A European Trip of Reunion and Remembrance

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

It was at a Mexico destination wedding last July that my son Kristoffer and I decided to convince his dad to visit his relatives in Germany last Christmas, 2014. With the help of my good friend Sonny Madera from Los Angeles who was also there at the Riviera Maya summer nuptials, Kristoffer’s dad, Wolfgang, agreed to finally make the trip after eight years, when the last time he made the trip, it was for his mom’s funeral.

This time, we said, it’ll be for a much-needed and highly anticipated reunion in Dortmund, Germany, where he was born and raised. As an added incentive for Sonny, we threw in a possible Paris trip, a mere 45- minute flight from Dusseldorf, Germany, our port of entry, to Charles De Gaulle airport in France. Unfortunately, the happy reunion was not meant to happen. Instead, his aunt, his mom’s sister, went into a coma and passed away from medical complications, six days after our arrival in Dortmund.

It was as if Divine Providence was at work in this whole reunion, vacation event. When we got there, Wolfgang encouraged us to continue with our Paris plans, so off we went, I, Sonny and Kristoffer, to the City of Light, not knowing how events will turn out that week. We boarded a local German Wings flight, a Lufthansa-owned local airline, and in a mere 45 minutes, we were landing in beautiful Paris.

Paris remains the number 1 destination of choice worldwide, and I can completely understand why. From the moment we were in line for our flight, Paris-bound passengers seemed more chic, stylishly dressed, and all upbeat in demeanor and appearance. The often verbal warnings about French disdain for tourists happily did not manifest itself in our few days there, and in fact, all three of us were giddy with excitement and anticipation, fueled more by our location, the fabulous Westin Palais Vendome in central Paris, 4 blocks away from the Louvre, 10 minutes by cab to the Eiffel and the Arc De Triomphe, and if that was not enough, we were right smack in the middle of the posh shopping district and home to some of the chicest designers in the world—Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lalique, Baccarat, Chopard, all French, all style icons that I have read in magazines and have identified through my mother’s own tales of European travels.

At last, I was there with my son and best friend, what else do I have to ask for? Soon enough, on our very first day, we were off to see the worldwide symbol of France—the stately Eiffel that drew millions to its base, then to its summit, all for a magnificent, unobstructed view of Paris. With its unique architecture and design, it was the perfect start to our trip. From there, we traversed the bridges over the Seine River and walked the different cobblestone streets, enjoying the Parisian architecture and landmarks that surrounded the city, reminders of civilizations past and historical monuments that have been preserved for all to see and appreciate in the present.

In the next few days, we would embark on a walking tour of the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musee D’Orsay, the Arc De Triomphe, Champs Elysee, and even took a 45-minute train ride to the Palace of Versailles and basked in its grandeur and breath by golf cart! All in all, our 4four-day Parisian escapade was a success—tours by day, gourmet cuisine and champagne by night, truly an unforgettable visit that left us all breathless and wanting to come back again.

Unfortunately, we came back to Germany to a funeral. Tante (the German term for “aunt”) Annie never made it back from her stroke, and a few days later, we were at her cremation service administered by a Catholic priest, and only in front of Wolfgang’s immediate family. It was a bittersweet reunion. On the one hand, a nice homecoming for Wolf who was there to break the sad news to Tante Annie’s husband of 64 years, Uncle Heinz, and Wolfgang’s sister Gabriella, his only other sibling that was relieved for his presence in this most difficult time for their uncle, who just a week ago, suffered a fall and was relegated to a wheelchair after that. Still, in between the memorial services, we were able to spend a few hours at the Dortmund Weihnacstmarkt (Christmasmarket), where we drank gluehwein (hot red wine) in honor of Tante Annie, and partook of German customs and food offerings in the remaining days of our trip.

Christmas Eve, although somber and closely held amongst family and kin, celebrated Tante Annie’s memory, even though the pain was apparent in all of Wolfgang’s relatives. Still, the memorial mass where she was mentioned on Christmas Eve was touching and I’m sure eloquent, since everything was spoken in their native tongue, Deutsche.

It was a reunion of remembrance and honoring the departed. We were able to visit Wolfgang’s mom or Mutter in her grave close to the church, and even accompanied the family in choosing Tante Annie’s final resting place in the very church where she was baptized Catholic, right there in the small city of Dortmund where the old traditions and residents have survived.

Thank you to all those who sent their prayers and condolences to Wolfgang and his family. May Tante Annie rest in peace, reunited at last with her sister Elisabeth, and her maker.