After reading the letter from Oma, Mom sprang into action. She went to the neighboring farms looking for goose or duck feathers for sale. When she told them that she needed them for making feather beds, so we would not be cold in Hamburg, people gave her a whole bunch of beautiful goose down for free. Mom pressed those feathers very tightly into three bulky parcels and mailed them to Oma. One parcel had a note in it; bed linens are coming soon.
Mom and I went to Nördlingen and bought the material we needed to stuff the feathers in. Some linen was meant for the bed, and some for the pillowcases and duvets. She got enough linen for four beds. The lady in the store was surprised by the quantity of linen my Mom purchased. Normally the store clerk would sell one set when people got married. My Mom explained, “One pair is for me and my daughter, the other pair is for my parents.”
“Why?” asked the woman. “Don’t your parents have beds already?”
“No” Mom replied. “They are the ones getting married.”
She turned away from the sales woman with a big smile on her face. When we left the store with our large bundle of material, Mom started to giggle.
“I can’t wait to tell Oma about this! She is going to love it, and I will tell her about the face the woman made. She will have something to think about for a few days.”
Mom kept on giggling until we reached the train. I did not understand the joke since my grandparents have been married for many years. It was good to see my Mom in such good spirits.
At home, Mom started sewing right away. She sewed until late at night. She was finished in two days and then sent them away to Hamburg in a parcel. Those wonderful goose feathers kept us warm and became our most treasured and valued possessions for many years.
Mom decided that we would stay for Easter so as not to miss out on all the good food. I could not wait to taste that sweet braided Easter-bread and of course, my most favorite baked ham. I did not know it would be the last time I would eat that specialty.
Mom had no time to go into the woods with us children. Michael got some moss from a friend, but for me, it meant no ‘bunny-garden’. Without moss, I could not build a little garden. Mom boiled two eggs for me and told me they would taste just as good. Of course they did not. They were not Easter eggs.
Mom was eager to be back in Hamburg. I myself was not so sure. I just hoped Mom was right about that big, beautiful city up north. I hoped there were still some pirates.
Soon after Easter, we prepared to leave. Mom thought it was a good idea to arrange a ride with a group of people that were going to Nimburg in an old truck. From there we would take a train. Packing was easy because we did not have much to take with us. We said our good-byes and left Schopflohe.
With that, a phase in our lives had ended.
Next: Part 26 (The Trip Home)
