so many new German friends that we decided we should host a little better.


LEGS was grumpy the morning of, because he didn't want to do any work to get the yard and house ready for the BBQ.  I reminded him that he doesn't do much around the house, that we are far away from family and that I want to surround myself with people on this momentous occasion.  


After this small reminder, he agreed and perked up a bit- to my delight.


We purchased, Hot Dogs, Beer/Juice/Soda.  LEGS made his famous Jack Daniel Ribs and our amazing friends brought the INFAMOUS OREO BALLS, Cheddar Spuds, Chips, bottles of wine, and more grilling goods.  At the end of the evening we had SMORE makings to prepare over the fire pit.


We invited all of our German neighbors, our NEW German friends, and everybody we know here in NEVER NEVER LAND.  I was incredibly impressed with the strong German presence at our celebration of Independence.  I think this is the case because LEGS and I always try to make our presence known at the German events/celebrations.

Our German neighbors are so incredibly generous and kind.  They each brought me a gift, Mariannae brought me a Sun Flower, Horst and Ursula brought me 3 bottles of home made Svedka (Its like Schnapps - but homemade so its like MOONSHINE), and George brought us 2 more bottles of homemade Svedka.  Yogi and his wife Gertrune came after they got home from work, and our new young German friends Lisa, Thorsen, and Thomas brought beer and bread with their attendance.

LEGS and I spent most of the night attending to the grill/food, and I spent some time serving the Germans and making sure they were happy and having fun.  George is slightly handicapped, so I helped him get around, just like I help my Pops.  

HORST and Ursula wanted us to try their Schnapps so we brought out the shot glasses and everybody in attendance had a taste.  The Svedka we have encountered over here, so far, has burned going down and is terrible to shoot. But what the neighbors brought was surprisingly tasty and delightful, which means it is ridiculously dangerous.  


ALL of our German neighbors and German friends  knew that it was America's INDEPENDENCE DAY, which means that I need to have a better grasp on NEVER NEVER LAND's holidays. (hanging my head in shame)

At the end of the night we had all of the GERMANS begging us for more SMORES-they like SMORES!!!


LEGS showed some of the Germans my boxing video's, as proud as he is to show them to people its always so embarrassing for me.....

Mariannae escorted some of our American friends around the yard to tell them what kind of tree's, plants and flowers we have.  It was funny because our American friends came back and said that she speaks to them in German like they understand what she is saying.  And even though they don't speak German they KNEW what she meant because of how animated she is.

I dare say it......this 4th of July has been one of my VERY favorite 4 of July's ever! I feel horrible for saying it, because it means my favorite 4th of July was celebrated on foreign soil but after thinking on it....I know why......

WHY: 


LEGS and I chatted in the car the other day, about how much we enjoy our German neighbors.  We are closer to our neighbors in NEVER NEVER LAND than we EVER were in ANY residence we had in America.  How is that possible?  

We OWN a HOUSE in ALASKA and still do not know our neighbors!?!  I remember one night I got locked out of my house (the one that I own), I walked a few houses down to the neighbors house in ALASKA, and asked if I could barrow her phone.  She looked at me like I was a criminal, and hesitated until I gave her my information, before she would let me use her phone.  

Thorsen and Lisa

I feel safer here in Germany then I ever did in America.  This is why....  


First of all, the Germans do everything together, they eat together, they camp together (one GIANT camp fire at the campgrounds), they Party together, they exercise, exchange daily chats, coffee, jams, and baked goods between themselves.  

My NEVER NEVER LAND OMA Mariannae

When was the last time you made friends at a camp ground? When was the last time you made friends at a restaurant? Or invited a neighbor over for coffee??? DO IT!!! Compliment their clothes/car/tent/RV/etc., talk shop with them, be facebook friends.....

Second, Everybody knows everybody and they are curious about everything.  So if anything ever happened to me or my property- some German would know who did it.  

HORST and URSULA

Do you know your neighbors name? Do you know the neighbor a few houses down? Do you walk your dog? Do they walk their dog- walk the dogs together! Do people know you? Do they know your kids' names, your dog's name?  

I think the reason there is more fear in America is because you don't know anybody, I was afraid to walk around in my neighborhood because I didn't know anybody.

Gertrune and Yogi (they vacation in Vietnam)

And last, I am part of their family now, I see them every day, I talk to them every time I see them, we eat together, we party together and we exercise together.  I try VERY VERY VERY hard to make a connection with them every chance I get.  It feels like the whole town is part of my family.  I know that if I knocked on their door in the middle of the night they would express more urgency for my sake then any neighbor I ever had in America.  

This is troubling to me....how is this possible?  


Two things.  


If you live in America and you can't say your neighbors name, their kids' name, their dog's name, for our country's sake, make an effort with your neighbors.  Bake some cookies, say hello, tell them your name, ask them if they want to take a walk, or if they need anything at the store. Because you just never know when you might need them to make a survival call on your behalf.

If you live in Germany, as an American.  I know its scary, I will help you.  Bake some cookies, say hello, learn their names, pet their cats/dogs.  As military wives we are so vulnerable because we live OFF base, and our BOYZ WILL DEPLOY.  Listen to me- YOU WILL NEED YOUR NEIGHBOR.  If you see them walking, go walk with them, be animated, google some German words....I am living proof you can chat with your neighbor and not know a damn thing that was said between the two of you....The important thing is the CONNECTION.  

Love this picture- Mariannae is often my LIGHT in NEVER NEVER LAND

I realize this blog started out celebrating America and the INDEPENDENCE we obtained.....and it ended up bashing it by the end, but truly if America is worth dying for in times of war, then.....THE PEOPLE need to make it worth that in times of peace.  How ironic is it that we are FREE from OPPRESSION, and FREE to express ourselves, and FREE to believe what we want, and FREE to be friends with whoever, yet....we don't take advantage of that and know the people that live right next door to us?


One way that I intend on improving it when I return is by getting to know my neighbors better.  And if I feel so secure, happy and energized my knowing my neighbors in NEVER NEVER LAND, surely....people who make the effort to know their neighbors will feel the same...maybe?


BBQ Recovery:


The next day was pretty rough.  I was unable to sleep, probably all the booze, so I got up and ran 5 miles with my Running Girlz.




I felt so charged after the weekend!!! We met so many amazing people and had such a great time with our neighbors and new German friends.  I watched the sun rise, knowing that the mania of the weekend would soon wear off....and it did....but only after;


I cleaned up the yard at 6am, it looked like Hurricane Katrina.  There was more outside in my house then inside so I cleaned all of that up.  




For some unknown reason my cell phone wasn't working....


And that was all she wrote, the LONG weekend shenanigans had finally caught up to me, I took a shower and went to bed.....


for the rest of the day..... 


I didn't get vertical until Wednesday morning.



Just another day in the life of any unlikely military wife....**