Road trip

Dullness shall be put aside tomorrow, even if it's just for one day.

A couple weeks ago B's aunt, Giesela, called and asked if I wanted to go with her on a day-long trip to Wölitzer Park in Brandenburg. It's one of those deals where you take a bus there, they give you lunch, you take a tour, buy souvenirs and then take a bus home. This trip includes the lunch and then a three hour boat trip around the canals in the park - definitely the best way to see this place because it's enormous - the biggest English-style garden in Europe.

I'm looking forward to seeing the park but sort of dreading going with Giesela. She's a nice enough lady - always very sweet to me - but she's like eighty-years-old and honestly I've never done more than pass a bit of small talk with her. I really don't know what I'm going to talk about with her for an entire day. And when I get nervous my knowledge of German goes to shit. Good part though is that if I'm completely stumped I can just say "Tante Giesela, I have no idea what you're talking about. Start again and use simpler words.".

If I get my nerve up to delve into a more complex conversation I can ask her about B's father's family. She's actually B's father's first cousin but we call her aunt. Anyway, she's the only one left who can remember B's grandparents and great-grandparents and I want to know stuff about them. B never asked about such things before and if we don't find out before Giesela goes, the information will be lost forever. It'll probably be better for me to have this conversation with Giesela when she's at my home visiting so I can write things down, but at least we can cover a few things. B doesn't even know simple things like what his grandmother's maiden name was.

I should psyche myself up that this is going to be a fun trip. That I won't have a complete German language brain fart and that I won't be bored to tears. That I'll take lovely pictures and actually have a break from taking care of B, even if it's just for about ten hours.

And pray it doesn't rain, okay?