Tucked away in the gently rolling hills of the southwest tip of the Black Forest in Germany, there is a small town of major significance.
To say that Kandern is where Ben attended high school would be factual, albeit a gross understatement. However, there are few individuals who can explain exactly what Kandern means to him. Every time I visit, I understand a little more.
I visited Kandern for the first time back in 2002 when Ben and I had just started dating.
I came over with a group of our friends from Mount Hermon. We had an awesome time exploring the little town where Ben grew up and visiting various places in the region. Looking at the picture below just now, which was taken 9 years ago, I realized some fun details: four of us were in Annie's (friend to my left) wedding this past June! Actually, since this picture was taken, Annie and I became sisters! (in-law) Kim (friend to Annie's left) and her husband Dave (not pictured but he is my friend from home and Ben's roommate at Mount Hermon) were among our best friends in Millbrae. Jake (crazy hair) and Ben were each other's best men. Forever thankful for Mount Hermon friendships.
Ro 1 from 2002!!
From wild and crazy rides in the catering van to adventures in Europe, this guy could always make me laugh.
That year was the first time I met some of Ben's closest friends from high school...John Walker, Peter Barrett, Matt Cruse, Phil Storrs....friends I now get to call my own.
I actually still remember the moment the picture above was taken...I remember ordering my first beer and I remember Annie taking a sip of her drink and saying, "tastes like Hawaii!" and I remember Peter (who is sitting to my left) telling me about a girl he loved a whole lot back then. She went to their high school too. Her name is Kara, he loves her even more today and I am now lucky enough to call her my friend too. Peter and Kara are the amazing friends we visit when we go to D.C.
John (at the bottom of the picture) married Katie, another one of Ben's dear friends from high school. The first time I met Katie, I was visiting Kandern at a pretty awkward point in Ben and my's relationship. In fact, we had just broken up! (It's a long story). Regardless, Katie was so kind and warm to me. I remember thinking how sad I was that I would never get to be friends with her since Ben and I would be parting ways. Fortunately, about three years later, Ben and I figured things out, and I got to be friends with Katie again =) She was visiting Kandern too when we got there this time! AND she is pregnant with their second. So fun to see her and Luca.
Ben building towers so Luca and Lucie could knock them down.
This time I tried to take some pictures in front of things I knew I had photos of from 2002. It didn't turn out exactly how I had hoped, but that was 9 years ago! Crazy. Here are some then and now shots.
Ben and Annie in Freiburg, 2002.
Ben in Freiburg, 2011.
France in the background, 2002.
France-ish in the background, 2011. (Can you tell from our sweatshirts we are Californians? =)
In the gazebo, 2002.
Gazebo, 2011.
I wish everyone who considers Ben their friend could visit Kandern. He graduated with about 70 kids. I'd say at least half of his friends (including his sister) married someone from BFA (Black Forest Academy...his high school), just to give you an idea of how close they were. Ben is somewhat of an exception in that he married outside of BFA. I think one reason why Ben and I "work" is because I come from a pretty small, close-knit community in Canyon Creek, and so can understand a TINY BIT what it was like for him. Living in France for a year helped me to understand the Europe thing a little. His family and friends welcoming me in helps immensely.
And during trips like these, where I get to spend hours walking the streets and hills of the closest thing to home he's ever known, listening to his stories, trying to see the world through his teenage eyes, understanding more and more why he is who he is...well, what can I say, I just fall deeper and deeper in love.
Next Installment: Feuerbach aka my favorite story Ben told
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