The Wall Crossers

Afterword

Afterword

Dit verhaal is een werk van non-fictie. Eventuele fouten in of afwijkingen van de waarheid zijn geheel voor mijn rekening (This story is a work of non-fiction. Any errors in or deviations from the truth are entirely at my expense).

Dear Reader, permit me to begin by clarifying this important story aspect: the blue stones of the Preseli Hills in Wales are ancient stones of dreaming and form the inner ring of Stonehenge. I submit this short verse—written by the Dutch poet and asterphysicist, Klometure, who was also the teacher of my geweldige oma (great granny Elisa)—for your understanding in this context of the Wall Crossers story:

De Preseli blauwe stenen zijn voor genezing,
En het onthullen van de geheimen van tijdreizen.

(The Preseli blue stones are for healing,
And time travel's secrets revealing.)

In the writing of this story, I had to be most speculative about the thoughts and actions of my Oma Olivia. I had the rich source of Anja, of course, and Oma Leida's perspective, through Maren, and I did interview some U.S. Army veterans who knew the times, but none of whom actually knew my Oma.

I told the story from the perspective of my Oma, and used her name as my penname.

I learned so much about my Oma Olivia's activities, feelings, intentions and decisions from Anja, who knew her best, and from Maren, who worked with her and of course Oma Leida told Maren everything.

Geweldige oma Elisa passed along to me the trove of Oma Leida's journals, which she had left behind in 1972 with Cousin Florian. These copious notes have been of immense benefits in so many ways, even including the poems! Leida was a journalist, after all.

Finally, as I write this Afterword, I realize why Elke refused to be herself agreeable to meet with me when I interviewed Anja. And the reason is this: Elke could have prevented my Oma Olivia from departing for the airport to return to the US that fateful day. She had critical information, and her sharing with my Oma most certainly would have avoided all the heartache which ensued, the greatest of which being separation of my Oma Leida and Oma Olivia forever. But, Helaas (alas), Elke for reasons attributing to her own person's wants would not help my Oma. Thus we had catastrofe.

Three daughters were watching their fathers closely. But only one truly followed naar de brief (to the letter)—Elke. Her truth—it was completely rearranged during that time between her entrance into my story and her part of this story's ending.

Yet my geweldige oma Elisa took ownership for what transpired with Leida and Olivia. She said theirs was a sacrifice for a greater love. Her love for a future me she so accurately predicted? So, was she to blame, or was it Elke? I leave it now to the reader to judge what truth lies in this, each one of you, alone with your thoughts.

Tragically, Patrizia Becker was murdered on a heavily-trafficked street in open sunlight with throngs of people nearby, though it did occur in the seedier Neukölln district of West Berlin. Such occurrences were exceedingly rare in those days, but then, we must remember that this was Patrizia—she who assiduously courted jeopardy and purposefully scattered chaos in her wake, trampling survivors for good measure. Her case was sealed due to the sensitive nature of her work, although I was allowed to view a picture taken from the crime scene, and in that she is as beautiful as ever except for the single bullet hole neatly drilled through her neck, which means that the murderer (or assassin) was either a terribly inaccurate but lucky shooter, or an excellent shootist (because it is very difficult to strike a neck compared to a torso unless the subject is posing, or that one with the weapon is a professional). This information came from an archivist detective who, due to my powers of persuasion, allowed me a brief glance through the old records. I also did find a younger picture of her as a schoolgirl, but, oddly enough, the caption notes a different surname—a fact that was really no surprise to me at all. Patrizia's truth was probably the strangest of all, yet I was unable to unravel much, save what was told to me secondhand, which has been represented in this story as best I could. Also, and quite curiously, a star sapphire ring was found on her person when her body was recovered from the scene... a quite expensive piece. This was listed in the statement of evidence for her case, but the detective said it had gone missing from the collection of artifacts at some time during the silent years. No one knows what happened to it, when or why.

And there is also another very puzzling mystery, Dear Reader. More than one week before my twee oma's (Leida and Olivia) became married on that fateful day, Geweldige oma (great grandma) Elisa had told my Oma Olivia, in a telephone call, this: In order to bring her, you will become Aupperle, just as she will be. I was always quite certain this referred to me. For my Oma to meet me some day, she must herself become Aupperle, just as I have always been. But here is the deep mystery: how could Geweldige oma have known my moeder would become herself Aupperle? When Oma Olivia was foretold this cryptic message, the coming destruction of their marriage was not yet known! If that marriage had endured, Monika would not have interposed into that chain of lives that lead to who I became! But then, it is for the stars to know the truth in all this matter... or so I must presume. And it is for sure we all did make the choice to move on down the path the stars chose for us, and that... that makes us Aupperle together.

One more thing: Anja's auntie Annika's husband Günther committed suicide only a few months after their divorce.

Now, there remains a rather strong confusion over this—my Geweldige oma Elisa's star telling, Lizet will be there for her seventh Grandmother to meet on her four sevens. As I was happening into my vroege tienerjaren (early teenage years), she had, on one clear as star crystal sunny day, confided in me this, My gifted one, my dear Lizet, the number 7777, Ja it is for spiritual wisdom, intuition, the divine connection, for stars that are sending to tell you that you are about an embarkation for a special journey. In such things we must be to trust that this is for such a purpose. My insight at that time, and it begs to be considered to this day, is that the time of my meeting with my Oma is only to be after she encounters such a sign, for her, and not for any attainment by myself of any some certain age or otherwise. So was the telling, after all, regarding my Oma's four sevens, for her journey, and not for mine? This belief, if true, would be stunning in its rearrangement of our story's end. And such an epiphany, having the impact of surprise, might it then certainly be of the stars?

And lastly, there is the matter of Negeen (Geena) Tiwari. Does she still search for my Oma? It is my strong belief that Geena found Leida and brought her to Bhutan. I have some clear evidence of this in my possession. They both shared common grief and longings. Perhaps Leida went there, changed her name, is there still, as a writer, or retired from journalism in that country? I will ask Geena more about this, and quite soon. This would be a discovery of immense import! Geduld is doorzettingsvermogen (Patience is perseverance). Our families are connected.

In the ending analysis, each of us has a piece of the truth. This story—it is my truth. I would desire that, for some day, Oma Olivia's truth could also be here more fully and accurately represented. Misschien komt dat nog. Ik hoop dat het op een dag misschien wel zal gebeuren (Maybe that will come to pass. I hope that, someday, maybe it certainly shall).

Thank you for reading my story!

Lizet Callens-Aupperle – Halle, Belgium – 25 juni 2021