Permagrin

Today we are looking for all the remaining places for which M's father made a list. The thing is that yesterday was interesting, but not the most productive as far as finding things that made his father smile.

Today I think is different. Imagine this: we are at this moment, in a tiny internet cafe in the township of Wernau. This is actually part of Stuttgart, but not really--a bit like the pieces of Ottawa that are part of Ottawa, technically, but not really.

M's dad drew a map. Imagine three lines. At the bottom, a note that says the church is there, it is where he had his confirmation. At one of the intersections, an old town hall. Across the intersection, the new town hall. To the right, the Finklemyer factory. And somebody lived there, or still does, or maybe it is someone's son.

The problem is that M's dad is drawing a map that is 30 years old. The challenge for us is trying to figure out where things actually are. It's a bit like the amazing race, since we only have today to finish. So there I was, looking at something that seemed like it might have been a church....but, it turned out to be the Old Town Hall.

Only, it was actually the NEW town hall that M's dad referred to. There is a newer town hall across the street. As I'm looking every bit the tourist, trying to find something on the building, a man comes to us and speaks in German, but he is clearly offering an opinion. We struggle a bit, then ask if he can speak English--no, he cannot, but his wife can.

And then, it turns out, they know all the pieces on the map. They remember the factory--it has been gone now for ten years, and replaced by the 'new houses'. they know the church--it is a bit up the hill. This town hall is the old town hall, etc. etc. etc. They were charming, memorable, helpful folk, and we are very grateful to them.

So, after that, we walk down the street, but it is the wrong church, and we get more directions, and we get to the place where the factory was. And as we are snapping photos, and trying to orient ourselves to the 30 year old drawing...a horn beeps at us.

It's the man, returning now with a collection of brochures and papers on Wernau. This might help, he says.

For the next 8 blocks, M can't stop grinning. In fact, he's at another computer looking up something else...and he is still grinning.

That makes THIS trip. Mission accomplished :-)