Movie Star

Skip took Maddie to see Das Doppleter Lottchen, which is a cartoon remake of the Parent Trap and takes place in Germany. While they were at the theater, Maddie took a moment to vamp in front of the promotion for Surf's Up or King of the Waves as the German title translates. Luckily, Skip had his picture phone.





I made my first visit to the hospital on Friday to see a friend who is suffering from a serious attack of colitus. She is recovering, but the disease (or is it a virus) attacked the joints in her spine and around one of her knees, so the whole thing was more than a little scary. Plus, being in a foreign country (even thought most doctors speak great English and my friend speaks decent German), you always wonder if you're completely communicating.

It felt like I had walked into Marcus Welby, MD circa 1970. The lobby of the hospital is quite modern looking, but the halls to the patient rooms and the rooms themeselves are stark white with not a picture or poster to be found. Completely blank. I thought about all the effort (and expense) they go to to make hospital rooms in the states more comfortable and calming. But it doesn't really work does it? It's just always lousy to be in the hospital whether the rooms are white or pale blue with a prints of butterflys on the wall.

This hospital is also a lot quieter than our hospitals. There's no central nurses station out in the middle of the floor and my friend says they don't come in and check on you every hour. She said it's must more restful in a German hospital than in an American one.

I'm hoping I won't have reason to return there. Hopefully everyone can just stay well.