Keeping in touch

I just got a very nice phone call from Michael, Ute and Henry, Jeanne's other brother and his family who live in Hamburg. They just called to check in. Make sure I'm okay.

I can't tell you how much little things like phone calls and e-mails mean! Although the people here are very nice, there's nothing quite like hearing from home.

This blog is my therapy while I'm here. My therapy and my obsession.

I also write e-mails to Jeanne several times a day and check e-mails and Facebook obsessively.

Meantime, some very good news from Michael and Ute: This weather is not a typical German summer. In fact, it's record-setting hot.

That's a big of consolation when it's 95 degrees (35 Celsius to the locals) down from over 100 earlier. Knowing that it's not typical.

Particularly when it's supposed to rain a bit and cool about 10 degrees tomorrow -- then cool another 10 to a more reasonable upper 70s by Monday.

Even if it means walking in the rain for a few days, it will be worth it not to walk around in this constant state of perspiration.