A car ride

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.