Fast Cars and Freedom

One of the problems with my trip is that it is full of business meetings. It seems I have very little time to "enjoy" the country. That only happened on the first day here when we went to Alexander Platz and the Brandenburg Gate. Wonderful places of history.

It was truly amazing to stand where the Berlin wall was. The emotions running through my veins were a mixture of sadness and gratitude. The sadness was from realizing that I was standing where brave souls died for the dreams and hopes of a better life. As I reflected on that almost sacred ground, the gratitude I felt for not only my own individual freedoms, but that I was amongst Berliners from East and West and they could travel and commune as freely as I did.

Some of the pictures I uploaded to Facebook were images while we stood on that wonderful ground.

Yesterday we drove 4 hours to Gutersloh for an afternoon of meetings. The Autobahn was amazing. To travel at 100 mph and be passed like we were standing still was boggling to the mind. The feeling of traveling at that speed is very different that traveling in the United States. Here in Germany the roads are so well taken care of and flat that the speed was never an issue. The drivers were so amazingly courteous as well. They would very easily move for a faster moving vehicle and gave appropriate space to other vehicles. Such an antithesis from driving in the states. We traveled 8 hours and never once saw an accident. In Utah I can't seem to drive 8 minutes on the freeway without seeing one. I must admit that one of my greatest childhood dreams was to drive the Autobahn. This Saturday will be my opportunity while we travel from Berlin to Frankfurt.

Hopefully that portion of the trip will allow for a little more downtime. We are going to try to find a few castles to visit along the way. If we do I will be sure to take plenty of pictures.

My Best Friend

It must be fall!!! It seems that every fall I listen to more and more country music, then as the weather gets warmer, I listen to rock. Well, today is cold and windy - so country it is. One of my favorite artist is Tim McGraw. Many of his songs seem to speak to me. Today on the way to work I cranked a song of his - "My Best Friend." It is a great song about a man and his best friend, his wife. The words resonant with me very deeply.

You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
Oh we just get closer
I fall in love all over
Every time I look at you
I don't know where I'd be
Without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend, oh yeah

This is how I feel about my Becky. She really is my best friend. It is hard to imagine that she has been in more than half of my life. Just last week we celebrated Rachael's 17th birthday. It seems like yesterday when Becky and I were 17 and going to homecoming. Since then life has been a blur, with the only undeviating clarity in my life is my love for Becky.

No, today is not an anniversary. Nor is it a birthday. It is just another day that I celebrate My Best Friend. She gives me strength, gives me meaning. Becky - I love you!!!

Don't Feel Like It

I just don't feel like it. No matter how many times I have thought about updating my blog, I just turn away. I am not even sure why...other than I just don't feel like it.

Sure, I have many things to write about...my kids, my family, life, work, church, etc. Maybe it is the thought that I have so much to say that I have writers block. Maybe the thought is too overwhelming. I guess I can keep telling myself that. Maybe I will even believe it.

As I sit here writing why I do not write, I am watching Jillian throw a temper tantrum. Yup the full tantrum with throwing books and crying. Sometimes I feel like doing that but I guess age and circumstances prohibit me from following through. Funny how after she is done with the tantrum, which lasted all of about 2 minutes, she is doing much better. Maybe I should throw one and see what other people do. But then I guess seeing a grown man throw a temper tantrum would be both scary and funny. So I guess I will allow age and circumstances win for now.

Another funny note...now that I have written, I still don't feel like it. But at least I have written.