Kuppedoog

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Nevelmoond 1999)

Bün hüüt mit Kuppedoog opstohn un wull ok fuurts no een Toblett griepen, ober to keum mi mien Mamma mit ehr velen Kuppedoog in mien Kopp. Ik hebb dat wull vun ehr arft. Tobletten hett se nie nich nohm. Se harr gor keen. Nee, se kook sik een gans starke Tass Kaffe, wenn se noog Kaffebohnen harr. Tiet sik dooltoleggen harr Mamma nie nich. Noch gans nau hebb ik för Ogen, wenn ehr för Kuppedoog de Troon rünnerleupen. Wüürn keen Kaffebohnen dor, güng se an't Kökenschapp, hool de ole Kaffetass ohn' Hamp woneem se ümmer Penns-, Fiefpenns- un Groschenstücken opwohrt hett. Nu schütt se den Inhoold op den Kökendisch. Mamma tell de poor Plück un wörr wies, ob ik een achtel, or een vittel Pund Kaffe vun Tant Hudaff holen kunn. 

,,Clara, gooh mol gau no Tant Hudaff un hool mi een vittel Pund Kaffe. Ik hebb so'n Kuppedoog. Dor helpt mi bloots noch een stiebe Tass Kaffe. Will man gau Füür ünner den Ketel moken. Denn kookt dat Woter al wenn du trüchkummst.''

In'n Draff bün ik denn no Tant Hudaff neiht. Se harr een Kolonialwaren-Laden. So stünn dat boben de Lodendöör. Gau wüür ik warrer trüch, un Mamma hett sik ehrn Kaffe opbüdelt. Wüür ümmer een Zeremonie, wenn Mamma sik Kaffe kookt hett. Iers wörr de Kaffekann mit kokend Woter vörwarmt. De Piep vun de Kann kreeg een Wattepluck, dormit keen Warms un keen Aroma verloorn güngen. Kloor kook dat Woter al wenn ik to Döör rinkeum, un Mamma kunn gor nich gau noog de lütte spitze Popiertüüt opkriegen. Rinn mit de Kaffebohnen in de Kaffemöhl, un ik hebb jüm gau dörchmöhlt. De ganse Köök hett al bi't Möhlen no Kaffe roken! Nich gau noog kunn Mamma den Kaffe in den Kaffebüdel kriegen. Nu keum iers bloots soveel Woter op dat Kaffemehl, datt dat bedeckt wüür. Iers wenn dat opgoten Woter aflopen wüür wörr richtig opgoten. Seeh mien gode Mamma noch in mien Dinken sitten un ehrn Kaffe geneten. Se wörr ehr Kuppedoog ok loos!

So hebb ik dat hüüt ok mookt. Hebb een Löpel Kaffemehl mihr in den Filter doon, liekso as Mamma. Mien Kaffekann warrt ümmer mit kokend Woter vörwarmt. Ober de Kaffekann bruukt keen Watteproppen; de is jo ,,aromageschützt.'' Un mien Kuppedoog sünd gans gau op den Trüchmarsch gohn.

Nu schulln wi ober ok mol lesen, wat in so een Kuppedoogtoblett binn is! Coffein!! Na, dat köönt wi doch billiger un ohn Chemie mit een gode Tass Kaffe hebben.

Wat ik ober ok noch seggen müch mit mien Besinn an ole, swore Tieden, datt hüüttodoogs Kaffe bloots noch pundwies köfft warrt, un wenn he bi Famila or Minimal billig anboden warrt, denn warrt glieks fief Pund in Vörrut köfft. To Tiet vun de Weltwirtschuppskries wüür ik teihn Johr old, un hebb allns Swore mitbeleevt un nie nich vergeten. Ik weet, dat wi in een riebe Tiet leevt un gor nich weet, wo good uns dat geiht.

Ober mien Mamma hett uns hier in dat ole Harshei noch foken besöcht un so good as dat man güng hebb ik ehr verweuhnt. Eenmol hett se to mi seggt: ,,Mien Diern, ik koom mi vör as so'n Filmdiva, de ehrn Mund gor nich optomoken bruukt, de allns vun de Ogen afleest warrt.''

Mamma, wenn ik trüchdink meen ik foken, ik harr noch veel mihr för di doon un moken kunnt. Nee, ik harr dat sogor müßt. Ober keeneen kann de Tiet trüchdreihn un Versüümtet nohooln. Wi mööt dormit leben wat wi doon hebbt, harrn doon kunnt or gor harrn doon müßt.

Headache

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(November 1999)

Today I got up with a headache and immediately reached for a pill, but then I remembered my Mom with her many headaches. I probably inherited that from her. She never took pills. She didn't even have any. No, she would make herself a really strong cup of coffee if she had enough coffee beans. Mom never had any time to lie down. I clearly remember how her headaches would drive her to tears. If there weren't any coffee beans, she'd go to the kitchen cupboard, take down the old handle-less coffee cup in which we used to save pennies, nickels and dimes. Then she'd pour the contents out onto the kitchen table. Mom would count the bit of change and would know if I could get an eighth or a quarter of a pound of coffee from Auntie Hudaff's.

"Clara, rush over to Auntie Hudaff's and get me a quarter pound coffee. I'm having such a headache that only a strong cup of coffee can help me now. I'll quickly make some fire under the kettle. Then the water will already be boiling when you get back."

I'd rush over to Auntie Hudaff's. She had a "colonial produce" store. That's what it said above the entrance. I'd be back in no time, and Mom would brew her coffee. It would always be quite a ceremony when Mom made herself some coffee. First, the coffeepot would be preheated with boiling water. A cotton ball would be inserted into the spout of the pot so no warmth and aroma would get lost. Of course the water would already be boiling when I came through the door, and Mom couldn't open the small, pointed paper sack quickly enough. Into the coffee grinder went the coffee beans, and I would quickly grind them through. During the grinding the entire kitchen would already smell of coffee! Mom couldn't get the coffee into the filter quickly enough. Then, first of all just enough water had to be poured onto the coffee grounds as to barely cover them. Only when the added water had run off could we get down to the business of filtering. In front my mind's eye I can still see my dear Mom sitting there and enjoying her coffee. And she would get rid of her headaches!

That's how I did it today. I put an extra spoonful of ground coffee into the filter, just as Mom used to do. My coffeepot always gets preheated with boiling water. But the coffeepot doesn't need any cotton ball, because it has "aroma-protected." Very soon my headache retreated.

You should take a look at what's inside headache pills! "Caffein"! Well, we can get that more cheaply and without added chemicals in a good cup of coffee.

Another thing I want to say with my reminiscing about harder times gone by is that these days you can by coffee only by the pound, or even by five pounds offered more cheaply from Famila's or Minimal's. At the time of the World Economic Crisis I was ten years old and experienced all the hardships personally and never forgot them. I know we are living at a time of affluence and don't quite understand how well off we are.

Well, my Mom often visited us here in old Harshei/Harksheide, and I spoiled her as much as I possibly could. Once she said to me, "Honey, I feel like a movie diva that doesn't even need to open her mouth, whose every wish is being read in her eyes."

Mom, whenever I think back I feel I could have done even more for you. No, I should have done more. But no one can turn back the clock and recover missed chances. We've got to live with what we have done, could have done or even should have done.

Kuppeidaag'

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Nevelmaand 1999)

Buen huyt mit kuppeidaag' opstaan un wul ouk fourts naa 'n taablett gripen, aver tou koym mii miin Mamma mit er felen kuppeidaag' in miin kop. Ik hev dat wul fun er arvd. Taabletten het sei nii nich namen. Sei har gaar kein. Nei, sei kook sik 'n ganss starke tass kaffe wen sei noug kaffe-bonen har. Tiid sik daal tou leggen har Mamma nii nich. Noch ganss nau hev ik foer ougen wen er foer kuppeidaag' de tranen ruenner-loypen. Woyrn kein kaffe-bonen daar, gueng sei an't keuken-schap, hool de ole kaffe-tass aan hamp wouneem sei uemmer pens-, fiiv-pens- un groschen-stuekken op-waard het. Nuu schuet sei d'n inhold op d'n keuken-disch. Mamma tel de paar pluek un woerd' wiis' of ik 'n achtel or 'n fiddel pund kaffe fun Tant Hudaff holen kun.

,,Clara, gaa maal gau naa Tant Hudaff, un haal mii 'n fiddel pund kaffe. Ik hev soo 'n kuppeidaag'. Daar helpt mii bloots noch 'n stive tass kaffe. Wil man gau fuyr uenner d'n ketel maken. Den kaakt dat water al wen duu trueg-kumst.''

In d'n drav buen ik den naa Tant Hudaff naidt. Sei har 'n koloniaalwaren-laden. Soo stuend dat baven de laden-deur. Gau woyr ik warrer trueg, un Mamma het sik eren kaffe op-buedeld. Woyr uemmer 'n tseremonii wen Mamma sik kaffe kaakd het. Eirsd woer de kaffe-kan mit kakend water foer-warmd. De piip fun de kan kreeg' 'n watte-pluk daar mit kein warms un kein arroma ferloren guengen. Klaar kaak dat water al wen ik tou d' deur rin-koym, un Mamma kun gaar nich gau noug de luette spitse papiir-tuyt op-krigen. Rin mit de kaffe-bonen in de kaffe-meul, un ik hev juem gau doerch-meuld. De gansse keuk het al bii't meulen naa kaffe raken! Nich gau noug kun Mamma d'n kaffe in d'n kaffe-buedel krigen. Nuu koym eirsd bloots soo feel water op dat kaffe-meel dat dat bedekd woyr. Eirsd wen dat op-gaten water af-loupen woyr woerd' richtig op-gaten. Sei miin goude Mamma noch in miin dinken sitten un eren kaffe geneiten. Sei woerd' er kuppeidaag' ouk loos!

Soo hev ik dat huyt ouk maakd. Hev ein leupel kaffe-meel meir in d'n filter daan, liik soo as Mamma. Miin kaffe-kan wardt uemmer mit kakend water foer-warmd. Aver de kaffe-kan bruukt kein watte-proppen; dei is jaa ,,aromageschützt.'' Un miin kuppeidaag' suend ganss gau op d'n truegg-marsch gaan.

Nuu schullen wii aver ouk maal lesen wat in soo 'n kuppeidaag'-taablett binnen is! Koffeïn!! Na, dat keunt wii doch billiger un aan schemii mit 'n goude tass kaffe hebben.

Wat ik aver ouk noch seggen muech mit miin besinnen an ole, sware tiden dat huyt tou daags kaffe bloots noch pund-wiis' koefd wardt, un wen hei bii Famila or Minimal billig an-baden wardt, den wardt gliiks fiiv pund in foerruut koefd. Tou tiid fun de Weltwirtschupps-kriis' woyr ik tain jaar old un hev allens swore mit-beleevd un nii nich fergeten. Ik weet dat wii in 'n rive tiid leevt un gaar nich weett wou goud uns dat gait.

Aver miin Mamma het uns hiir in dat ole Harshaid' noch faken besoechd, un soo goud as dat man gueng hev ik er ferwoynd. Ein maal het sei tou mii segd: ,,Miin deirn, ik kaam mii foer as soo 'n film-diwa dei eren mund gaar nich op tou maken bruukt, dei allens fun de ougen af-leesd wardt.''

Mamma, wen ik trueg-dink mein ik faken ik har noch feel meir foer dii daan un maken kund. Nei, ik har dat sogaar muessd. Aver kein ein kan de tiid trueg-draien un fersuymted naa-halen. Wii meutt daar mit leven wat wii daan hevd, harren doun kund or gaar harren doun muessd.

Headache

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(November 1999)

Today I got up with a headache and immediately reached for a pill, but then I remembered my Mom with her many headaches. I probably inherited that from her. She never took pills. She didn't even have any. No, she would make herself a really strong cup of coffee if she had enough coffee beans. Mom never had any time to lie down. I clearly remember how her headaches would drive her to tears. If there weren't any coffee beans, she'd go to the kitchen cupboard, take down the old handle-less coffee cup in which we used to save pennies, nickels and dimes. Then she'd pour the contents out onto the kitchen table. Mom would count the bit of change and would know if I could get an eighth or a quarter of a pound of coffee from Auntie Hudaff's.

"Clara, rush over to Auntie Hudaff's and get me a quarter pound coffee. I'm having such a headache that only a strong cup of coffee can help me now. I'll quickly make some fire under the kettle. Then the water will already be boiling when you get back."

I'd rush over to Auntie Hudaff's. She had a "colonial produce" store. That's what it said above the entrance. I'd be back in no time, and Mom would brew her coffee. It would always be quite a ceremony when Mom made herself some coffee. First, the coffeepot would be preheated with boiling water. A cotton ball would be inserted into the spout of the pot so no warmth and aroma would get lost. Of course the water would already be boiling when I came through the door, and Mom couldn't open the small, pointed paper sack quickly enough. Into the coffee grinder went the coffee beans, and I would quickly grind them through. During the grinding the entire kitchen would already smell of coffee! Mom couldn't get the coffee into the filter quickly enough. Then, first of all just enough water had to be poured onto the coffee grounds as to barely cover them. Only when the added water had run off could we get down to the business of filtering. In front my mind's eye I can still see my dear Mom sitting there and enjoying her coffee. And she would get rid of her headaches!

That's how I did it today. I put an extra spoonful of ground coffee into the filter, just as Mom used to do. My coffeepot always gets preheated with boiling water. But the coffeepot doesn't need any cotton ball, because it has "aroma-protected." Very soon my headache retreated.

You should take a look at what's inside headache pills! "Caffein"! Well, we can get that more cheaply and without added chemicals in a good cup of coffee.

Another thing I want to say with my reminiscing about harder times gone by is that these days you can by coffee only by the pound, or even by five pounds offered more cheaply from Famila's or Minimal's. At the time of the World Economic Crisis I was ten years old and experienced all the hardships personally and never forgot them. I know we are living at a time of affluence and don't quite understand how well off we are.

Well, my Mom often visited us here in old Harshei/Harksheide, and I spoiled her as much as I possibly could. Once she said to me, "Honey, I feel like a movie diva that doesn't even need to open her mouth, whose every wish is being read in her eyes."

Mom, whenever I think back I feel I could have done even more for you. No, I should have done more. But no one can turn back the clock and recover missed chances. We've got to live with what we have done, could have done or even should have done.

Kuppedoog

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Nevelmoond 1999)

Bün hüüt mit Kuppedoog opstohn un wull ok fuurts no een Toblett griepen, ober to keum mi mien Mamma mit ehr velen Kuppedoog in mien Kopp. Ik hebb dat wull vun ehr arft. Tobletten hett se nie nich nohm. Se harr gor keen. Nee, se kook sik een gans starke Tass Kaffe, wenn se noog Kaffebohnen harr. Tiet sik dooltoleggen harr Mamma nie nich. Noch gans nau hebb ik för Ogen, wenn ehr för Kuppedoog de Troon rünnerleupen. Wüürn keen Kaffebohnen dor, güng se an't Kökenschapp, hool de ole Kaffetass ohn' Hamp woneem se ümmer Penns-, Fiefpenns- un Groschenstücken opwohrt hett. Nu schütt se den Inhoold op den Kökendisch. Mamma tell de poor Plück un wörr wies, ob ik een achtel, or een vittel Pund Kaffe vun Tant Hudaff holen kunn. 

,,Clara, gooh mol gau no Tant Hudaff un hool mi een vittel Pund Kaffe. Ik hebb so'n Kuppedoog. Dor helpt mi bloots noch een stiebe Tass Kaffe. Will man gau Füür ünner den Ketel moken. Denn kookt dat Woter al wenn du trüchkummst.''

In'n Draff bün ik denn no Tant Hudaff neiht. Se harr een Kolonialwaren-Laden. So stünn dat boben de Lodendöör. Gau wüür ik warrer trüch, un Mamma hett sik ehrn Kaffe opbüdelt. Wüür ümmer een Zeremonie, wenn Mamma sik Kaffe kookt hett. Iers wörr de Kaffekann mit kokend Woter vörwarmt. De Piep vun de Kann kreeg een Wattepluck, dormit keen Warms un keen Aroma verloorn güngen. Kloor kook dat Woter al wenn ik to Döör rinkeum, un Mamma kunn gor nich gau noog de lütte spitze Popiertüüt opkriegen. Rinn mit de Kaffebohnen in de Kaffemöhl, un ik hebb jüm gau dörchmöhlt. De ganse Köök hett al bi't Möhlen no Kaffe roken! Nich gau noog kunn Mamma den Kaffe in den Kaffebüdel kriegen. Nu keum iers bloots soveel Woter op dat Kaffemehl, datt dat bedeckt wüür. Iers wenn dat opgoten Woter aflopen wüür wörr richtig opgoten. Seeh mien gode Mamma noch in mien Dinken sitten un ehrn Kaffe geneten. Se wörr ehr Kuppedoog ok loos!

So hebb ik dat hüüt ok mookt. Hebb een Löpel Kaffemehl mihr in den Filter doon, liekso as Mamma. Mien Kaffekann warrt ümmer mit kokend Woter vörwarmt. Ober de Kaffekann bruukt keen Watteproppen; de is jo ,,aromageschützt.'' Un mien Kuppedoog sünd gans gau op den Trüchmarsch gohn.

Nu schulln wi ober ok mol lesen, wat in so een Kuppedoogtoblett binn is! Coffein!! Na, dat köönt wi doch billiger un ohn Chemie mit een gode Tass Kaffe hebben.

Wat ik ober ok noch seggen müch mit mien Besinn an ole, swore Tieden, datt hüüttodoogs Kaffe bloots noch pundwies köfft warrt, un wenn he bi Famila or Minimal billig anboden warrt, denn warrt glieks fief Pund in Vörrut köfft. To Tiet vun de Weltwirtschuppskries wüür ik teihn Johr old, un hebb allns Swore mitbeleevt un nie nich vergeten. Ik weet, dat wi in een riebe Tiet leevt un gor nich weet, wo good uns dat geiht.

Ober mien Mamma hett uns hier in dat ole Harshei noch foken besöcht un so good as dat man güng hebb ik ehr verweuhnt. Eenmol hett se to mi seggt: ,,Mien Diern, ik koom mi vör as so'n Filmdiva, de ehrn Mund gor nich optomoken bruukt, de allns vun de Ogen afleest warrt.''

Mamma, wenn ik trüchdink meen ik foken, ik harr noch veel mihr för di doon un moken kunnt. Nee, ik harr dat sogor müßt. Ober keeneen kann de Tiet trüchdreihn un Versüümtet nohooln. Wi mööt dormit leben wat wi doon hebbt, harrn doon kunnt or gor harrn doon müßt.

Headache

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(November 1999)

Today I got up with a headache and immediately reached for a pill, but then I remembered my Mom with her many headaches. I probably inherited that from her. She never took pills. She didn't even have any. No, she would make herself a really strong cup of coffee if she had enough coffee beans. Mom never had any time to lie down. I clearly remember how her headaches would drive her to tears. If there weren't any coffee beans, she'd go to the kitchen cupboard, take down the old handle-less coffee cup in which we used to save pennies, nickels and dimes. Then she'd pour the contents out onto the kitchen table. Mom would count the bit of change and would know if I could get an eighth or a quarter of a pound of coffee from Auntie Hudaff's.

"Clara, rush over to Auntie Hudaff's and get me a quarter pound coffee. I'm having such a headache that only a strong cup of coffee can help me now. I'll quickly make some fire under the kettle. Then the water will already be boiling when you get back."

I'd rush over to Auntie Hudaff's. She had a "colonial produce" store. That's what it said above the entrance. I'd be back in no time, and Mom would brew her coffee. It would always be quite a ceremony when Mom made herself some coffee. First, the coffeepot would be preheated with boiling water. A cotton ball would be inserted into the spout of the pot so no warmth and aroma would get lost. Of course the water would already be boiling when I came through the door, and Mom couldn't open the small, pointed paper sack quickly enough. Into the coffee grinder went the coffee beans, and I would quickly grind them through. During the grinding the entire kitchen would already smell of coffee! Mom couldn't get the coffee into the filter quickly enough. Then, first of all just enough water had to be poured onto the coffee grounds as to barely cover them. Only when the added water had run off could we get down to the business of filtering. In front my mind's eye I can still see my dear Mom sitting there and enjoying her coffee. And she would get rid of her headaches!

That's how I did it today. I put an extra spoonful of ground coffee into the filter, just as Mom used to do. My coffeepot always gets preheated with boiling water. But the coffeepot doesn't need any cotton ball, because it has "aroma-protected." Very soon my headache retreated.

You should take a look at what's inside headache pills! "Caffein"! Well, we can get that more cheaply and without added chemicals in a good cup of coffee.

Another thing I want to say with my reminiscing about harder times gone by is that these days you can by coffee only by the pound, or even by five pounds offered more cheaply from Famila's or Minimal's. At the time of the World Economic Crisis I was ten years old and experienced all the hardships personally and never forgot them. I know we are living at a time of affluence and don't quite understand how well off we are.

Well, my Mom often visited us here in old Harshei/Harksheide, and I spoiled her as much as I possibly could. Once she said to me, "Honey, I feel like a movie diva that doesn't even need to open her mouth, whose every wish is being read in her eyes."

Mom, whenever I think back I feel I could have done even more for you. No, I should have done more. But no one can turn back the clock and recover missed chances. We've got to live with what we have done, could have done or even should have done.

Kuppeidaag'

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Nevelmaand 1999)

Buen huyt mit kuppeidaag' opstaan un wul ouk fourts naa 'n taablett gripen, aver tou koym mii miin Mamma mit er felen kuppeidaag' in miin kop. Ik hev dat wul fun er arvd. Taabletten het sei nii nich namen. Sei har gaar kein. Nei, sei kook sik 'n ganss starke tass kaffe wen sei noug kaffe-bonen har. Tiid sik daal tou leggen har Mamma nii nich. Noch ganss nau hev ik foer ougen wen er foer kuppeidaag' de tranen ruenner-loypen. Woyrn kein kaffe-bonen daar, gueng sei an't keuken-schap, hool de ole kaffe-tass aan hamp wouneem sei uemmer pens-, fiiv-pens- un groschen-stuekken op-waard het. Nuu schuet sei d'n inhold op d'n keuken-disch. Mamma tel de paar pluek un woerd' wiis' of ik 'n achtel or 'n fiddel pund kaffe fun Tant Hudaff holen kun.

,,Clara, gaa maal gau naa Tant Hudaff, un haal mii 'n fiddel pund kaffe. Ik hev soo 'n kuppeidaag'. Daar helpt mii bloots noch 'n stive tass kaffe. Wil man gau fuyr uenner d'n ketel maken. Den kaakt dat water al wen duu trueg-kumst.''

In d'n drav buen ik den naa Tant Hudaff naidt. Sei har 'n koloniaalwaren-laden. Soo stuend dat baven de laden-deur. Gau woyr ik warrer trueg, un Mamma het sik eren kaffe op-buedeld. Woyr uemmer 'n tseremonii wen Mamma sik kaffe kaakd het. Eirsd woer de kaffe-kan mit kakend water foer-warmd. De piip fun de kan kreeg' 'n watte-pluk daar mit kein warms un kein arroma ferloren guengen. Klaar kaak dat water al wen ik tou d' deur rin-koym, un Mamma kun gaar nich gau noug de luette spitse papiir-tuyt op-krigen. Rin mit de kaffe-bonen in de kaffe-meul, un ik hev juem gau doerch-meuld. De gansse keuk het al bii't meulen naa kaffe raken! Nich gau noug kun Mamma d'n kaffe in d'n kaffe-buedel krigen. Nuu koym eirsd bloots soo feel water op dat kaffe-meel dat dat bedekd woyr. Eirsd wen dat op-gaten water af-loupen woyr woerd' richtig op-gaten. Sei miin goude Mamma noch in miin dinken sitten un eren kaffe geneiten. Sei woerd' er kuppeidaag' ouk loos!

Soo hev ik dat huyt ouk maakd. Hev ein leupel kaffe-meel meir in d'n filter daan, liik soo as Mamma. Miin kaffe-kan wardt uemmer mit kakend water foer-warmd. Aver de kaffe-kan bruukt kein watte-proppen; dei is jaa ,,aromageschützt.'' Un miin kuppeidaag' suend ganss gau op d'n truegg-marsch gaan.

Nuu schullen wii aver ouk maal lesen wat in soo 'n kuppeidaag'-taablett binnen is! Koffeïn!! Na, dat keunt wii doch billiger un aan schemii mit 'n goude tass kaffe hebben.

Wat ik aver ouk noch seggen muech mit miin besinnen an ole, sware tiden dat huyt tou daags kaffe bloots noch pund-wiis' koefd wardt, un wen hei bii Famila or Minimal billig an-baden wardt, den wardt gliiks fiiv pund in foerruut koefd. Tou tiid fun de Weltwirtschupps-kriis' woyr ik tain jaar old un hev allens swore mit-beleevd un nii nich fergeten. Ik weet dat wii in 'n rive tiid leevt un gaar nich weett wou goud uns dat gait.

Aver miin Mamma het uns hiir in dat ole Harshaid' noch faken besoechd, un soo goud as dat man gueng hev ik er ferwoynd. Ein maal het sei tou mii segd: ,,Miin deirn, ik kaam mii foer as soo 'n film-diwa dei eren mund gaar nich op tou maken bruukt, dei allens fun de ougen af-leesd wardt.''

Mamma, wen ik trueg-dink mein ik faken ik har noch feel meir foer dii daan un maken kund. Nei, ik har dat sogaar muessd. Aver kein ein kan de tiid trueg-draien un fersuymted naa-halen. Wii meutt daar mit leven wat wii daan hevd, harren doun kund or gaar harren doun muessd.

Headache

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(November 1999)

Today I got up with a headache and immediately reached for a pill, but then I remembered my Mom with her many headaches. I probably inherited that from her. She never took pills. She didn't even have any. No, she would make herself a really strong cup of coffee if she had enough coffee beans. Mom never had any time to lie down. I clearly remember how her headaches would drive her to tears. If there weren't any coffee beans, she'd go to the kitchen cupboard, take down the old handle-less coffee cup in which we used to save pennies, nickels and dimes. Then she'd pour the contents out onto the kitchen table. Mom would count the bit of change and would know if I could get an eighth or a quarter of a pound of coffee from Auntie Hudaff's.

"Clara, rush over to Auntie Hudaff's and get me a quarter pound coffee. I'm having such a headache that only a strong cup of coffee can help me now. I'll quickly make some fire under the kettle. Then the water will already be boiling when you get back."

I'd rush over to Auntie Hudaff's. She had a "colonial produce" store. That's what it said above the entrance. I'd be back in no time, and Mom would brew her coffee. It would always be quite a ceremony when Mom made herself some coffee. First, the coffeepot would be preheated with boiling water. A cotton ball would be inserted into the spout of the pot so no warmth and aroma would get lost. Of course the water would already be boiling when I came through the door, and Mom couldn't open the small, pointed paper sack quickly enough. Into the coffee grinder went the coffee beans, and I would quickly grind them through. During the grinding the entire kitchen would already smell of coffee! Mom couldn't get the coffee into the filter quickly enough. Then, first of all just enough water had to be poured onto the coffee grounds as to barely cover them. Only when the added water had run off could we get down to the business of filtering. In front my mind's eye I can still see my dear Mom sitting there and enjoying her coffee. And she would get rid of her headaches!

That's how I did it today. I put an extra spoonful of ground coffee into the filter, just as Mom used to do. My coffeepot always gets preheated with boiling water. But the coffeepot doesn't need any cotton ball, because it has "aroma-protected." Very soon my headache retreated.

You should take a look at what's inside headache pills! "Caffein"! Well, we can get that more cheaply and without added chemicals in a good cup of coffee.

Another thing I want to say with my reminiscing about harder times gone by is that these days you can by coffee only by the pound, or even by five pounds offered more cheaply from Famila's or Minimal's. At the time of the World Economic Crisis I was ten years old and experienced all the hardships personally and never forgot them. I know we are living at a time of affluence and don't quite understand how well off we are.

Well, my Mom often visited us here in old Harshei/Harksheide, and I spoiled her as much as I possibly could. Once she said to me, "Honey, I feel like a movie diva that doesn't even need to open her mouth, whose every wish is being read in her eyes."

Mom, whenever I think back I feel I could have done even more for you. No, I should have done more. But no one can turn back the clock and recover missed chances. We've got to live with what we have done, could have done or even should have done.