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It was hard to decide what to post or not post today. What to make or not make. I was working in the offices of Endemol in Cologne Germany 10 years ago on this day and our entire company was glued to the TV sets.
What I remember is the special kindness of the German people in the weeks afterwards. The station worker in Hanover I asked directions from who, when he heard my American accented German came from behind the counter, grasped my hands and expressed his sorrow for what had happened. He shared how he lost friends and colleagues in Germany’s biggest train wreck. The spontaneous beautiful giant heart made of roses and candles laid out on one of Munich’s streets.
It was also the small things, like when a cab driver saw the tears streaming down my face in the back seat while listening to the news on the radio, slowly turned down the volume and switched the station to beautiful classical music. Countless Germans said to me how wonderful America was to them after WW2 and without them Germany would not be what it is today. They were truly heartbroken.
Today, like everyone else, I am remembering and honoring of all those lost lives.
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2 comments
What a lovely reminder of the kindness of strangers. All the negative things that happen in the world can seem overwhelming, so it's nice to remember that people can be so warm-hearted. I'm so tired of the fear-mongering and exploitation that surrounded the coverage of the tenth anniversary of 9/11, so I enjoyed reading your lovely post.
It is good that you decided to post today.