Dad Sang The First Noel and Thank You Lord at Presbyterian Church

On December 2, 1990, Dad sang two solos at our local Presbyterian Church.
Because of that, Pieter went with him on Friday, November 30, right after they went together to the Rotary Club lunch, to the Dublin Presbyterian Church.
Dad could practice his songs with the organist.

Here, Dad is practicing, in his choir robe that he would have to wear on Sunday.
This was Dad's FIRST performance in public, in the United States!

Husband Pieter took these photos...

Here, Dad is seen to the right, in front of Dublin's Presbyterian Church.

On Sunday, December 2, 1990 Mass went well, including Dad's two solos.

On the right page, about center, is mentioned - Special Music: "The First Noel" Piet Van den Munckhof and Dad also sang "Thank You Lord"
Both went very well and it made us proud.
We were invited at the home of some other friends for dinner.

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:
With Dad to Okefenokee on the Georgia/Florida State Line | previous post by me
Blessing of our New Home with Dad being Present | previous post by me
Visiting Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia with Dad | previous post by me
Dad Visiting Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia | previous post by me
Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home | previous post by me

Thank You Lord — Horster Mannenkoor | short video where you clearly hear Dad's 1st tenor voice...

Taking Mom & Dad to Bremen Cathedral in Germany where Dad sang with his Choir

Campbell Soup kind of forced us to move to Pennsylvania, from Georgia/USA...

Packing up and preparing for the big move, I also did fly to Düsseldorf, Germany on American Airlines, for only $ 195.00 and 30,000 frequent flyer miles.

This to transport some of our plants and other valuable things on October 9, 1988.
So I boarded American Airlines' 767 Luxury Liner in Atlanta, after saying goodbye to my Pieter who himself had a later flight for Campbell Soup to Denver, Colorado...

I'd told Mom & Dad that I would be wearing my black leather jacket and black beret, so they would spot me from a distance at the German airport.

Mom & Dad had been stuck in heavy traffic, thus I stood for an hour outside but they soon found me on October 10, 1988.
Above photos got taken later in November of 1993 but still the same outfit and it's ME!
Still have all pieces but it's rather hot for wearing it now in Georgia...

On October 12, I took Mom & Dad along on my trip to Visbek, Germany.

Delivering the brass mushrooms for Pilzland where I'd done consulting before, and they wanted to purchase my own design Lacquered Brass Window Decorations with their business logo.

We ate our own lunch at the home of Jan Koopmans, the manager, and Pieter's former student.

Next I drove in about 1 hour, to Bremen and its City Center where Dad did perform with the Horster Mannenkoor in 1981 and Mom could not join at that time.
So now she got to walk in Dad's footsteps as well!
This is the famous Sankt Petri Dom, or St. Peter's Cathedral in Bremen (just click the link) where Dad sang with his choir.
Bremen Cathedral is a medieval building.

We enjoyed the Bremen City Hall (click link) also located at the Market Square.

Bremen's Marktplatz (Market Square) just click link.

Of course, we also did see the famous
Bremer Stadtmusikanten or in English Town Musicians of Bremen (click on link) from the well known fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Mom was delighted for finally, after 7 years, having been there herself and it made me of course very happy!

St. Petri Dom Bremen, Tower Topped Romanesque Cathedral from above, with Market Square and top left are the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) all very close together!
Upon returning home I continued with my stops:
Visiting my aunt Mia in Venlo, Dad's eldest sister to whom I have been very close, my Mother-in-law, Pieter's brother Thé and his wife and also my brother Martin and wife. Did not get to see sister Diny and brother Piet during this short 3-night visit!
Next day I flew back to the USA, after Dad did drop me off at the Düsseldorf/Germany airport.  Mom  could not join us, she had to sing with her choir.
Got delayed in Chicago by 3 hours and poor Pieter waited in vain for me in Atlanta. We got home by 2:30 AM and I called Mom to let her know that I'd arrived safely home.

Short and intens trip but with very fond memories!
Thanks for reading my stories and for your comment.

Related posts:
{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me
Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class | previous post by me with more links below post

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia

And so we were returning home from our 66th trip to The Netherlands!
It was a LONG trip this time since we did not want to use the much cheaper, all included flight + cruise from Viking!
Having your Dad, living in The Netherlands and bypassing him would be criminal in my humble opinion.
So here we went, right after having had a very hectic week with our choir, daily rehearsals for choreography and then 2 x performing on Saturday, May 18, at the local theatre.

Here I am, after getting back from Mass, in-between 2 performances.
Did not wear this to Church though... My Go-Go boots belonged with the 60s A-line style of dresses.
Found me this at Neiman Marcus Last Call and JIT = Just In Time. Click the link to read about the A-line silhouette, which did bring back very fond memories of me going to Fashion Design School...
Haha, half a century ago that is, but see, such styles DO return!
Go-Go boots came straight form China as I did not want any heels.
If you click the link, it shows them being very high, but not so on my long legs...
This dress can be pulled on over the head so I decided to take it with me to Europe.

Viking was offering this as: RIVER CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS... Indeed, they offered very cheap flights from Atlanta to Budapest!
But we did NOT want to bypass The Netherlands.

Sure the VIKING INCLUSIVE VALUE was super!
Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase...

If air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately.
We ran into lots of bottle necks but with some back and forth writing it worked out.

BUT... 'After many long discussions with my management team and our operations team, I'm able to have transfers on your sailing at no additional price. All you need to do is provide us with your flight information.' - That was great news and we proceeded with the bookings!

This is U.S. time but it was 9:15 when our flight from New York landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and I got a message from Verizon with welcome to The Netherlands you are connected... We had not even arrived yet at the terminal!
Still had to get off the plane, through customs and collecting our suitcases.
So I sent my youngest brother Jan a location snapshot...
And again after arriving at Dad's place shortly after noon, when I drove the approx. 2 hours south.

Happy for being able to surprise my 98 year old Dad with a visit!
And several visits that is, he was SO HAPPY, never have seen him 'show' it the way he did this time.
And so talkative... we stayed some 2.5 hours after we had landed in Amsterdam and I'd driven straight to Dad's place for a visit.
The above photo is from June 2, the Sunday before we would be flying to Budapest next day, to start our Viking cruise adventure together.
Dad always had drilled us while picking tomatoes or gherkins about what is the capital of Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary etc. He himself loved Geography and so did I.
Little did I know then, that I would get to see quite a number of those capitals...
But we both had never been to Eastern Europe outside of Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
I'd given Dad my booklet from Viking, so he could study it and read all about it.
He would know day by day where we were and what we would be visiting.
His question was IF we would come back...
Well, as we both wanted to surprise him on Father's Day for being once again at his place with my siblings, we did not openly tell him we'd be back.
WISH I had...
After returning from Bucharest when Pieter was so sick and I too was weak, we rested a few days and there comes the message that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital, serious heart problems.
So instead of visiting him at home, we ended up visiting him at the hospital.
He was SO Happy again and said: 'So yet you are here!'...
We did bring him the remainder of the dark German Lindt chocolate, that we brought back from Bad Münstereifel, where I took Mom and Dad and they always LOVED being there.

On Saturday, May 25 we visited Bad Münstereifel together with our German 'Son' and family.
They had given Pieter a wonderful belated 90th Birthday celebration at their home...

We'd left Dad four of these sticks in the week after that...
Remainder got saved for FATHER'S DAY

Like Dad, I too LOVE dark Chocolate and Lindt has the 70% Cacao... so good!
Even for diabetic type 2, a daily small piece is okay.

So this is what we left on Dad's bedside table at the hospital after saying our FINAL GOODBYE... EMOTIONAL as Dad and we knew we would NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN - ALIVE THAT IS...
Hope he got to enjoy his chocolate and remembered both of us with each bite!
Sad that we had to depart from there, to return my BB & L rental car and next walk the 300 m to the CitizenM Hotel at Schiphol Airport.
CitizenM is a Netherlands-based hotel chain... click above link.

CitizenM says: wise travellers carry a small bag a big heart and good sunglasses
~
Convenient for our early departure as we were next to the Departure Hall already.

You sleep in a HUGE bed and under a light and soft down duvet on down pillows...
Only wish you had the luxury of sleeping in or at least till a more decent hour than 5:30!

It is the most convenient way to spend the night and for my Pieter especially, not having to walk too far is a big PLUS.

CitizenM is located at Jan Plezierweg 2

Pieter was in awe as with our boarding passes in my Wallet on the iPhone, I could self check our suitcases!
They had to be placed on their side, with handle up and then holding the iPhone with boarding pass, in front of scanner. Label got printed and you tied it around the handle and you also received the above Claim Tag! With the weight... mentioned and directing you to Please go to Gate: E20
So there we went, off on our Delta flight to Detroit at 9:20 in the morning...

We did have quite a lay-over in Detroit so we solved that in a nice way.
Since we have the Platinum Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can buy a day pass for the Delta Sky Club at $ 29.00. One of its perks! So I got us both a pass and we could relax, Pieter even could nap in an armchair and they provide salads, soups and light snacks with drinks.
Also WiFi available so I could check my mail etc. for the day before traveling on.
At 22:00 I arrived safely home by car, from Savannah, Georgia... that would be 4:00 o'clock next morning for Dutch time! A long day from 5:30 till next day 4:00...
We went straight to bed, left the suitcases in the car till next morning when I woke up around 5:30 again.
Of course, Dad had been released that afternoon... Murphy's Law!
~
But on June 30, I received a WhatsApp message from brother Piet, that Dad had passed away, in his chair, in his garden on a Sunday...
A jogger had spotted him, sitting a bit lopsided in his chair.
So my ESP, or heightened intuition/empathic accuracy proved to have been once more right.
I'd heard it in Dad's voice soon after his 98th Birthday, somehow he'd lost his spark for life...
Also when he told me that after his bad cold, my sister Diny had cancelled his membership as an elderly choir member of Levensvreugd (Joy of Life)...
Dad has reached a unique 70th and last year even a more unique 80th Anniversary for being a Choir Singer.
He got two Royal Awards in The Netherlands for that!
Sure enough, when no longer being with his tiny circle of friends, his joy for life was kind of snuffed out, like a candle...
Especially dramatic changes for elderly, do have a huge impact on their overall well being.

On Wednesday, May 15 of 2019, Dad received this big nosegay of fresh flowers from an anonymous person through the soon to be Foundation of Bleumkes vaan Geluk (Flowers of Happiness) puts lonely elderly in the sunshine!
Dad proves in this excellent photo that he was pleasantly surprised!
He was scraping off the old paint for obviously wanting to repaint his window...
This was handed to him only 6 days before we arrived by surprise!
Maybe these happenings did inject him with some more life-elixer?

While we were in the Bad Münstereifel, Germany we received this page from best friend Ellie via WhatsApp. Dad rehearsing for his upcoming performance...
And yes, Dad did manage to perform one more time on May 30, on Ascension Day!
Just imagine, at age 98...

Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren of Horst aan de Maas
Notice that Dad is reading his typed text without reading glasses!

Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren, also member Fotogroep Horst aan de Maas
Showing where they set up a sheltered podium for eventual rain.
It was adjacent to the St. Lambertuskerk (Church) in Horst aan de Maas
Dad sang a very old Horster Folk Song and in the context of 800 years Horst he performed several times, also in the studio.

Dad after his performance... photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren.
On Dad's nose they'd removed a skin cancer and created a nasty scar... Here in the USA they do a far better job!
There is a video on YouTube: Horster volkslied Piet van den Munckhof, Jan Joosten en Bas Nellen just click it.

My comment is gone...

The other bitly link above: June 30, 2019 ←click link for English comment by me on FB.

At the end of May, at the opening of the 800 house on the Kerkstraat in Horst, Piet Van den Munckhof, togeether with Jan Joosten and Bas Nellen, sang the old Horster national anthem. A month later, on June 30, 2019, Piet passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 98.

Dad didn't die unexpectedly... We came extra for him on May 21, our 67t trip to say goodbye to him. You could hear it in his voice and also in what he said when we called him, So we had sensed and estimated that very well.

We were on Ascension Day at a 1st Communion party in Sevenum but regularly visited Dad and he enjoyed it and talked a lot!

After the absolute and very emotional goodbye in the hospital on Father's Day, we drove to Schiphol and after a short night back to the USA with a very satisfied feeling!

In the local Hallo Horst aan de Maas, the Horster Mannenkoor (Male Choir) published this very warm text:
On the weekend we heard that has died our honorary member
Piet Van den Munckhof
Piet has been a member of the Horster Male Choir to this day; He joined in July 1938 and was by far the oldest member of our association.
Although he has not been active in our choir for many years, we have been able to enjoy his singing qualities in May during the singing of the old Horster Folk Song. As an accomplished performer, he recited this song adjacent to the St. Lambertus Church.
 "Horst can boast on scholars, sparkle by their great talent ", he sang then.
Piet was as 1st tenor for years our mentor and we are grateful for his contribution and dedication.

Board and Members
Horster Male Choir

🎼

R.I.P. Dad!

Related link:

Taking Mom & Dad to Bad Münstereifel in Germany | previous post by me
Day 11, From Radison Blu Hotel to Bucharest Airport with KLM to Amsterdam  | previous post by me

LOVED singing in Händel's Messiah

MUSIC is FOOD for the SOUL

Even more so when it is being composed by Georg Friedrich Händel...
December is a busy month for ALL, but I did commit myself to sing in one more choir since it is our favorite: Händel's Messiah!

Second row from the top, 2nd from left behind lady in sleeveless dress, I'm singing my heart out as a soprano.
We sang 7 songs and in-between we had a tenor, bas, alto and soprano sing a solo.
The Orchestra played great and we only rehearsed together with the orchestra, the day before!
Twice we'd rehearsed + performed on the actual day though!
Our local TV35, did capture the entire performance: Handel Messiah at Theatre Dublin click this link.

In the above screenshot from full video, finally the drummer and trumpet players are being shown as well!
I'm just sitting down here...
Husband Pieter did enjoy both performances and felt very proud of me singing with the choir.

That was our Händel's Messiah, with Georgia Southern University Magnolia String Quartet
First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and Orchestra

No doubt, it made my Mom smile down from heaven, hearing her 2nd daughter sing soprano, like she used to do in her choir...
My Paternal Grandmother also sang as soprano, together with her friend my Mother-in-law who was a 2nd soprano.
Of course, my Dad who still sings but no longer as a first tenor.
Just learned that Dad quit singing, due to his severe flu recently he has said his farewell to the choir...
Used this link of:  Händel's Messiah since it was spelled correctly in German!

Encyclopedia Brittannica shows it correct: Georg Friedrich Händel with the German Umlaut, which can also be replaced by 'ae' as: Haendel.

Both, Pieter and I did sing in a previous Händel's Messiah, in 1995...

With all our traveling as International Consultants it was not easy to keep up—but we committed ourselves.

A very small segment can be seen/heard here at my Parents' home on September 20, 1995

Pieter J.C. Vedder captured me studying Comfort Ye My People, Händel's Messiah at my Parents'

 ←click link for video

~

Only 3 days earlier, Pieter snapped this photo from part of our choir the Knight Owls, performing at the annual Christmas Revue. Me, 2nd row, 2nd from left...
Since my double, closed pelvic bone fracture, I no longer dare to stand on the top riser!
We do have lots of talent in this group and it feels warm and fuzzy to belong!

This is what I was wearing when performing with the Knight Owls at different events and since the Christmas Revue we also did perform at two local nursing homes.
My Escada Jacquard Knit Rose Sweater with a wide belt (from Indonesia) on Wolford leggings.
 Fake fur leg warmers from Walmart that I did fold over my boots from Italy and fake fur fingerless gloves from Walmart.

Husband Pieter and I are facing our 35th Christmas, without any family nearby.
To both of us, Christmas is the pure religious meaning.

Only in 2004, we did have our foster-daughter Anita staying with us.
Fond memories!
Still wear my hair calf boots and skirt from Escada with black sweater.
Cat boy Barty on the left is still with us but not Spooky on the right who died at age 3.5 because of heart worm...

 Wishing each of you a Merry Christmas! 

Mom & Dad Often Talked About Siegerland in Germany so we Went Back!

Summer months were always peak season. But during my vacation time, when I still lived in The Netherlands, I helped them always out, by picking gherkins in the greenhouse.
Only in the summer of 1971 and in 1979, I did go with my late first husband to Germany and the South of France...
ALL other vacations, we helped Mom and Dad for several weeks managing their peak season.

By picking the gherkins a bit tighter we could skip a day and manage to make a one-day-trip to Germany with Mom &  Dad and my Dachshund Mauzie. This was on July 14, 1977 at the Biggesee (lake) in Germany.

Smoking a sigar on his special day off, together with Mom.
They always worked so hard!

Mom is here picking gherkins inside the greenhouse.
We always did start very early, at 5:00 AM because around noon it would get very hot, around 120ºF or 49ºC and that was no FUN! 
Even when Dad placed a big running fan in the isle...

Here you see Mom picking gherkins. 
Two wooden boxes on the special built cart by my Dad, on wheels for easy pushing it forward. 
Each box would contain 25 kg (55 lb) of gherkins.
We had to dump those boxes later on inside one giant wooden box for bulk delivery to the auction.
Yes, I could lift such a full box and lift it over the edge of said giant box to dump its contents.

From a distance, two rows under each pointed section of the greenhouse.
The leaves of the gherkins were very prickly!
I used to wear one of Dad's old long sleeve shirts to protect me from it.
Okay but now back to the subject!
Mom & Dad had been to Siegen/Weidenau in Germany by bus, with Dad's choir, to perform in the Bismarckhalle, also called Siegerlandhalle.

Here in October of 1965, Mom admiring the hills around Hilchenbach, Germany of beautiful Siegerland.

Mom standing in front of Hotel Deutscher Hof in Hilchenbach, Germany.
A beautiful centuries old building it was in traditional German Fachwerk.
Yes, it literally was as it burned down in December of 2016...
Photo quality is poor, this is what I received as scanned material from my youngest sister...
As for myself, I love to scan in higher DPI - takes longer but with far better results.
Nevertheless, they are very meaningful to me!

Here it was, photo from Tripmondo, as it did burn down in December of 2016...

Mom standing in front of the sign 'Zum Süssen Konrad' pointing to a German Konditorei, Bakery!
They always talked about how beautiful that region was and thus, my late husband and I said, let's take them back one more time!

So we went to pick Mom & Dad up in Horst aan de Maas, we lived in Panningen, a municipality of Helden, in the Province of Limburg/The Netherlands.

At that time we still had to cross the border of Germany, now it is open within the European Union.
To the right you see Hilchenbach, where Mom's photos got taken.

We passed through Helden in Germany - from Helden to Helden but not close to home!

You also see Biggesee.
The photo at the very top got taken there!
A big lake with beautiful surroundings, belonging to Attendorn.

My late first husband standing here at the Biggesee, Attendorn with the bridge behind him.

We also did visit Burg Schnellenberg in Attendorn, a 13th-century castle that now has become a hotel, just click link as it is in English.

Thursday July 14, 1977 was a rather cloudy day!
Taking a break on this medieval stone bench...
Yes, that was a lot of driving in one day; some 9 hours and we'd risen at 4:00 AM and will have to do the very same for next day, picking gherkins again...

Here Dad, Frans with dachshund Mauzie on the leash standing in front of Mom's feet...
So happy to know now that this 13th-century castle has been converted into a hotel!

All of us enjoyed Siegerland and Mom & Dad especially for being able to go back one day in their own footsteps...

Dad always loved singing in the choir and such trips were so special.

Now the journey home and early rising next morning!
We had an Opel Kadett Special at the time...

Hope you enjoyed this little journey back in time with me.
Meaningful to me, fond memories of Mom's happy days!
Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related posts:
Burg Schnellenberg in Attendorn/Luftbilder Videos/Drohne/4K | short Youtube video from the Castle
My Sewing Creation - My Bridal Gown with Damsel Sleeves | previous post by me + late husband
{Fond Memories of Mom with us in the Eifel, Germany} | previous post by me
{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | previous post by me

{Papa is 90 today!} | previous post by me