Limburg — The Emotional Part

 My second brother Piet, came to pick me up for going to the spot where Mom & Dad first met when they both were in servitude.

Also the spot where my eldest brother Martin suggested to disperse Mom & Dad's ashes.

Of course in 2020 when five of my six siblings came together on Holy Saturday, for dispersing the ashes, I was not present.

See post below about that: Dad is One Year in Heaven Now...

My brother Piet and me...

Arriving at this historical spot with huge oak 't Struukske.

Oh how I indulged in all the wild flowers and wild grasses!

Even the long absent Adderwortel, Persicaria bistorta L., that we used to call 'toothbrush or tandenborstel' in Dutch as children.

Common poppy or Papaver rhoeas with bee inside...

Korenbloem or Kornflower in English — Centaurea cyanus that we used to weave into flower wreaths, when children.

Brother Piet's hand and one common poppy is visible here and lots of Margrieten in English Marguerite or Oxe–eye daisies Leucanthemum vulgare.

Brother and sister at this historic spot...

Now approaching the almost sacred area...

In 1915 the cross had been placed out of devotion and in the hope of being spared from natural disasters... see more info in my previous post below.

Close to my left foot, the ashes of Mom & Dad got dispersed of.

Now overgrown by nettles...

An emotional but very special visit!

Brother Piet searched for his long–time friend Ton Hoeijmakers who with his wife Fien have run Landgoed de Gortmeule.

Here I talk with Sandra Cuijpers-Rijs, half of the new manager couple of the campsite.

Ton and Fien continue living on the homestead from 1600 but are only limited involved.

Piet wanted to take me to the Lollebeek, a project where he was involved with, shortly before his retirement...

A beautiful nature area, near the Castenray fens.

The Lollebeek

Me standing near the Lollebeek... captured by Piet Van den Munckhof

Piet later sent me this picture from October 24, 1965 when we together were for the last time at the Lollebeek in 'De Pes'...

Piet on the left, Mom, youngest sister Gerd, Me, youngest brother Jan and younger sister Diny with Dachshund Wally.

Jan still has bad memories of a horse we had to pass on this narrow walking path...

Well, I was 14.5 then... 

Next we went together to Restaurant De Turfhoeve, a restaurant that was very close to where Mom was born.

To the left bottom part you see STRUIKEN... that's where she got born.

Fond memories with Mom & Dad, as we often took them there for dinner or for eating a yummy pancake.

Piet and I opted for an apple pancake.

The present owners have only a very limited listing of pancakes, compared to the days when we went with Mom & Dad... Nostalgia!

~

It was a very special but emotional day.

Took me days upon arriving home for digesting it all.

Never could be in The Netherlands for my Parents' cremation service but this kind of rounded it off for me.

And we did go for seeing Dad one final time; proved to be very well chosen as Dad died only two weeks after our departure back to the USA.

We both said our farewell and did a LOT of talking; felt good.

For Mom it was different, I saw her last about one year before and I knew then, that I never would see her again...

Souls never die and one day we will meet again!

Angels we know by name.

To be continued...

Related link:

Dad is One Year in Heaven Now | previous post by me with link to video about De Gortmeule

{Our Dining Room} | previous post by me with mention of oak 't Struukske

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me

Back Home from my 67th Trip to Limburg in The Netherlands | previous post by me

Flying on Delta Premium Select–Savannah to Amsterdam | previous post by me

In Limburg with Friends | previous post by me