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Already, the leaves are beginning to change and the threat of winter is in the air. I travel the German countryside….I am not sure what I am looking for, but with certainty that what I haven’t yet discovered will eventually find me!
This will be my last fall in Europe.
…And as that thought keeps slipping though my mind, I am filled with a sense of melancholy for this place I have come to love.
I want to go home to the embrace of my family, my friends...familiarity. I have been here since November of 2006…doing without cable, struggling to understand a strange government and following the sometimes stringent rules of a socialist society…struggling with bills, language, and the different electrical system…and like the arrogant American that I was, I laughed at the small cars (and everything else), marveled over the milk that didn’t need to be refrigerated, and growling at enforced recycling.
…but I will desperately miss the tranquil ambience of the land, the soul of the people. I will miss the windmills that take your breath away as they peak over the hills. I will miss the thousands of miles of scenic trails, the hundreds of family owned bakeries that ensure a fresh homemade croissant with a little bit of honey every morning for breakfast. I will miss the markets—the teahouse and the café where the owners now know my name and treat me like family. I will miss the narrow cobblestone roads… I will miss the castles, the old buildings that quietly speak of tradition, regally displaying their royal or humble pride.
I will miss the slower pace of this world…the lack of care for everything material. Less is more, here…

So, my last fall here will be spent celebrating with the German people the bringing in of the wine harvest, the opening of the first kegs of beer of the season…I am going to Munich for Oktoberfest! Make sure you tell me if you want a souvenir!!!
Here is some background information:
The first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times.
happily working on commissions of all kinds…but in an effort to become more visible, I have joined a club, of sorts, that is devoted to getting little known artists more exposure.
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If you are new to Deviant Art, or if, like me, are just below the radar, this is definitely worth checking out.