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Reflecting on history I was scrolling through Facebook this morning, when this headline stopped me: The Berlin Wall, which for more than a quarter century divided Germany into East and West, began coming down Nov. 9, 1989. As of Feb. 5, has been gone for as long as it stood —10,316 days.
Katharhynn from the newsroom here, about to date myself: I remember being a teenager when that wall came tumbling down, so to speak. Since that time, I have reflected how striking it is to grow up with something like that was an "always there and that's how it is" and then see the situation change for the better.
On the lighter side, was we watched Germans swarm the wall on TV, my dad intoned: "Now for only $19.95, you too can own an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall!" — a joke about American consumerism and the willingness to sell (and buy) anything — and not, of course, about the physical barrier that kept families apart, and an estimated 140 people died trying to cross.
I remember seeing an interview in which a mother with a baby girl remarked how what had always defined her own life would be unknown to her child, and that has stuck with me.
I grew up with maps and globes that delineated West Germany and East Germany (and I grew up with Pluto as a planet, too, for what it's worth). That thought struck me especially in early 2019, as I schlepped luggage from the train station in Berlin and passed under a Soviet memorial on our way to our accommodations.
In Berlin, history has not been swept into the dustbin. You can still see parts of the wall, Checkpoint Charlie and even markers in the sidewalks that indicate the wall used to be there.
Each of these reminders was moving and resonant; the difference between reading about history and experiencing some of it.
And of course, I bought a little piece of the Berlin Wall, complete with a "Zertifikat" of authenticity. I put no stock in that, but I did it in memory of my dad. He was wrong, by the way — the cost was 8 Euros (about $9USD).
Here are some pictures of the wall in 2019.
Things we like to see
You can ask for birthday gifts, or you can ask your friends to help you help others.
On Saturday, a youngster named Molly did the latter, taking pet food and toys into the Montrose Animal Shelter.
Molly and her seven friends visited with the goods for her 10th birthday and were shown around. They visited with the dogs and puppies and, as you can see here, this lovely black kitty got plenty of attention.
Molly is the latest in a long line of young people to gather food and supplies for the animals as a means of celebrating a birthday. Thank you, Molly, and everyone else who does this!
You can pitch in, birthday or not. Call the shelter at 970-240-1487 to inquire about its needs, volunteer opportunities — and of course, about how to give a cat, dog, rabbit or other animal a forever home.
(Photo is courtesy Montrose Animal Shelter)
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