Chapter 37 of the Peter and Gertrud Klopp Story – Part III

/ Peter Klopp / 32 Comments

116Mountain

Biene’s Urgent Plea for Understanding

January 11th 1966, Velbert

My dear Love, I am a bit exhausted and my nerves are on edge. But don’t be afraid. I never lose my confidence and courage, whatever happens. Nothing can prevent me from coming to you.

First I must tell you this. The letter from the Canadian Embassy arrived today! I filled out the form at once and it is now on its way back to Cologne. But Peter, I had to do something you may not understand. But I had to do it to take a burden off my mother’s heart. I have asked the ambassador whether it will be possible to grant me a visa and a work permit for one year, before I will come to you forever. I have arranged with my mother to go to you till Christmas and then come back home to make the final decision. It breaks my mother’s heart. She cannot bear the thought that already this step I am going to do might be the final one. She must get acquainted to this thought by and by. Peter, please understand I have to grant her this favour. I must try everything to leave her at least in the hope that I am not bound to stay with you if I should not be able to stand the new life.

Peter, once together with you, I can reassure her in everything and she will get acquainted to the thought that I will stay with you. Peter, believe me, I only want to do the best and therefore never let doubts enter your heart! I need courage and I only can get it through you, when I know you are not troubled. Look, Peter, I come to you, I think, in April by airplane taking only small luggage with me. Coming back after Christmas I will take everything with me, for then I will stay forever. Peter, understand this change of plans, if the embassy should grant me my wish.

To be continued

Announcing: Spring has Sprung

/ Peter Klopp / 32 Comments

Cheerful Bird Announcing the Arrival of Spring

On a recent trip to Victoria, BC, I went for a morning hike along the beach road very close to the ocean. At a distance I heard a little bird happily chirping away. It did not pay attention to the many people walking their dogs very close to the branch where it was perched. So I approached my feathery friend with my camera ready to shoot. It paid no attention to me, even though I was only three meters away, but it seemed to be totally absorbed in the song it was singing. Enjoy.

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Chapter 37 of the Peter and Gertrud Klopp Story – Part II

/ Peter Klopp / 28 Comments

115Mountain

Peter’s Letter – Part II

Dear Biene, you are so sure about the future, yet you do not dare to tell your parents that you want to marry me this spring. I love you for your big heart in dealing so compassionately with all people. But you must understand that you will hurt your parents a thousand times more if you tell them the full truth only at the end. What will you say to them when the registered letter arrives from the Canadian embassy?

You wrote about the shocking experience of your mother in her youth. Did you notice in regard to us the unintended irony of this tragic event? She was so much in love with her fiancé that she wanted to force her parents by means of a baby to agree to the marriage. Did the thought not cross your mind that you could be at this time in the same situation? And Biene, I have to tell you this; I would have never done ‘it’ under any circumstances no matter how passionately my blood was pulsing through my veins. For then I would have taken your freedom away to follow me to Canada. I do not blackmail, I do not sweet-talk, and neither do I make any promises that I cannot keep.

Decide if you want to come in the spring or if you prefer to stay. in Germany. You know I cannot ask the immigration officials twice. They cannot change the immigration requirements and conditions.  You agreed to them and your parents should know them too.

One more time Fate is anchored within you, not in the time or the circumstances. So write to me soon and openly how things are at your end and how accurately your parents are informed. Forgive me, if I only saw the dark and unexplained content of your letter. Forgive me too, if I used too harsh a word or two and hurt your feelings or if the cold facts gave you pain. But until you can courageously face the present reality, especially when talking to your parents, I will not have a single peaceful moment. Quite frankly our situation appears already doomed to me. Biene, don’t you think a man just like a woman may also prepare himself inwardly for the wedding and may look forward to it? Yet I suffer with a burning fire in my chest tormented by the worries about our future. It cannot go on any longer like this! Make an end to my pain. My heart is longing for an end, happy or unhappy, it does not matter. Do not write any more what sounds nice, but give a true account of how things really are in Velbert, what you have accomplished and how I could help.

You have too much feeling. Oh, if you were already mine!

Your Peter

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lakes

/ Peter Klopp / 19 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

The Magic of Water Droplets

Recently Jodi’s poetic blog ‘creative life in between’ inspired me to search in my archives for some photos with water droplets. And just yesterday I viewed some more water droplets in Gerhard’s blog ‘kopfundgestalt’.

The five photos show the wonders of the inner life of a water droplet. You may find in them reflections of the outside world, when hit by the sun rays at just the right angle they shine like the finest diamonds, and if you look hard enough, you may find yourself encapsulated in the eternal beauty of the most precious element of life. Welcome to the world of macro photography! Enjoy.

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Chapter 37 of the Peter and Gertrud Klopp Story – Part I

/ Peter Klopp / 30 Comments
109Maintain

Beautiful Rocky Mountains in the Mid 60’s

Staying the Course

“I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter.” Blaise Pascal

Peter’s Tug-A-War with Biene

His Letter – Part I

January 6th, 1966 Calgary

My dear Biene,

Tomorrow we write our English exam. Before in a state of utter confusion I puton the test paper a thousand times your name down and fail to write a satisfactory essay, I want to quickly take a big burden off my chest.

I would like to clarify just one more time our present situation for you so you have something to cling to when new challenges arise. I can understand your father’s attitude perfectly well, because he is indeed losing his only daughter. But understanding must not lead to self-sacrifice. I am standing on the left, your parents on the right; you are in the middle and can only go to one.

My dear Biene, let me recount one more time how everything has evolved. Perhaps it will help you. Last summer waiting anxiously for a sign of life from me, you became desperate and asked me to let you come. Did you then openly talk to your parents about our plans to get married? When after work I came home dead tired and often with bleeding hands, when there was no word from the university, then your parents would have perhaps persuaded me to return to Germany. Later on when during my studies one success after another made me feel strong and confident, I believed that it was time to think of your coming to Canada. You didn’t only joyfully agree, but encouraged me in every letter to ask your parents for your hand in marriage. How well they were prepared I found out in your brother’s reply. You too were surprised at the unfriendly reaction and yet should have expected it. Then you became admirably brave and said, ‘I come in spite of it all!’ I remarked to my brother Gerry that they can all respectfully bow their heads before you. That’s how proud I was of you.

Then I waited for a reply, even though it was very difficult for me. Nothing was forthcoming for a very long time. But what did I hear sounding across from England? ‘Don’t wait too long, Peter’. So then I went from the university to downtown Calgary and started the lengthy application process for your immigration. A lot of things had to be done, because they never had a case before, in which a student was going to be the sponsor. While I was doing all this, you were dreaming about our wedding. Is it possible that you wrote nothing about this to your parents? This would have been the simplest thing in the world. For what one writes with calm reasoning, becomes clearer and more distinct in one’s mind than if one had to present the matter face to face. I can only explain your parents’ consternation in the light of their lack of awareness of our wedding plans.

You write that I should apologize to your parents. I read my letter over and over again. I cannot take away one iota. It is correct. If I apologize, your parents will despise me for my weakness. But this does not matter. What is more important that you desire that I apologize and with that you indicate to me – tears are almost welling up at this thought – that you no longer stand completely on my side. For above all, these plans were yours and mine. I gather this from your request not to write about them to your parents. O Biene don’t you see that your battle is already halfway lost!

Letter to be continued

 

Natural Splendour of the Arrow Lake

/ Peter Klopp / 29 Comments

Wednesday’s Photos

The Amazing Nakusp Hot Springs

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The Nakusp Hot Springs are nestled in the Kuskanax Valley in the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains and are one of BC’s best kept secrets! When your daily adventures are complete, you can relax and refresh in the naturally cleanest Hot Springs anywhere, and enjoy a stay at the comfortable, clean, yet rustic Cedar Chalets. In the summer you also have the choice of staying in the lovely Campground beside the Kuskanax Creek.

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During spring, summer, and fall, you can enjoy hiking and biking. There are short nature hikes to the  brand new Kuskanax Footbridge and the historic original Hot Springs site. For the more adventurous, there are longer day hikes to beautiful Kimbol Lake and other scenic trails all starting at the Hotsprings site. Fishing, kayaking, and canoeing opportunities abound in the Kuskanax River and the nearby Arrow Lakes.

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In the late fall and winter there are beautiful snowy landscapes in a moderate climate that encourage many winter sports and activities. There is snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and tobogganing on the trails; snowmobiling, heli and cat-skiing are also available nearby. Enjoy your stay.