Our furniture is here. Our cars are on the way. I think we’re home sweet home… for now…


Motley Crue sings “Home Sweet Home”…

I’m not really a big fan of 80s hair bands, but “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue just popped into my head as I’m sitting here thinking that for the 6th time in seven years, I’m “home sweet home”. I’m glad to be in Germany, though the process of getting here and settling wasn’t particularly easy. It helps to have lived here before, though. In fact, coming back here after five years kind of feels like a homecoming. While we lived in the Stuttgart area for only two years last time, it was our favorite place to live and we became quite comfortable here. As soon as our cars get here, it should be somewhat easier. I won’t necessarily be stuck in the house all the time like I was last time.

It does seem weird that I feel more comfortable in Germany than I did in Texas. Maybe it has to do with the weather, which today is cold and rainy.


Van Morrison’s stormy “Close Enough For Jazz” makes me think of living in Europe again, especially when it’s raining.

Hopefully we won’t be “Homeward Bound” anytime soon. At least not for good.


Going home won’t involve a railway station…

Actually, we do have to go to Virginia in November and Virginia is my home. We’re going to attend our annual Thanksgiving family reunion, which is held by my side of the family. I used to be a regular attendee of the annual reunion, but when I got married, we quit going so much. Last time I was at the annual shindig was in 2010. I had a great time, but the following year, we went to the Caribbean and the year after that, we went to Scotland. This year, we’re going because of my dad’s death. That’s when his memorial service is going to be. I’m supposed to contribute a song. My mom asked me to sing, then said she hoped I could provide a “tape” of my own accompaniment. I don’t use tapes anymore, but I do have a CD.

In the meantime, I have to rehearse, which seems a little hard to do in our new German house. I’ve found that sound leaks a lot, probably because the walls are concrete and echo a lot. Germans are also kind of particular about a lot of things, including noise. The last thing I want is someone knocking on my door to tell me to pipe down.


Jimmy Hughes sings “Neighbor, Neighbor”, a song I might need to dedicate to someone at some point…

The first time I heard “Neighbor, Neighbor” was in Germany. Gregg Allman was singing a cover version on his album Searching For Simplicity. That CD has the distinction of being the very first item I ever got in the mail in Germany back in 2007. I ordered it before we left the States and it was waiting for me in the post office. This time, we couldn’t get a box right away, so I had to wait for my first package. And this time, I didn’t bring any CDs.

I realize this post is about a whole lotta nothing, but it’s all finally sinking in. We’re settling in one more time and hopefully for longer than a year or two.