So much has happened since Oma's birthday in April. This is but a feeble attempt to share with you the joys and challenges of our lives. The trip I will share with you was made possible through the generosity of my sister Gaby and her husband Dutch as well as a small inheritance from one of her patients in Glendale. It has been a dream of Oma's for some time to travel to Vienna again before her time comes and with the loving assistance of my love (Laura) I was able to facilitate it finally.   

After a jubilant celebration on the 24th for Oma's birthday the family lingered a few more days and much love was shared by all around the cottage. Last to leave was Gaby, Oma's daughter from San Clemente and she took Oma by car to Sidney where they met up with Laura and I on Friday the 29th. That evening we took in our first of four concerts. This one featured the Sydney Orchestra under the direction of Steven Brown.

On Saturday afternoon we took Gaby to the airport and then on Sunday I took Oma to Butchart Gardens. We were able to walk about a fair bit and enjoyed "God's Church" as Oma likes to call it. The magnificence of God's creation was evident everywhere. Monday we visited Laura's mother and then it was time to rest up for the big flight to Vienna.   

We arrived in Vienna at 3:30 in the afternoon and checked into an apartment we had booked on line for three nights. As we were settled our hostess asked if we had any requests and mother asked for something truly Austrian. "Sachertorte" is what Oma's request was. I'm sure she meant just a sliver or a slice but our hostess, eager to please arrived with an entire cake and a big jug of whipped cream. So we had Sachertorte as part of our elaborate breakfast, served in our apartment for the next three days.  

Vienna saw us attending the first concert on Wednesday evening. A horse drawn carriage picked us up at our apartment and after taking us around Old Vienna on a little tour we were dropped off at the Golden Hall of the Musicverein for a period costume concert of Mozart's favorites. We started out in the Balcony but then during intermission found some empty seats in the third row. It was grand!   

Then the next day we had lunch at the Giechenbeisel. This was the restaurant Beethoven preferred to frequent for breakfast. We also found another concert quite by chance. This one featured an all Strauss program and was held in the very hall where Johan Strauss staged his performances.   

After walking the old town and visiting the great cathedral of Vienna we took the train from Vienna to Salzburg on the 4th day. The train ride was most pleasant and easy as we had a private cabin and enjoyed our lunch while watching the Austrian countryside wiz past us.   

The accommodation I had selected for Salzburg turned out to be unsatisfactory and too far away from the dinner concert we had booked for our second night in this, the birthplace of Mozart. So, while Oma had a rest, Laura and I set off immediately to scout the old town for better digs. We found them in a suite on the 4th floor of "Die Goldene Ente" just a five minute walk from the oldest eatery in Salzburg (some 600 years old).   

The next day we awoke to some huge snowflakes and a light dusting on the roofs of Salzburg but were pleased to switch our accommodations. That evening we again dressed up in our finest and enjoyed a special four course dinner interspersed with sets of fine music performed by a small string ensemble in period costume.   

Oma was strong and enjoyed herself greatly. She walked to and from this event without trouble. After three wonderful nights in Salzburg and incredible bells from the 16 churches in the old city going off simultaneously at noon on Sunday we took the train to Friedrichshafen on the "Bodensee" to visit with Family.   

Six more days of love, joy and laughter as we re-connected with mother's two sisters and her brother in grand fashion. We drove back and forth between their homes, climbed lots of stairs and enjoyed the home town charm of southern Germany. One day we walked along the waterfront in Uberlingen where we showed Laura the places where I grew up.   

Finally last Monday my cousin drove us to Zurch where we spent our last night before flying home on Tuesday. It was our plan to spend a day in Sidney at Laura's to rest up from the journey before Oma and I returned to Friday Harbor. That day of rest became a turning point as Oma suddenly found that her breath was getting shorter and shorter. She had a hard time getting enough air even with mild exertion. So on Thursday morning I made an appointment with her doctor and as soon as we came off the ferry we went to the Island Medical Center.   

Oma's doctor was concerned that there might be a pulmonary embolism so she rushed Oma to the hospital in Anacortes for further tests. These tests revealed that the masses that had started to restrict mother's breathing back in February had grown and are now making breathing without oxygen more and more difficult. Treatment options were considered but when faced with yet another set of procedures and potentially prolonged hospital stays mother made her decision: She was ready for her final chapter.   

Oma has picked herself up over and over again after life has knocked her to her knees. The destruction of the war, the financial ruin after the divorce, making a new life on a new continent and then in her sunset years the health challenges of breast cancer, hip replacement, triple bypass surgery, and then just as she was back on her feet and looking forward to berry picking, rolling in the grass, and lying cheek to cheek at county park, napping in the afternoon breeze, the most unfortunate accident last summer that robbed her of what now clearly would have been her last painfree/carefree summer. Each time she marshaled her strength and did her very best to bounce back and rebuild.   

Now she is tired. She has asked her beloved friend Jesus to take her home. She has prayed to God that if it be his will to call her back that he should tell Jesus to make it as painless as possible. Her beloved Prince, Saint Germain is also, as always, by her side. In light of all this, when faced with more doctors prodding and pocking, more noisy nights at a strange hospital, more therapies and sacrifices, it was better to be at home in her Shambhala and enjoy her remaining days of consciousness in the familiar surroundings of home. So we packed her up, brought some oxygen with us to help her sleep at night and brought her back to her beloved Shambhala.   

Now we are taking turns caring for her and making her time as comfortable as possible. I asked her if she would like to communicate with friends and tell them what is happening and her response was: "I don't want their pity or their sadness to be focused towards me. I don't want that energy". Going home to her father has always been a pleasant thought for Oma. She has asked me to wear white at her memorial and celebrate her arrival on the other side. It is indeed an exciting time as a lifetime of spiritual quest comes to bear fruit in our final transition; our departure from this earth.   

We do not know how long this road will be. We are making preparations to organize our world so that Oma will be well cared for at every stage. At this point Oma sleeps a lot although some of the sleeping takes place sitting up. For those of you that would like to be part of this final chapter, know that Oma loves you and cherishes your love in return. Know that Oma does not need (or want) to talk much but is always grateful for (quiet) company or a quick hello. Oma loves flowers for their silent representation of God's love and glory.   

For the Love Of Life 
Thomas