Our first day in Bavaria. Also Ben's 14th birthday.
We took a cable car up the Kampenwand Mountain which was behind our apartment in Aschau im Chiemgau. We hiked the 3 hrs down the mountain back to the valley. Our calfs were in tatters for 3 or 4 days!
Aschau was a personal pilgrimage for us. Rebecca's sister Victoria bought the apartment in 2006 when she lived in Munich. She returned to the UK with her family in 2007, and died of skin cancer in 2008 aged 39. This was our first visit back to Munich and Aschau as a family since 2007. We had a very enjoyable, but poignant 10 days. Though the 5th anniversary of Victoria's passing approaches quickly, time does not numb the pain of our loss.
On her last visit to Aschau, I know that Victoria sat out on her patio and took the view in of the Kampenwand for the last time, watching the parascenders jump off the mountain. Rebecca and I spent a lot of time doing the same.
Though I am not a god fearing man, a small part of me did project a part of Victoria's soul into the view of the mountain whenever I looked up at it.
A poignant capture indeed Sean. Firstly your brave son who has already faced so many challenges himself, a belated happy birthday to him. And secondly the loss of your sister in law. Two years ago I was close to losing my sister Sarah who has a wonderful husband and two young sons. After months of illness the doctors finally found a huge tumor strangling her internal organs, they believed she had just weeks to live and we were told to expect the worst. The doctors were wrong and although she has some ongoing problems as a result she has made a very good recovery for which we are eternally grateful. I still remember the pain of those difficult weeks and months so can't even begin to imagine what you have all been through and are still going through.
What a poignant narrative, and your image captures your thoughts so well. Black and white, a downward yet glorious flight . . . how sad it is to lose a beloved family member too young.
September 15th, 2013
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