The Old Customs Mansion

Looking into the evening sky, it seems that the weather conditions have calmed down. No more frontier clashes between high and low pressure in the northern part of Hessen, I would think. Apart from some white fanning and fading, the sky has turned remarkably blue. No rain clouds to see anymore. While during the day many thick shower clouds kept floating over the valley. Again we went on where we were yesterday in sorting out and drycleaning our “garage-mess”. But we did it half speed in a more pleasant way. Not really the “resting” day-off, we are still longing for, but a low pace mix of the necessary and the enjoyable. And that feels more balanced.

Around midday we walked down, crossed the river into town. And there we found our favorite spots. Changed of course since last month. Bit still Willemien could make photo’s at her damselfly pond, this time without damselflies. At the central harbour place the view of the Old Customs Storage House attracted me. It has many stories to tell from the time it was build in 1768. Recently it stands empty, the small Broquante-shop definitely closed. Its owner, dear Lady Irmgard, living in the Nursery Home now. I’ve told you how shocked I was when I visited her in March. So here you look into the empty eyes of a deserted home. The closed curtains veiling a story of a flourishing post-war german family of the socalled Wirtschaftswunder-period.

Maybe you think, this is going to be a story about flowering and decay, old age, forgetfulness and loss...But no, because it’s been a great luck and miracle that we came to know the owners of that Baroque Mansion in april 2008. As buyers in spe of their other House at the Hillside. It was a real Blitz-affair. We had fallen in love at first sight with this house, which is now our “Carlsheaven”-home. And it was here on this balcony that the deal was done on the spot, followed by an invitation to arrange the contract-affairs at their dining table downtown at the Harbour Place…

My, our heart is filled with grateful memories, sorrow and compassion to the late Guenther and his poor, unhappy widow Irmgard. They were the joyful and energetic couple that lived in the Customs Mansion, which is now deserted and - who knows - for sale. There, in the dark a band is playing live down at the Harbour Place. A Spanish dance. A yellow Moon rises over the Brandenberg. I send my prayers for peace of mind and consolation to Irmgard, alone in her room, maybe staring at that Yellow Moon.