By Anne

Well now, you know a day is going to be good when the first thing you get to do is ride an oversized wiener. We were up and at ‘em early today as we had to hoof it on the longest drive yet into the heart of Bavaria. That’s in Germany, yo.

The show in Lampenhain was presented by Wolfgang Wonde, who we all know from previous tours as the ringleader of the southern German music fans. Now we know him as well as a great host. Wolfgang’s home town, Lampenhain, is a village of 200 nestled in the hills at the north end of the Schwarzwald—the Black Forest. This village, though small, actually has had an award-winning men’s chorus for a number of years. I gave up counting the number of trophies they have won, which were prominently displayed both in the town hall where we played and at the restaurant where we had dinner. Wolfgang’s father and both his brothers, as well as himself, have all sung in this chorus.

I had high expectations for this show, as I spent a lot of time in Germany with Hazeldine, and I thought this may be the only opportunity for many of the old Hazel-friends to come to a show.

It is a shame that I was so tired from my waschingnacht rituals from the night before. I would have slept in the car, but Andy finally got a turn behind the wheel, on the Autobahn no less. But with the lovely afternoon and the fresh air and the excitement of seeing old friends, and a couple of cups of good Euro-coffee, I perked right up, and the event exceeded my expectations entirely.

We did a little soundcheck, which with Rolf manning the board was a cakewalk compared to the Theater Fasson. We went to the gasthaus in the next village one kilometer away and gussied up and, when we returned, folks were arriving.

I won’t name all of the old fans and friends, as I am sure I would get something wrong and probably leave someone out, but there were a lot. And some new fans, too, people who know Wolfgang and trust his judgment in putting on a concert. Though it was strange playing in the middle of the afternoon, there was a great feeling in the room, and we told stories and had a very heartfelt time.

I think I got choked up on the last song, at the end of two or three encores.

It was hard to pack up and leave as there was much visiting to be done, and had I not been exhausted I would have gone to Heidelberg with one of my old buddies to see a show later that night. But as it was, I was happy to get a chance to visit with Wolfgang and a few other friends over a traditional Schwabish dinner. This could not have been a more satisfying day. As the band got together in my room at the end of it to reflect on the good times so far and share a few of the Swiss beers, we gave thanks again for Marcel, along with the rest of our friends new and old, as there was certainly not anything open on a Sunday night in Lampenhain.