Blog request the Third

05/06/2009

Todays blog request comes from my mom. Hi Mom. Interesting fact, my parents just got back from Italy. They went to Venice, Rome and The Vatican. See what happens when you have kids young. You get to do cool stuff without them when they're grown ups and you're still under 50. Mind you I'm absolutely convinced they will be globetrotting for the rest of forever.

My mom wanted to know, "If you could go back and ask each of your grandfathers only one question each what would it be and why?"

So many questions came to mind. But because she said only one...and she's my mom, you have to listen to your mom or else (even at 25).

Opa Warkentin (my dads father) passed away when I was 18 just two months after I started University. It had been in failing health for what seemed like forever. Or at least that's how my cousin Shay describes it. She only remembers him being sick so I'm not surprized. I'm going to assume I'm going back with all the knowledge I have now and the life experience (mom didn't say I couldn't do that.) I would ask Opa if he liked John. Why? His opinion about the person I choose to spend the rest of life with means a lot to me. My family was never overly thrilled with my ex. They supported my happiness but perhaps not my choice of boyfriend. I always got the impression from my Opa Warkentin that he liked him well enough but he liked everyone. He was just like that. I would want to hear his thoughts about John. I really wish Opa could have met John. I really do. I think Opa Warkentin and John would have gotten on like a house on fire.

I would ask Opa Maier (my moms father) what is was like to escape East Germany. It's a story I've heard several times. However I've never heard it from him. I've only heard secondary accounts. I want to hear it from him what it was like to run with his sister to freedom. I guess even though I know the story well enough that I can recite it verbatum.I want to hear my Opa tell me what it was like in his own words. While I know the story is for real, hearing my Opa tell me the story makes it even more real.