Apparently, E major and E minor are very sad keys. C and G major are happy keys. There are keys for all sorts of emotions. Today, we got our 10-minute-away-from-the-hospital key, with great emotions attached to it. It took a while to get them: first, we had to hand over the money to the ‘Genossen’, covering our shares in the Genossenschaft. Then, we met a lad with a laptop, mobile printer, and smartphone camera, who checked out all windows, doors, and taps; the cellar; as well as the electricity and the water meters (imagine, there is a water meter just for our appartment)! Apart from all those meters and the kitchen sink, the place is very bare. And absolutely unbelievably clean. ‘The way you will have to hand it back when you leave’, said the man responsible for the handover. Then he printed out his report (on his mobile printer), in duplicate copies, asked me to sign it, and, finally, handed over the keys to the front door, the apartment door, the post box, the yard door, and the door to the basement. In triplicates. I put them with the arch lever folder holding all the copies of all the agreements I had signed over the past days – just with the Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft. Once we’ll have the electricity, water, TV, and internet connections all sorted, I’ll need another arch lever folder. Good job we did not have to buy one, we got a Wohnungsbaugenossenschaftsordner handed over with the keys.

We arrived 5 weeks ago today. At that time, I decided to start writing this blog every day for a few minutes to describe and follow Pádraig’s way from the acute hospital to early rehabilitation. Having got some experience of an US-based hospital, then an inside into the Irish healthcare system, and now living it in Germany – I wanted to share the experiences in with German neuro rehab facility, the like of which there are 3 beds in Ireland. (Little did I know how long writing this would take me, and how tired and exhausted I would be in the evening when I was writing it.)

Pádraig got new visitors from Ireland. Two of his friends arrived today! You will remember that there are only 2 visitors allowed at a time on Pádraig’s ward. Today, we were in there with 5 people simultaneously at times, and were still warmly welcomed. This was exactly what he liked: chat, a crowd, and some good stories. While nothing in life is certain, we are certain now that his opening of eyes and squeezing hands is no coincident or reflex. It is clearly in response to family and friends arriving, and an acknowledgment of their presence. How very much joy the smallest of things can bring!

Today’s German Music Tip
Andreas Bourani, Nur in meinem Kopf  (Mai, 2011)
What’s hot
Awareness, Keys
What’s coldd
Formulare
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Es ist so wie es ist.