The Wall Crossers

4 Jan 2007 - Elisa, Lizet and Aáina - Berlin - At the Wall at Potsdamer

Elisa's perspective

I do this for her... for them.

It is fourth January 2007 and Lizet and I are on the corner next to a Bäckerei (bakery) at Potsdamer Platz, which is an important public square and traffic intersection in the center of Berlin. Berlin is now unified, as of course is Germany. Oh, herrlicher Tag! (Oh, glorious day!). That day in 1989 when the Wall went plummeting down to the ground!

I am eighty-two years old, and Lizet is nine.

Only a remnant of the Wall remains, in this place, at this time.

On this very day, in 1972, Leida and Olivia are standing, right now, in this very same spot, preparing to cross this same street, for a rendezvous, which I have arranged—these two, with Lizet.

I do this for her... for them.

For Leida and Olivia, the Wall still stands. Lizet will see their Wall, just moments from now—the way it was then... the way it is in their now, for them.

I look at Lizet, and her amber, penetrating eyes look into mine, blinking slowly once, expression both precocious and demure. Her body is taut with anticipation. She is the greatest gift I leave to this world. She encompasses ... the best from all of us. She stares at me, trusting me, yet restrained in following my example of self-control. In these few seconds watching her, she begins to look tense, nervous.

I do not need a watch to know, it is nearly time.

I say to her, in German, "Hast Du es (Do you have it)?"

She answers, in Flemish, "Ja, ik heb de stenen overgrootmoeder! (Yes, I have the stone great-grandmother!)" She smiles, and I return the smile, approvingly. I see her body relax.

I glance to my right to the large glass window of the Bäckerei, just centimeters from where we stand. It is cold this morning. In the glass I see our reflections—Lizet watching me. My dark eyes. The soft blue clear-polished-washed sky above us... in the glass.

I look across the street, the busy intersection traffic now halting. I look back to Lizet. With eyes still locked on hers, I tilt my head, nodding toward the preserved, partial relic Wall fragment across the street. Lizet nods at me, turns to face the relic Wall, with her full dark hair swishing in her turn and in the cold breeze, her warm navy-blue coat tightly drawn, light green corduroy pants I chose for her myself, and those child-fashionable pretty tan Turnschuhe (sneakers) with the many pretty emblems girls like to stick-on that Lizet wears like warrior girl shoes with medals for her conquests, and light green mittens.

"Mach es jetzt! (Do it now!)" I say to her. She complies and walks with a fast pace, joining a throng of others crossing the street. I sigh and relax for the first time since we arrived.

Though it is a clear day, over there the air is wavery. I see Lizet almost as in slow motion mounting—something, her back still to me. She seems slightly elevated. She is on the platform now! She turns to the right. I see her smile at someone... someone I cannot see myself. She points at them, then turns her head back to me and I hear her excited voice across the expanse of distance, the gulf of time, "Ik zie haar, overgrootmoeder! (I see her, great-grandmother!)"

She must only see one. I do not understand what has happened. I watch. I am certain they are both there. She will see them both, presently.

Lizet's thick hair is loose and blowing gently around her face and then whipping the other way, toward the back of her neck, as she turns her head once more to gaze at her two loving ones... Um ihre beiden Großmütter anzustarren (To gaze at her two grandmothers).