Son, he says,
son, do you hear me?
I’m dead 38 years now
but I’ve always been
close to you.
Are those the cars nowadays?
Well, what do you say?
But they still have VWs,
don’t they?
Take me to our old street, son,
will you.
No, no, you drive!
I haven’t driven in a lifetime.
Yes, your mother says hello.
She didn’t want to come,
not for the life of her.
No, she couldn’t.
She said
she’d cry her eyes out.
But I love to see you here.
I’ve always seen you
of course
but it’s a difference.
Who is chancellor
nowadays?
A woman?
How do you like that?
And they run in the streets
these days?
Well, I guess
it is sport
after all.
And you don’t need a club.
No sir, you don’t.
Blacks on our national team?
Yes, that is something new!
And really no Berlin Wall anymore?
How about some coffee?
You still drink coffee, son?
Do you miss me
at all?
And you got a family, right?
Tonight you can take me back
to the cemetery
Then I’ll get to see the grave
but not yet, o.k.?
And this is the new harbourfront?
That’s quite something!
It used to be
only old warehouses
in my time.
And here was my little outfit,
of course.
It was on the other side
next to St.Michaels.
Embroidery of military insignia
for their uniforms.
30 employees
only women
because it used to be
women’s work
sewing, braiding, stitching.
Your world is foreign to me
but I can still figure out the signs
and understand most ways.
I regret
that I couldn’t see your kids
grow up.
A fine girl you have!
And a fine boy!
Did you tell them
about me?
Show them pictures?
And you don’t even
have the same money any more!
That would have scared us,
inflation and all
but I think
you’re doing o.k.
Good, son, very good!
I knew that you would
go to America!
But have you come back
for good?
I think
it’s alright
that you are a teacher.
That comes from
your mother’s side.
From her mother’s mother
to be exact.
All those
Straußes and Overbecks.
On my side
we had merchants, inn keepers,
handycraftsmen, the like...
Are you happy?
Still a lady’s man?
Oh, you’re so much like me.
You can’t even know it.