Geezers

Game night, taken last year.

I love the word 'geezers' although I really do not want to be one. Yet, alas, I am.  All of the negative connotations aside, one of the social groups which exist here in our German/Anglo community is "The Geezers", four couples of gently aging folks who meet together with one thought in mind:   let's have some fun.  About every two months one couple hosts the group and makes the soup. Another couple provides bread, another salad, and the last dessert. Makes for a lovely and interesting meal, especially when combined with the lively conversations of folks who have seen many adventures. The evening ends with a rousing game, provided by the hosts.  We find a Geezers' evening enjoyable and relaxing.

Each year the group changes a bit as couples leave and new couples join.  Our group this year consists of a Dutch couple who spent 17 years in the Nigerian bush as medical missionaries, a British couple who have self-published a book (Strangers Like Angels) recounting their year of adventures in a Land Rover traveling from Britain to Africa and Asia in their first year of marriage.  The third couple are Americans, but she was raised, and lived much of her life, in France.  We are the fourth couple.

Seven of the eight Geezers for 2016

Today we celebrated the end of this geezer year, and our last, by taking a two hour cruise on the Rhine, passing through two locks, and eating a spargel (think asparagus in white) dinner.  The sun shone, making the river vibrant.  We boarded at Breisach, a walled town with a 12th century church perched on the hill.  We had been docked at the town our first day on our Rhine cruise in 2010, so memories of that trip came flooding back.

Breisach and its church

The ship filled with mostly German guests, and the wait staff filled the drink orders before we left the dock. Once underway, we partook of a delicious buffet of salads, boiled potatoes, ham slices and spargel with Hollandaise sauce. We ate, chatted, and savored the scenic Rhine River. At one point we passed a large bunker, left from World War II. Barges filled with freight and pleasure boats also sailed along.

Spargel, potatoes, ham-Yummy!

After lunch we headed upstairs to the "Sonnedeck" (sun deck) to enjoy the sun and better views of all around us.  Passing a docked Viking Cruise ship,  the passengers eating their lunches waved. Reminders of that prior cruise.

We will miss our friends-the Geezers-as we return to the US next year, but we will not forget them or the many refreshing times we've spent together eating soup and making memories.