SEA GYPSY: December 2011

My Passport photo

Hey-ho Fellow Travelers!

Given that I have absolutely no idea as to what I'm doing, or how to progress in this endeavor, for that matter, I though that I should start at the very beginning of what I know the beginning to be to set out some of the few tangible items I recall from my early childhood that relate to Germany.

And, couldn't you figure it, the very first thing I remember is: Garb!

Yes, garb. (If you know me and/or follow my other blogs you are laughing right now.) Apparently, the first clothing I was to own (more or less-I'm pretty sure I left the Kinderheim with a diaper and blankie.) (That's a joke, by the by. Me new Mum was an avid shopper and I was quite the well dressed lass....up to, and including in years to come, the Mother-Daughter matching dresses from Sears!) But, from my earliest memories I recall her dragging out the wicker basket of authentic German costuming and telling the story of her flying into Ireland with me, her pockets stuffed with baby bottles and, apparently, her suitcase containing some really cool costumes!

(To digress, my Mum was really into costuming. Me. Never herself. My first Halloween memory is of being Little Red Riding Hood. Oh, what I would give for that cape now! And it went on. Cowgirl, pirate, gypsy, movie star, Indian, Cinderella.....and more. And costumes weren't just reserved for Halloween. They were a part of the everyday play-box. The wee six-shooters were the best! Cinderella never left home without them! And a tiny Derringer which, Mum said very primly, a lady carried in her purse. Good to know. Uncle Whitey was always good for a game of Bang-Bang You're Dead. He took a bullet most convincingly. But then, Uncle Whitey was good for absolutely anything you could dream up, up to and including lighting the wooden match when I wanted to see what happened if you set fire to the gunpowder in the Derringer caps. But, now I'm really digressing. And I promise to come back to Uncle Whitey. He deserves his own blog. And, quite possibly, sainthood. I love. Love. Love my Uncle Whitey.)

But, back to garb.

To my knowledge, there do not seem to be any existing photos of me in said garb, but it has existed, nonetheless, in that same wicker basket and has dutifully moved with me to every new closet.

I'll share with you today some of what, apparently, was to be a part of my destiny for the rest of my life. It's no secret that I much prefer the magic of dress.

During my search I turned up the following beauties. Books my father had set aside for me. They are now so old yet so wonderfully preserved. Inside, a few had inscriptions which I will include here. And, quite intriguingly, two pressed flowers in one of the books. Perfectly set. The remaining detail after 50 years is amazing. I wish them to last another 50 more. If anyone can identify them I'd love to know what they are. My wish is for edelweiss. And also to know how and why them came to be there. They have a story.....but clearly they aren't talking.......... Enjoy.