Berlin

Nighttime view of Berlin's city center, including TV towerGoodbye East Berlin

November 9, 1989. The images I never thought I’d see: People, lots of them, by and on top of the infamous Berlin Wall. Whole sections of it coming down. It was a miracle unfolding before our eyes.

Fire Island, NY, beach and lighthouseThe dream of Europe

Carensa was 6. But determined. She was going to Europe. The land with castles at every river’s bend. And princes and princesses. A magical place.

woman on bench at train station with lots of luggageA penpal on the other side

Early ‘70s. The Cold War was still very cold. With no end in sight. Ever. And I had a penpal in East Berlin. Even went over there to meet in person.

Claes and host family in Berlin 1971My best summer

I was going on an adventure. Leaving my small hometown in Sweden for the great metropolis of Berlin, Germany. By myself. As in, I came up with the idea, I planned the trip, I made all the arrangements.

Debbie and Adis in Berlin 1975A moment that changed everything

She looked around the room and asked, loud enough so everyone would hear: “Does anyone here know Berlin?”

Claes and host family in Berlin 1971Expressing gratitude or “the rest of the story”

Our lives don’t play out in isolation. We each have people who are crucial at various points in our lives. Meet a couple of mine.

Berlin Wall, overlooking the wall and death strip near Lichterfelde, 1971Walls and fences — to keep us apart

When the Berlin Wall went up on August 13, 1961, I was 300 miles away in Sweden. I was 6. And had a terrible time figuring this whole thing out.