Gerd

Today I met Gerd.  It's pronounced in a half a breath and one syllable.  G-air-t.  His name is spelled Gerhard.  His wife calls him Gerhard.  I think everyone calls him Gerhard...except for Ruth.  She calls him Gerd.  Ruth does things like that.  

Gerd is a big strong sturdy man.  His hands, from years of being a medical masseuse, are large and grasp mine tightly in a friendly greeting.  I didn't get an immediate read on Gerd at first.  He looked like he could just as easily gone on safari as he could go down to the vet and pet premature kittens who needed human contact.   He looked as though he might be someone to be reckoned with if he was to be crossed...but I watched as he teared up when Ruth walked over slowly to give him a hug.  

As is the custom with all the people we've visited...we were rushed over and offered drinks as if our life depended on them.  The kids, fully understanding the way things work, whispered, "Drink slow...he'll just open more if you finish."  In Gerd's case, we walked through their yard, past the long unused hand-pump that was most definitely used as the source of water at some point, into what I can only call a drinking hut.  Traditional German decorations, many marksman/hunting plaques, a table and chairs, a cabinet that held far more glasses than the amount of people who would fit into this medium sized cabin.  There was a fully stocked refrigerator, enough memorabilia to fill any German restaurant back home...and a stack of pictures about two inches thick.   There wasn't any doubt who they were for as Ruth scooted over to sit right in front of them.

She started going through this stack and, speaking German,  held out a few to show the kids and me.  There was one thick papered picture, whose black portions appeared blue in certain light, that made Ruth stop and explain to us (in English) that these were their great grandparents...their REAL great grandparents.  They were a nice looking couple.  Him with uniquely shaped sideburns that would rival any of the twenty something hipsters who think they are being original, and wearing a military uniform.  She was thin, wearing a dress, and had striking eyes that reminded me of that Time magazine cover of just the woman's face.   Sylvia then said that Gerd and Ruth were real cousins...emphasis on the real.  I know a little of Ruth's story but didn't quite understand this.   Ruth has called many people her cousins, but there are only a precious few who are related by blood.  

Ruth's mom and Gerd's mom were sisters.  They were both wonderful women by all accounts.  They both had children.  They both died at a very young age.  Both Ruth and Gerd's dads remarried but the connection between these two "real" cousins is very strong.  

We continued to look through the pictures and even saw one that had to be an eighth of an inch thick.  When this one was delivered in the mail, instead of "photos, do not bend" this one said, "photos, I dare you to try and bend them!"  Eventually we packed up and headed off to a restaurant where we could talk more, and more, and more...(and more.)

In the beer garden we sat down, Ruth across from Gerd, and ordered.  The whole time we sat they sparred with each other.  Judging from the expressions on Ruth's face and the playful jabs in the ribs from Ula's elbow, I'd say they had plenty to tease each other about.  I couldn't stand it.  I grabbed my phone and started to take notes.  It wasn't difficult because they were speaking German...I only jotted down the times that they translated for us.  

There was the time that Gerd and his brother got into an egg fight, with about a hundred eggs.  They laughed and Gerd spread his flat hands wide saying that there was egg everywhere!  The subjects bounced around.  Gerd told about his new car, a Mercedes, that was originally a dealer's car.  It only had a few thousand miles on it so he got a great deal.  Ruth said, "Why did you buy a new car?  You're going to die soon."  Without batting an eye Gerd said, "Then I will see you again soon."  When Gerd started to name the real cousins who were left, he said, "There's me, there's Ruth, oh wait that's you, then Rolf (Ruth's brother)..."  She said something in German that was probably like what you can't come up with them all?  And he said, "It's ok, you and I are related."  Ruth said, "Yeah too bad."  Ruth, in the noisy outdoor beer-garden, kept saying, "huh?" whenever she didn't hear something.  Gerd kept teasing, "I already told you...we say the more formal wie bitte."  (Pardon me?)

There was laughter, and jabs, and unmistakable snide comments...but every once Ina while it got quiet.  When Gerd gets solemn he looks as if he has seen a lot of hardships in his life.  But when he laughs and smiles, you can see that the lines of happiness have been carved deeply around his eyes.  He is one of those people who I say, smiles with his entire face.  

When the meal was done and it looked like we might be heading to our next destination, Gerd ordered ice cream for everyone.  It wasn't a question of would you like ice cream or not.  The only question was, do you want whipped cream or not...on the ice cream that is coming to the table no matter what.   When the ice cream was finished, he ordered schnapps.  We were in the restaurant for more than two hours talking and laughing and watching them reminisce.  

At the cars we didn't really say goodbye.  It was more of a we'll try to get together again before you fly home.  I hope so.  I want to get some more tips on how to tease Ruth!