Good morning Lounge

[MissHoneychurch]

How are you today?

Well, I am back to work but still the cold is lingering. But not so bad that I couldn't work. And post here. :)

I went to the doctor Thursday after work and got a note from him for both jobs. I couldn't and wouldn't work with that cold at the groceries store.

Today it is 20 years since the wall came down in Germany. The best thing in my life. My life changed so much after that. Who knows where I would be today in my personal development without that event. For sure I wouldn't have been in the U.S. and wouldn't have met you guys. I don't think my self assurance and self confidence wouldn't be as it is today. I wouldn't own my own condo. I doubt I would be a librarian.

Picture of the Day

[RFKHumphreyObama]

1. Good morning MissHoneyChurch

I'm sorry about your cold. I hope you feel better soon:)

I know somewhat how you must feel -I'm recovering from a nasty stomach virus at the moment and am only just feeling better today after being sick for more than a week

20 years since the Wall came down. Isn't that amazing? I was only eight years old when it happened, living in South East Asia at the time and I wasn't as tuned in to world politics as I should have been so I don't remember much of it. What I do remember, however, is watching the evening news a year later on the night that East Germany and West Germany became one nation. Even at such a young age, I remember feeling somewhat aware of the magnitude and historical significance of what was happening and watching the coverage of the reunification ceremony with a sense of awe and inspiration. By that time I had begun my lifelong interest in politics. That was the same year that Nelson Mandela walked free from prison and was during the time that the Cold War was ending and the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse. I remember feeling all the hope, idealism and optimism for a brighter future all around me and it was just a wonderful, magnificent feeling that I can't somewhat describe.

I miss those days. Bush and September 11 destroyed much of my hope, idealism and optimism that developed during those years but I still remember what it was like. I can't believe it was so long ago

Of course what I felt couldn't even begin to compare to what you would have experienced. It must have been absolutely amazing living through history like that. Did you live in the East or West?

Have a good day:hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Good morning RFK

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Ugh ... a stomach virus is worse I think. Glad you feel better too :hug:

I think at age 8 you are allowed not to be into politics much :) I was 14 when the wall came down. I grew up in East Germany. I lived in Leipzig where those Monday demonstrations started.


The hope you felt in 1989 and 1990 is the same hope I felt last year when Obama won the election. I feel less threatend now than I did the last 8 years.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

2. Good Morning Miss Honeychurch :)

:hi: :hug: :loveya: :pals:

Hope the cold gives up lingering soon, and I'm glad you're well enough to be at work. :)

20 years. Wow. It's hard to believe all but two of my nieces and nephews never lived in a world with an Iron Curtain in it. I'm grateful it did, and that I've gotten to know you because of it. :D:D:D

[MissHoneychurch]

5. Good morning SCE

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I hope that too. It is no fun to have a stuffed nose all the time and wake up coughing at night. This morning I overslept. Forgot to turn on my alarm last night. Duh!!!!

Yeah, 20 years. I feel old ... LOL I now lived longer in the united Germany than I lived in East Germany

[zanne]

3. You must have quite a story to tell.

I didn't know that you lived in Berlin when the wall was up. For some reason, I think that people who have had it very hard become kind people, like you, MissHoneychurch. And, knowing that you are a librarian makes me like you even more! My niece is a librarian in Germany, on an Army base. I wanted to be one, but I couldn't afford the tuition at the only college with a library science degree in New England.

We'll all celebrate with you on your special day. We're glad you're here, too!:grouphug:

[MissHoneychurch]

6. Good morning zanne

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I grew up in Jena and Leipzig. Went to a couple of the Monday demonstrations there in October 1989.

Hillary Clinton is in Berlin, celebrating for you :)

I love my job. It is my dream job.

Where in Germany is your niece?

[cwydro]

7. Good morning Miss Honeychurch

Happy Wall-Coming-Down Anniversary!

Glad you're feeling better.

[MissHoneychurch]

8. Good morning cwydro

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Thank you!!

Sooner or later the cold will pass. I just have to patient.

[cwydro]

22. Well. I am not sure another train ride is a good idea.

You might get sicker!

[swimboy]

9. Good morning, MissHoneychurch!

When the radio came on this morning there was a story about the wall coming down and some personal accounts of that day. I thought immediately of you. That event truly was one of the "hinges of history".

And I got to meet you!

:loveya:

[MissHoneychurch]

10. Good morning swimboy

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Yeah!!! We met. I would have missed something if that wouldn't have happened. :loveya:

It was one of those times when history was positive not negative. And that is what made it so special.

[NJmaverick]

11. Good Monring Miss Honey Church

What things specifically changed in your everyday life as a result of the wall coming down?

[MissHoneychurch]

12. Good morning NJmaverick

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Everything. You do know I grew up in Eastern Germany. I was able to get the highest school certificate (Abitur), I was able to be a nanny and an intern in a foreign country. I was able to study what I wanted. I was able to visit countries I wanted.

The one thing that I remember most prominently was when I was in school (in West Germany where we moved to in December 1989) and we started to lean about the Third Reich and I noticed the similarities between the two regimes, just in a different "color". Red instead of brown. Very eye opening.

[NJmaverick]

40. Yeah I knew that. I was wondering what it was like behind the curtain

[MissHoneychurch]

49. It is hard to explain

I was 14 in 1989. It was normal life for me. My parents never were in the party (SED) and esp. my dad had some problems. But he also was able to travel to West Germany to meet with colleagues who worked with the same topic (he was a mathematician). My parents were able to travel to Finnland in 1988, they even wrote to Honecker to ask for permission. We had a phone. We had a car. I'd say we were privileged.

[blueraven95]

13. Good Afternoon, Miss H!

I'm glad you are feeling better :hug:


Happy 20th anniversary! (Is that the right way to wish it?) I'm so glad it came down - if for no other reason, so we could meet you! :)
One of my professors in undergraduate school had a piece of the wall. He brought it to class so we could all hold it. I think holding it was the first time I understood how huge the tearing down of the wall was.

[MissHoneychurch]

16. Good morning blueraven

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I am glad about that too. I can't even imagine it. That it could have turned out like China and that all the positive changes in my life wouldn't have happened. And that I would never have found DU.

The most spine chilling moment for me? This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh9EwNurawE Click on more infos for a translation

[blueraven95]

17. that is wonderful

brings tears to my eyes...:hug:



To change the subject, did I tell you that I finished Pratchett's book. I ended up really liking it, but it took me a long time to get into it. I don't think it's one of his best.

[MissHoneychurch]

20. I agree

regarding Pratchett. Isn't that what I told you? I think the best spot was really about the oral sex ... LOL

[blueraven95]

26. yeah, you did

and you were right. And that part was the best, I think. :D


Hey, did you see my photos in the photo forum? I'd love to know what you think of them.

[MissHoneychurch]

42. Looked at them

those are beautiful pictures. I like the first one. Taking pics of people is something I am scared of.

[blueraven95]

45. really? why?

I prefer to take portraits over anything else.

[MissHoneychurch]

47. Not really sure

if I take pics of strangers I am afraid to hurt them in a way. And I am scared to ask.

[blueraven95]

50. I have no problem asking

:shrug:


But I actually prefer to do shoots, with posed shots.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

14. Good afternoon MissHoneychurch

I'm doing okay but I've fallen into Cafe World hell on FB! I can't get out!


Today is a very special day for you and millions of other people whose lives were changed for the better when the wall was torn down. I cannot imagine how life would be here if it still remained. My husband was 12 when it came down and he said his whole family sat in the living room, fixed on the television watching the news coverage.

Glad you are feeling a bit better and are able to post (work) once again.

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

And most of all PROST! :beer:

[MissHoneychurch]

18. Good morning Notorious

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

What is Cafe World about? I hope they serve a good cappucino at least :)

Is your husband from East or West Germany? I was sleeping when it happened. We lived in Leipzig and went to some of the Monday demonstrations. But were too far away to drive to Berlin to go over the border. 2 hours drive was long in the GDR ... LOL

PROSIT!!! :beer:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

25. Oh you know, the usual

Zynga games that you get sucked into and can't escape from. You design your own cafe, you cook food, you get rated by your customers and earn points and "money." It's pretty complicated!
No drinks served unfortunately.

My husband is from West Germany so he didn't have the experience that you did. What an amazing time in history to be a part of. I'm glad you are here with us.

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

35. Hmmm

I might gonna check it out. Send me an invite.

I am glad I am here too :)

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

36. Just sent you an invite

enter at your own risk! :scared:

[MissHoneychurch]

39. I entered

I will check it out later more.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

43. You've been warned!

:evilgrin:

[mdmc]

15. Good Morning..

I have a long day ahead of me..

Hope everyone is well..

[MissHoneychurch]

23. Good morning mdmc

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I hope your day passes by fast :thumbsup;

[mdmc]

51. Sadly, it didn't pass fast at all..

But I did good work
and kept on keepin on'

Hope ya did the same//

[Tobin S.]

19. Mornin' Miss H. Did you live in East Germany during the Cold War?

If that's the case, what was it like there before the wall came down? Even of that wasn't the case, what was it like to live in a divided Germany?

I took it easy all weekend; spent some time with my folks and did a little shopping. I also did some reading. I've been reading a lot lately. I watched a movie called the Manchurian Candidate, not the new one with Denzel Washington, but the original made in 1962. It's a great Cold War movie and one of my favorites of all time. I don't know if you watch American movies, but if you are familiar with Angela Lansbury, she gives a superb performance in that movie. Frank Sinatra is in the film too, and he does a pretty good job as well.

[MissHoneychurch]

27. Good morning Tobin

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I grew up in East Germany, yes. Life was normal for me. In the 80s the way of live was easier than in the decades before. No one really took it serious, it was just the way it was. Of course it was hard to get things but we had west connections and that made it easier for us. We would get things from them. Not on a regular basis though.
My aunt lived in West Germany but she was a tabu topic in our family. I knew I had an aunt but she was never talked about. I only met her in 1987 when she was able to visit for the first time. She flew over the Czech Republic in the 80s.
It is hard to explain in writing. When we meet I will tell you all about it and answer your questions :)

I watched the Manchurian Candidate with Denzel but didn't really get it.
Didn't Angela Lansbury later play Miss Marple?

[Tobin S.]

31. Interesting! I'd like to interview you and do a special Stories From the Road edition

Seriously! :)

I don't know about Miss Marple, but I do know that Lansbury was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the original Manchurian Candidate. I've seen her in other movies, but I can't remember the titles. She did star in a popular TV show called Murder She Wrote during the 80s and 90s.

[MissHoneychurch]

33. My bad

I ment Murder she wrote. Which reminds me of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av7F1JBmj4

Hmmmm .... I have an idea :D Check your pm's in a moment.

[Tobin S.]

37. Hey, I bought a hip hop album album

Here's some Kid Cudi. It's the first rap album I've bought since I was a youngster. They actually classify him as alternative hip hop and trip hop. This tune is pretty trippy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=828TFhWM2Lk

[Blue_Tires]

21. Good afternoon, MissHoneychurch

hope you feel better...

why wouldn't today be a day off in Germany??

[MissHoneychurch]

29. Good morning Blue_Tires

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Our national holiday is October 3rd when the unification papers were signed in 1990. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Unity_Day
November 9th would be the better choice but as it says in the Wiki article, we also had some bad experiences on November 9th.

[Blue_Tires]

32. i understand now....

[MissHoneychurch]

38. I would prefer November the 9th

or maybe even if we have kept June 17th http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uprising_of_1953_in_East_Germany. But October 3rd has no meaning to me whatsoever.

[Brewman_Jax]

24. G'day, MissH!

:hi: :hug:

The anniversary has been all over the news here for the past week. Is the day the Wall came down a national holiday?

[MissHoneychurch]

41. Good morning Brewman

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

No, it isn't a national holiday. Too much other stuff happened on that day in German history, some of it connected to the Third Reich. Not a good date for a holiday.

[Brewman_Jax]

44. Did not know that

but I'm glad that you're feeling better and you're up and about. :woohoo:

I guess that there will be speeches and parades and celebration for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall.

[MissHoneychurch]

46. There is a big party in Berlin

Even Hillary Clinton will be there.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Good morning, Miss Honeychurch. nt

[MissHoneychurch]

30. Good morning Captain

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

How was your weekend?

[Captain Hilts]

34. A very busy one...

I made a quick trip 4 hours south to Va. Beach to work on the stuff in my late mom's house. I'm working on the stuff in the attic now.

I never got a chance to go to Taco Bell. Next time....

Did you go to any reunification parties? Merkle was here in DC.

[MissHoneychurch]

48. Did you listen to Merkel's speech?

I haven't seen any comments about it on DU.

[Vidar]

52. Good morning MissHoneychurch & happy belated "Wall Day.".

The world changed for the better on that date.