Christmas Letter 1989

Despite all the good intentions, we are already in the second Advent an the Christmas mail noy done yet. Maybe it's because it doesn't feel like Christmas at all: we had until the 2nd Advent autumnal temperatures and the sun is shining now and we are expecting ten degrees today. For a few days there was a light blanket of snow and we were hoping for winter. Yes, that's how we are Wisconsinites transformed, which welcome winter after a beautiful summer: Peace and contemplation return, time for a good book and the many leftover projects, such as sorting photos, old slides and so on To document films better, to finally be able to master the computer (of course this only applies to Heidi!!) and to reactivate the hobbies. But now Christmas is just around the corner and we remember the past year.

The weather has already brought summer to Milwaukee from May, there was an extensive one for the first time in many years Spring and despite a mild winter, the mosquito plague was just beginning on August 6th after an extreme amount of rain of 30 cm within three Hours! Car driveways became raging streams and streets to frightening streams. Dietmar got himself in his High-mounted van gets wet feet because the engine is in one Rain puddles drowned the intersection. He had to walk. after home and was happy that he could swim. heat and Flooding then caused the mosquito plague to explode.

In May Heidi and Dietmar flew for one week to England. We spent the first three days with Mary and Allen Scarborough, where we went by train and in a bed with a lot of love and breakfast remodeled train station. Then I went with an old one Steam locomotive through Yorkshire – Dietmar found himself in railway dreamland. During the three days in London, we met again after such a long time really liked – spontaneously we said we could live here - we met Heidi's cousin Rita and her husband George. It was exciting and entertaining to talk about our families and ancestors and memories to compare and exchange with what has been heard.

We visited in the evening Musical „Miss Saigon" . Heidi really liked the theme and music well, while Dietmar wasn't that enthusiastic, but he was already into it „Les Miserables", written by the same composer, less impressed. We are very happy that we new family ties in England have made and will take care of them. The Theaters in Milwaukee offered many Broadway productions this summer, of which we „Showboat", „Westside Story" and „Riverdance", the Irish tap dances experienced on stage explode.

While we were in Baltimore and England, Gisa's daughter Kathi looked after our house. She wanted hers After passing the nursing exam, you can gain professional experience in America. Unfortunately For legal reasons she could neither attend nor work here, but just play with children in the cancer ward for hours, one Activity undertaken by volunteers.

Dietmar's mother and Reinhard came at the end of May visiting for four weeks. It's been quite warm these weeks, But you still seem to have had a pleasant time here. The journey on the beautiful, Nordic-tart Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands probably won't be forgotten.

For Mark's 30th birthday we flew to Baltimore, really enjoyed the days with the children, Of course, especially Fritzi, 4 years old, after the four weeks in Hamburg understands German very well and, if necessary, speaks it. She attends a Waldorf kindergarten and one for two hours a week German-speaking playgroup. Lisa collects her first in Baltimore Practical experiences. She also takes on night shifts in aftercare Hospital for children. Mark is absolutely happy with his new one Position. Anna and Barrett also came to the birthday party. Annemarei is located is in the last year of her medical studies and has therefore completed all the important and grueling months behind him. She knows meanwhile, that’ she I want to become a neurologist in these weeks because of the... Interviews on the East and West coasts while traveling. Barrett finished his law studies in May and next week he will sworn in as a lawyer. To bridge Anna's 4th year of study, He is also studying education and will be a history teacher from May 99 be. He really enjoys this training. This is for him Working with children is so important that he sees a possible one in it sees life's task. And that as a fully trained lawyer? This is how you become Surprised.

1998 brought many changes and 1999 will be no different. “Panta rei”. Our goal still remains, everyone to unite the Wittmanns in a ranch-like property in Virginia (?), eventually. We already are in cyberspace: see our first “Web page" Try: www.colonna.net
Frroehliche Weihnachten und ein gutes 1999
Dietmar und Heidi

PS: Handwritten note from Heidi: Heinrich, we gave this name to a flight-impaired Canadian goose, which is the only one of 5 siblings left and lives on our lake. The parents spent many training hours with flight exercises and also used different educational methods to "unplug". But Heinrich cannot fly more than 30 m because his right wing feather is too short. So the loving parents also stayed with us by the lake in the garden. Now the pond is frozen except for a small stream inlet and will supply our geese with corn.