City of Calgary – Photo Credit: http://www.moneysense.ca
Peter’s receives Papa Pankin’s Letter
February 28th ,Calgary
My beloved Biene,
My brother Gerry just brought me your father’s letter. From his point of view he is completely right, yet I cannot agree with him, because his ideas belong to an antiquated world. He writes that a husband must be able to support (feed was the word he used) his wife. Today most marriages begin with both working together. He writes that Calgary is the end of the world, because he still believes that Germany is the centre of the universe. Just imagine, how strange, he believes that I am abducting you to Canada. I could only smile about this statement For isn’t it your greatest desire to come to me? I was also puzzled about his paradoxical attitude that I could marry you if I had a lot of money. However, since I am as poor as a church mouse, he believes it to be irresponsible on his part to lend us any financial support.
My dear Biene, do not worry. I am not angry at your father’s answer. I only wish that you come soon.
Yours in love, Peter
Two Pages from the Book of Dreams
Biene is going to the Canadian Embassy
March 7th , Velbert
My dear Peter,
In two days I am going to Cologne. I am all excited and also glad. Do you remember the day, when you came from Cologne and we two traveled together to your mother’s place in Watzenborn. Our farewell was still ahead of us and now comes our reunion. How many days, often sad days, lie between! I am longing for the day of my departure and I am looking forward to seeing you again so much. As always I am also a little afraid. But it is a pleasant fear. What will be all ahead of us, Peter! Do you really believe that I don’t wear your ring at home? I never ever took it off, Peter. You must believe me; otherwise you really hurt me. Although sometimes it may have appeared to you that I was not as strong at home as I had promised in England, you must not lose faith in me, Peter.
Right now the first warm spring days have arrived and the pleasant anticipation to be with you is beginning to thaw my inner frozenness, which has held my feelings captive for the last little while.
As soon as I am back from the embassy, I will write you in greater details and will also answer your question to your last letter.
In love, Your Biene
The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Family 
What is the german word for feed in this respect? I think “ernähren”.
I f you think of it you can only laugh out loud.
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Yes. You’re right. Though the expression is somewhat antiquated.
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Right on, Gerhard! Ernähren was the word Biene’s father used. A ridiculous attitude even for the 60’s! Hope to get our Internet back soon. I would like to write comments for your blog. Best wishes! Peter
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Ernähren meant to feed your wife directly, with a spoon and a fork? Ridiculous!
Best wishes Gerhard
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That is really antiquated “feeding one’s wife”. Even my parents were both working at times. My mother’s parents were both working. They were nurses and didn’t earn enough money to keep a family of four on one salary.
I do understand the puzzlement about the financial support matter. So, he would have supported you financially if you had been rich???? (I know he wouldn’t have, but that would be the conclusion from what he obviously wrote.)
I am impressed that you being in Canada are able to abduct a person, who is in Germany … 😉
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Dear Brigit, indeed Biene’s father displayed in his letter a bizarre kind of logic. I did not respond to his mental acrobatics. Biene with her love and steadfastness was making great progress. Why bother with antiquated ideas?
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Yes, why indeed …
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Glad to see that further posts are coming.
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the love story continues……….. 🙂
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Thanks, Jodi!
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I know there was a time when a man was expected to be able to “support” a wife so she wouldn’t have to work. It was considered a sign of failure if a man’s wife worked—even though she might have wanted to. I assume that was Biene’s father’s view. But this was the 1960s, right? Times were changing, but perhaps too fast for him. But it sounds like Biene was now firm and committed and no longer under her father’s sway.
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As a former police officer Bienes father did not recognize that the times and their customs were changing. In the 30’s he was not allowed to have a working wife. It was against the honor code of that era. Thank you, Amy, for your continued interest and participation in our story!
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You must have been relived and happy on receiving her letter. There’s no direct promise but it is promising!
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You assessed the situation correctly, dear Arv! Biene did not give a clear answer at the time, but her love was unwavering. Thank you for your kind comment!
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I always enjoy your post. 🙂
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Biene’s father seems full of fear and wanting to keep her close to him. The proverbial no one especially someone in Canada is good enough for my daughter. Biene, on the other hand is taking some positive steps to come to Canada.
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Thank you for your insightful comment! His fear of losing his daughter to an unknown husband was definitely part of his problem. He was of poor health and felt his wife alone could not take care of him. Best wishes! Peter
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And, following his reasoning, it was, of course, the daughter, who should take care of him, and not his son …
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Jetzt zeichnete sich doch ganz klar ab, daß Biene durch nichts mehr von ihren Plänen, zu Dir zu kommen, abzubringen war.Ich muß sie immer wieder wegen ihres Durchhaltevermögens und wegen ihrem Mut bewundern.Keiner hielt zu ihr aus der Familie und doch hat sie sich nicht davon abhalten lassen, nach Kanada zu kommen, trotz aller Schwierigkeiten und Unsicherheiten..
Und daß Ihr beide Bienes Vater später nichts nachgetragen habt, sagt doch vieles über Euch aus!
Und wir wissen ja schon, daß alles gut wurde!
Dir und Biene alles Gute,Peter!!!!
Edda
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Vielen Dank, liebe Edda! Wie gut du dich in Bienes schwierige Lage hineinversetzen kannst. Ich hätte dich damals als persönliche Beraterin gebrauchen können. Zum Glück ist alles am Ende ganz nach Plan verlaufen und die Eltern mussten sich daran gewöhnen,, dass ihre Tochter ihr Glück in Kanada gefunden hat. Viele Grüße an euch beide! Diese Woche kommen wir wieder nach Hause. Alles Gute! Peter
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I can’t imagine how happy you must have been to know that Biene was finally coming, if I read her letter correctly. And I look forward to finding out if her parents every got to the point where they approved of it?
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Dear Ann, you already know the happy end to our story. You are posing the right question. How did the parents respond to the fact that their daughter lived with an unknown (to them|) husband in Canada. Biene’s mother was the first to support us and her father accepted me on our first visit to Germany to present their first grandson in 1968.
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I’m so glad! I know you and Biene have had a long and happy life together, and I would hate to think that you were both estranged from her family! Thanks, Peter!
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I agree with all of your writers- they so said what I would have said–
Waiting for the Love Story .
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Thanks, Inge! Your comments are always appreciated.
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Peter, as always I can’t for the next chapter of your beautiful love story to be continued. I mostly love the expression of Biene in her answer ” But it is a pleasant fear”, that speaks words for her back holding excitement.
Wish you a great week filled with pleasant moments.
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Captivating. I recently read a book titled “A Man Called Ove” and at several points I was reminded of your story. Of course there is no direct comparison and each life is different and unique, but in some nuances of character and setting I was reminded of your story. If you ever get to read it, I will be interested in knowing your views on this aspect.
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Thank you, Ankur, for mentioning the book with a similar line of thought! I will try to get a hold of it and read it. Also this is the first day that my own Internet connection is working again.
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Congratulations on the Internet! Of course, one does sometimes wonder if it is a boon or a bane.
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A boon for sure in my particular case of reconnecting with you and all the other blogging friends. Thank you, Ankur, for your congratulations!
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Hi Ankur,
today September 8 I have read the first third of the novel. I have not yet found a similar line of thought. However, the more I read the more I begin to like Ove. I guess the main reason is that we all have a bit of his character in us. Thanks again for recommending the novel to me. Best wishes! Peter
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Sorry if I misled you Peter. I believe I found Ove’s upright character and his eternal devotion to one woman to be somewhat reflective of you, based on what I see of you in your posts.
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Dear Ankur, don’t be sorry. I feel honoured and humbled that you see some of Ove’s characteristics in me. Thank you for recommending this novel to me! I enjoy reading it one chapter at a time.
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I loved you comments on her father’s response, Peter! I am catching up after my return from Sweden that, of course, is “end of the world” far 🙂
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Haha! Another ‘end of the world’!
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