Friday, July 15, 2005
FAMILY
The point of this whole trip was to visit my cousin Herman in Colorado Springs Colorado. Herman is eighty-four and was just moving into the nursing home the day we arrived. This was going to be a big adjustment for him to be sure, as he had lived for so many years in his beautiful home on the main street of Colorado Springs, Platte Avenue since the time Colorado Springs was "small"! Diabetes and time had taken a toll but the sparkle in his eye and the amiable spirit were still there. He clearly misses his wife Polly, who was a kindred spirit.
Herman, of course, was named after my great-grandfather and his grand-father Herman who came to America from Germany. Now, I share my birthday with Great Grandpa Herman as he was born May 27, 1864 and I was born EXACTLY(ooh and ahh now) 100 years later on May 27, 1964. Cousin Herman did not miss that date by much as his birthday is June 2nd. His grandson Greg, by the way, was born May 27, 1983. So May 27th has a significant meaning in the Stock family tree!!!
Herman is a "hale fellow well met" sort. Always good for a story or a joke, Herman and Polly were favorites even though distance kept the descendants of Martin Werner and Peter Carl apart, they were wonderful, funny, and nice people. He served his country during World War II and continued to work in his beloved field of flying all his life. It seems that now he seems to be reliving his moments at "Peterson" and why not! Herman is a Stock thru and thru because he is passionate about what he loves and wants to share it with everyone else! Herman got the exuberant German gene and not so much the "stoic" German gene that seems to dominate the family.
Herman was also a great bowler. Trophies are found throughout the house including several commemorations of a perfect 300 on several occasions. He was an unofficial tourism representative of Colorado Springs taking family and friends on tours to destinations in Colorado Springs that possibly not even the natives knew about!!
Time is catching up with one of our family "greats"!! Still, Herman's warmth and overall jovial demeanor are still there. Herman Stock is not a great man Herman Stock is a good man, something much harder to be and more important to his family and his community something which most "great" men ever know. My Dad was the same.
We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with Herman's daughter, Kaye, and her family at Giuseppes in downtown Colorado Springs. We then went to beautiful seven falls and watched the changing colored waterfall at night. I was so proud of Mom for braving the heights, which she hates, to enjoy the sights with us!
It may very well be the last time that the Marin Werner family branch and the Peter Carl family branch get together but I think it is safe to say that it was a very good thing that we did! I think the original Herman would be proud!
Herman, of course, was named after my great-grandfather and his grand-father Herman who came to America from Germany. Now, I share my birthday with Great Grandpa Herman as he was born May 27, 1864 and I was born EXACTLY(ooh and ahh now) 100 years later on May 27, 1964. Cousin Herman did not miss that date by much as his birthday is June 2nd. His grandson Greg, by the way, was born May 27, 1983. So May 27th has a significant meaning in the Stock family tree!!!
Herman is a "hale fellow well met" sort. Always good for a story or a joke, Herman and Polly were favorites even though distance kept the descendants of Martin Werner and Peter Carl apart, they were wonderful, funny, and nice people. He served his country during World War II and continued to work in his beloved field of flying all his life. It seems that now he seems to be reliving his moments at "Peterson" and why not! Herman is a Stock thru and thru because he is passionate about what he loves and wants to share it with everyone else! Herman got the exuberant German gene and not so much the "stoic" German gene that seems to dominate the family.
Herman was also a great bowler. Trophies are found throughout the house including several commemorations of a perfect 300 on several occasions. He was an unofficial tourism representative of Colorado Springs taking family and friends on tours to destinations in Colorado Springs that possibly not even the natives knew about!!
Time is catching up with one of our family "greats"!! Still, Herman's warmth and overall jovial demeanor are still there. Herman Stock is not a great man Herman Stock is a good man, something much harder to be and more important to his family and his community something which most "great" men ever know. My Dad was the same.
We enjoyed a fabulous dinner with Herman's daughter, Kaye, and her family at Giuseppes in downtown Colorado Springs. We then went to beautiful seven falls and watched the changing colored waterfall at night. I was so proud of Mom for braving the heights, which she hates, to enjoy the sights with us!
It may very well be the last time that the Marin Werner family branch and the Peter Carl family branch get together but I think it is safe to say that it was a very good thing that we did! I think the original Herman would be proud!
