My son hadn’t been to Bad Saarow in two and a half years, but remembers good times there and a matchless freedom that only true simplicity can create. It is a place of peace for us and of mutual respect. A place where there is time to listen and speak and discuss as the moment or need takes you.
We had lunch at the lakeside, and sat and listened to the seabirds. We walked along the strands and experienced the surprising chill of the water, and the lap of its liquid against the reeds.
We later walked through the cool humidity of the woods, insects clouding up with every step. Finally, opening into fields of tall grey-green grain, the lanes along their edges are littered with glacial stones of all kinds, and this is what we came to seek.
Sun warmed sand, pine and stone. The ants are frenetically attentive to our movements, so we carefully watch our steps to avoid their colonies while taking up the curious rocks that catch our eyes. We talk of trees, my friend’s love of cranes and harvesting; the winter with the lake froze over and good bacteria that helps cleanse the body. Topics always range.
Sometimes they are complex and difficult, but only because of the emotions involved: of our children, our goals, our failings. We respect that we each have our paths to walk, and though we may suggest or commiserate, it is for the other person to decide their choices, and whatever their decision is…it’s their own.
It is a true kind of friendship, where you genuinely like and known each other because you’ve really listened and tried to understand without inserting one’s own ego or opinion. A kind of relationship I value above all things, and have been fortune to find a nice few ones in just such a way. So to my list of R’s: refocus, redirection and return, I can add another: Rememberance. Getting away from the city, from drama and imbalance was sublime as was the scenery. Taking time to remember who you are and what you stand for.
On loop is a special kind of goodness.
Recently, I’d been unable to rest, sleep frequently broken with complex dreams and nightmares of separation, of skewed memories and mysterious vistas. For those and other reasons, so had my son. Fear of events happening as they did before with such a long separation. Uncertainty. But such is life: we never know the future will bring, so it is important that we exist in the moment and take those precious times, keeping them in our hearts.
We returned to Bad Saarow, to a place and home where we’d lived before, where there is always consideration, balance, honesty and respect. Where I and we truly listen to each other, and not believe our thoughts, wants or needs are more important than others. No trying to control others, no mendacity and no sense of entitlement or privilege because of a previous act or gift.
I have a new clarity and purpose now, getting back to my original goals, plans and way of being. So it is a good thing, this return, and I find myself with a very deep peace on this account, and needed it on the eve of my son’s trip back to the US.
Life is about learning, and changing when necessary so that you respect yourself and others. I continue in my journey of life and learning, and still receive hard lessons sometimes. I look forward to continuing to grow and work hard for a positive future and life.
Other photography posts about Bad Saarow and surroundings villages:
Red Haircrow 
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