Getting Ready for Retreat

 

As Germany is inching towards its earlier-than-normally-scheduled Federal Election on Sunday, after the coalition government broke up early November, I am preparing for a weekend of a quilting retreat at my twice-a-year workshop site at Petersberg Rural Catholic Community College. 

 

It will be good to just withdraw from the world and ignore the last days before the election proper. I must say I think I have never been as scared before a national election in my country before. I was, internationally speaking, rather skeptical if not scared before Britain’s Brexit vote, and twice in the US, and all three were worse than expected, accordingly, this experience doesn’t give me a whole lot of hope. Especially since it seems that forecasts lately are rather far from indicating the real outcome. I have cast my vote by ‘mail’ (carrying it across the street and putting the envelope in the town hall’s mail box). And now it remains to be seen whether Germany’s democratic foundation is strong enough to avoid another slipping into Weimar Republic Chaos and pre-fascist conditions. Watching the happenings with the newest US administration – is it still an administration or what is it, really? – is so scary. Why on earth did the Americans let this happen? How on earth can it be that the EU is not at all prepared for this worst case scenario? Where are we heading?

Usually I am not somebody who withdraws, and I do hope I will have enough strength again soon to be politically active in case it is needed. But last year’s private events have taken a severe toll on my strength and I am only now feeling as if there might be a bit of an upwind under my personal wings. Don’t feel safe enough yet to trust it or to talk about it publicly.

Personally I am packing a few projects that need to get finished, should I have personal sewing time while the workshop participants are busy, such as bindings, sleeves to put on, a top or two to be sewn together. Too much, really, because I always pack too many things and usually don't have enough time to finish them all.

 

Due to the move last fall I have a hard time finding stuff that I need for the class, I may be winging a bit of the teaching. But I am very glad I am going to a safe space right now, even if it won’t be for long, and reality will hit in terms of the election results late Sunday night.