Reunification.
23 October 2005If you live in Germany, you’ll hear this word a lot. Reunification. They even have a national holiday for it. Not the word, but the event. You know, when the wall came tumbling down and Germany became a whole country again – way back in 1989. It means a lot to the Germans, but it doesn’t mean much to me.
Reunification, reunions, whatever.
I’ve never been to a reunion. I mean, I graduated from high school in the Philippines while there was a military dictatorship going on. So there’s not a whole lot to celebrate. And I haven’t been back to Pepperdine and Malibu since I packed up my stuff and left for Sweden – again – way back in 1989. It’s not that I don’t like to meet old friends and reminisce about old times, I do it as often as possible, just not in an organized fashion.
That is, until last weekend. Kind of.
I didn’t attend a reunion, but I did attend a 40th birthday party with a lot of old friends. Deep in the backwoods of the Swedish countryside. And you know what, it was actually a lot of fun. Lots of familiar faces, good [old] music, dancing and plenty of food and drink. Did I mention that there was plenty to drink? Well there was, but I played the role of the responsible adult with flying colors. Next time I’m definitely not going to be a designated driver.
And next time the 3rd of October rolls around and all the flag waving begins on my street in the Düsseldorfer Altstadt, I think I may just have a better understanding of what all the excitement’s about.
Tack Bengan och Åsa!
