Changing Expectations

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012
Siegen, Germany

Expected: Wandering around the city center, eating a quick dinner and buying a scarf at the market.

Experienced:   Björn took me wandering around the city center to buy a scarf and then led me to H&M to pick out some summer clothes for both of us. Following, he took me out for delicious, home-made ice cream, famous at a cafe on the main square, then dinner on the plaza (noodles and chicken) to people-watch and converse. Then we walked some more; I thought we were going home because we had taken the bus toward his apartment. I kept trying to head in the direction of home, showing that I had learned my way around, but Björn kept stopping me; at one point, he took my hand and said, "Bethany, just trust me. Let go. I'm going to show you something and it involves you not being in control. Let go and enjoy, okay?"

So I did. I let go. We went to the movie store and he let me pick out a movie for tonight because on Sundays everything is closed so we try to plan the day beforehand. Then we started walking. And walking. Higher and higher we climbed this steep hill. I inquired repetitively and constantly a multitude of questions like, "is it something touristy? Is it a castle? Dinner? Shopping? Friends?" On and on I continued but he just smiled and held my hand as we kept going up, up, up. Eventually this large, beautiful church rose up on the top of the hill where tons of people were gathered. The sun was setting at this point, and he walked me to the church and we stood next to a fountain. I looked onto the plaza to find hundreds of white balloons floating in the air and candles all along the sidewalks. Organ music was cheerfully emanating from the church. He turned to me with a blushing grin and announced, "Tonight in the 'Night of a Thousand Lights.' I wanted you to see it. It only happens once a year."

Night of a Thousand Lights; Siegen, Germany

I giddily grabbed a brochure from the bar and read that the whole city center would light little candles along the roads and in the store windows to celebrate this event. It was so beautiful and magical. A little while later, he bought us"currywurst mit pommes," which is my favorite German dish, and we shared it on the steps of the church. After wiping the German delight from our fingers, we tiptoed into the church to catch a concert; the band was actually fairly good and performed pieces from a variety of eras. Soon after the concert, we meandered down the path that the city had set up as a lit walkway. Pure magic. There was music drifting from every street and people wandering around, all with smiles on.The biggest smile of all, however, was painted on my own visage.