Family Night having Dinner at AJ
Enjoying Colorado Raised beef, Prime Rib
Prime rib is always a good idea!!!
Haake and I knew about this place for a while but we discovered recently that it has Prime Rib specials on Friday evenings–and dinner is always more enjoyable with good company.
M. Haake and I love the Prime Rib Fridays at AJ’s In Orchard, Colorado
Colorado Mammoths
Goofy friends with Kevin H.
Friends watching the Mammoth Lacrosse Game at the Pepsi Center, Prive Box, Denver, Colorado
Watching Mammoth Lacross, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Tanner, Margaret, and Haake enjyoing the game from box seats.
What a fun, wonderful evening!! Friends and family enjoyed a Colorado Mammoths Lacross game and the crowds were roaring!! The skill and agility of the athletes was astounding!!!
Kevin and I at the Denver Zoo
A day of fun and sun on the wild side–we drove to the Denver Zoo!!! The elephant feature is really, really cool. I also got a smashed souvenir penny today for my collection!! woohoo!!!
A long history of letters…and we wrote.
So, as our story continues on, Thomas and I have continued to write, sharing our lives and friendship through letters..and now we have been very dear, good sweet friends for almost 20 years. We continued to write when one day….
Thomas asked me to come to Germany, not for a vacation, but for something more, something special. Thomas wrote:
I hope you will come to Germany and stay for a long while. I would like to opportunity to date you, make a future with you, and get to know you even better than I already do. Please, come and stay. ‘ (small excerpt).
Upon receiving, reading and re reading the letter, I discussed this with my sister and Acacia, asking their advice and thoughts on it–for the power of girlfriends and sisters is something very unique (but that is a discussion for another day). They both hooped and hollered with joy, with the confidence and hope for all good things.
I wrote to Thomas asking him when he would like me to go, a very big decision for me..and we continued to write letters.
So, now comes the point, that I know I am moving to Germany, at least for a while, as Thomas wrote back and said when I can and am ready, that he wants to welcome me in his home when I am ready…now for preparations.
As we discuss what the future for us holds….we continue to write letters.
2001 Thomas came to Colorado for my Highschool Graduation
May of 2001, Thomas, the man
Graduation Day with Acacia Clough
I met on the train, travel
ed from Germany to Colorado, USA, for my Highschool graduation and stayed with my family for 2 weeks. We went to Estes Park, Colorado for a visit one day. Thomas met all of my giant family, and that is no small feat…and
Thomas and I on the Outerbanks, N.C.
We continued to write letters.
Anna and Thomas @ Carolina’s Diner, Archdale, N.C. 2005
We continued to write letters.
December 2013-January 2014–I had moved back to Colorado in May of 2012–and once again, my family (sister, brothers, parents, etc) decided to take a family vacation in the dead of Winter to Europe for Christmas.
My brother and I in Germany.
My youngest brother, at the time was living in Regensburg,
Thomas and I out for coffee, January 2014, Germany
Germany, having moved from Heidelburg in previous weeks. So, after spending time in his city, I split ways for a few days to visit Thomas in Ettlingen, Germany. I surely couldn’t go to Germany without seeing Thomas, my friend
and penpal.
Something changed between Thomas and I but…
We continued to write letters.
The Beginnings of Something wonderful
Decemeber,1997—My family and I were on vacation in Holland, riding the ICE train to Germany. My family, being 6 of us, 7 with my Uncle, were a large group, especially with our luggage. My family filled the compartment and thus, I sat across the aisle at a small table, next to the window, where the chairs were bolted to the floorboards of the train.
A German man sat across from me, in the empty available seat, witha rucksack in-tow and nothing more than that and a newspaper. He struck up a conversation, after a bit, and within 3 hours, we exchanged mailing addresses and he disembarked from the train at his stop.
