My life as a cat

Morning comes early at 3 AM as hubby kisses me goodbye and leaves for Munich to pick up his sister Sandy and 13 yr old niece Stacey. It is a bit of a journey there, so he tells me he will be back around Noon most likely. I of course, remind him don't drive to fast like they do here because I am not with. He sees I am worried and says "Don't worry honey. I will be careful and come back to you ".

After that I hear the door close to our room and I lie in darkness having a little trouble falling back asleep as a little scary thought creeps unwanted into my mind. The thought is I am ALL ALONE in a foriegn country and what if he got hurt on the road, what would I do ? I push it firmly from my mind and say a prayer to my Father in Heaven to watch over him and to also help me go back to asleep. I really need to because as you know from Part 3 of my trip, I had been sick all day long driving to get here. So here is my first chance not to be on the road and get some much needed rest and recoup and look forward to enjoying Switzerland, seeing my sons from Florida and especially getting ready for our daughter's wedding in Switzeland!

Not only do I sleep as God's peace comforts me, but when I do awaken I can hardly believe it is 11 AM already and hubby will be back in a hour. Yippeee ! So the fun begins soon and I am also looking forward to seeing my sister in law and niece. I go down stairs to the dining room and have a late breakfast of the usual lunch meat slices of ham, liverwurst, etc and cheeses all white as usual. Also the usual hard buns and bread to slice for sandwich. And there is juice, milk (the rich whole milk that tastes like cream), some granola cereal, the usual hot chocolate to drink and fresh fruit. Typical European breakfast ! I realize I was spoiled with the bounty at Golden Tulip Motel in Frankfurt now.

But I find I love the chewy buns and bread of Frankfurt and Breggins now. The entire we time we are in Europe we never ever see sliced bread like we have in America. Not even in grocery stores. The bread overseas is no doubt much healthier for you but quite chewy which hubby never got use to but made the best of it. I decide I love it better and wish to go that route upon returning home, but he lets me know he still wants soft sliced bread (he prefers wheat like me) around. So we have some of both nowadays. I have to tell you the earthy breads they made you can find simaler here and they are tasty with flavor typical American bread just does not have.

After breakfast I tour the grounds around the motel and delight in seeing beautiful flowers

most of which I recoginize. The lesson I am learning is that America got alot of it's flowers from European settlers who settled our country. And my favorite the Rose is in abundance here in favulous colors and oh so fragrant and large to. They are included in the flowers around the outside of the motel. I see a black cat but he does not let me near to pet him.

Upon returning to my room, I am dismayed to see it is already almost 1PM and hubby, his sister and niece are still not back. I remind myself the flight his sister and niece was on might of been delayed and so do not borrow trouble worrying (yet!). Plus a hour delay is not that bad. In my carry on I have some books I brought with to read as our daughter Tamara had already told us most TV in Eurpean motels will be in foriegn language and so be prepared for those times with good books.

At least this time there is no triple x -rated porn on the TV and it is safe to flip thru channels !

But the only English speaking channel is CNN news. So once I am done with that I begin my book. By 3PM, I am getting worried because not even a phone call from my hubby !

Something must be wrong for him to not even call me so I can know why he is running late ! But I tell myself maybe there is a good reason and somehow he cannot call me. I can't imagine what it is but I reason with myself that he is only 3 hours late returning and the flight may of been delayed and a problem going on with phones. I tell myself he will find a way to call if he has to leave the airport to do so to prevent my becoming very worried about him. And so I return to my book but with a constant eye to checking the time because I feel uneasy now. No phone calls............

Now it is 5PM and I find I cannot read my book anymore. I keep re-reading words as I can no longer concentrate on them with fearful thoughts intruding my mind about if he is alright or lying in a foreign hospital some place because of a car accident. And the hospital does not know where I am to call me or that I even exist! Or worse his car rolled down a steep incline and no one even knows he is injured or maybe.........

Memories of the "Audobon mentality" of European drivers keep racing across my mind.........

Now I am to the point I am seriously thinking about what to do next. I remember thinking I wish my kids were not all in the Netherlands right now enjoying themselves but with me so TOGETHER we could do what needs to be done to find their father, etc. Plus I could use the emotional support !

It is 5 hours past the time hubby was due in. The Motel Mgrs do not speak good English nor read it good and I am thinking about where to go in this little village to find a internet access and alert my kids so they come here to help figure what to do together.

I am also thinking I need to go to a resturant and just find someone who can speak English to help me contact whatever authorities or police that can help. Then I hear that still small voice of God in my heart say "You have not yet prayed to me. I am here and I love you and your husband." In a crisis, God is always who I go to first and somehow I had gotten myself so shook up and had forgotten to ask God what should I do next and when and how,etc.

So now I decide this is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to do first. I kneel praying and weeping

and spill out my fears to Jesus. As I do, a peace begins to come over me that everything is going to be all right. A sudden feeling that in one more hour my hubby will return to me safely comes over me.

I quit shaking and crying now and decide to trust my Heavenly Father and put aside all fears. I know in my heart I heard him talk to me and I need not do another thing now but take comfort in God's help and the assurrance he has given me now. I know I am not imagining it because in the past he has never failed me when he has spoken to me.

Nevertheless, I do tell God that human part of me must still have a "plan".

And mine is if hubby is not back in one more hour then I will act to do what I need to do to alert our kids, get police etc. Because when it gets dark out how can anyone find him if his car rolled down a deep ditch and he is hurt or they all are hurt. So I must do something while there is still plenty of daylight. In faith, I put aside my worry and this time I pick up my Bible and read from the Psalms (always a comfort to me) and then I sing favorite Christian songs I know by heart to God and finally I pray again thanking him for his help, protection of hubby, Sandy and Stacey. Comfort and peace now rule in my heart again as I trust in God to take care of this scary situation and keep his promise to me.

Then I pick up my book to read it again but keep a ever watchful eye on the clock in front of me. Time NEVER moved so s-l-o-w as it did at that time in my life waiting for my hubby to return to me..........

When it is at last 6 PM, I put down my book and begin to prepare to act. I use the restroom, wash up and brush my hair and then change to clothes ready to travel with Police or whatever to find him. I get out the Euros money we have safely tucked away and put it in my purse so I am not without cash as needed especially to access the internet and alert the kids to leave the Netherlands and come to Breggins, Switzerland. I have no phone number for them only their email addys and do not what motel they are at. Next I pick up my sweater as the weather is cooling here in the alps, and saying a quick prayer I determine to walk to the door with my room key ready and proceed. Then I hear voices in the hallway. Could it be ?

Next footsteps down the hall that stop in front of my room and there is a knock on my door and I hear my beloved's voice !

My heart pounds as I throw open the door and rush into my darling's arms. I am crying now

just remembering it all over again!

To be continued....................find out what happened in Munich that caused the delay and ride the Euro train with me to Switzerland and take a Indian Dinner Cruise on Lake Tuhn in Switzerland and more !

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