Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!!
For us, this year surely felt different.
On Friday night I actually wanted to leave our family gathering a bit earlier to do some last shopping.
But somehow I did not. I lingered till Anthony was ready and we commenced our way back.
As we walked to the tram I felt the unrest of the city, the helicopter was circling high, rescue cars whizzing past us at an unusually high frequency.
At the tram stop, Anthony continued on bike, I took the tram. Only one stop later I got off. A fellow traveller told me, a car had run into the Christmas market. I feared the worst. Seeing the blue lights blocking the next tram crossing, I decided to exit the tram immediately & continue on foot.
Trying to find a route less crowded or panicky was impossible only half past 7PM. Anthony had no phone and my new phone had no contacts synchronized yet.
The only reason why I had one recent number on the phone was because Anthony´s Mamma had called me to tell us of his left behind phone.
So this number I called. I knew in this instant that God was watching out for me. I had wanted to be at the tram stop where the car had entered the christmas market earlier, around that time. But somehow I was not!
In the unsettled panic of pedestrians around the market I found my way home talking to Sylvia. We chatted in Italian to keep me distracted from the actual tragedy unfolding right in front of me.
It will probably take more days and more walks to realize what actually happened. On Friday night I downplayed it, telling everybody we are fine in a lighthearted tone. But on Saturday it sank in more and more, with every world newspaper I checked. An overwhelming big selection of them had Madgeburg`s Christmas Market attack in their top headlines.
Later on Saturday I drove past the market again. It is part of our daily route in the city. Less than two kilometres away.
This is close to home.
This year sure feels different. But we are very grateful to be able to celebrate with loved ones and to have been spared worse on Friday night.
I truly hope this Christmas message finds you well.
With gratitude from us to you.
May your Christmas be merry and peaceful.
Photo credit: Lesanagnou
