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It is always at this time of year that we are reminded where
our roots are, because the German National Holiday, the Day of
Unity (Tag der Einheit), is celebrated on or around October 3rd.
This year marks the 19th anniversary of this event
that no one of our parents generation ever thought would happen.
Yet it did, preceded by the fall of the wall in November of the
year prior, which makes it an even 20th anniversary
for that monumental historical occurrence.
Last year we had locally a huge celebration in anticipation of
the anniversary. Measured on last year’s event we can only
assume that the international financial crisis put a
considerable damper on the proceedings and the ebb in the German
national coffers mixed with caution and prudence overseas and
locally made it a much smaller affair than in the year before.
 However, it did not take away from the importance of it. Thus
the local celebration in the Steam Whistle Brewery next to the
CN Tower was not as crowded as the venue last year, there was
less food and drink, but lots of animated conversation before
and after the new German Consul General, Sabine Sparwasser, h ad
delivered her rousing speech, reminding all of us why we should
and could rejoice in the changes that history had bestowed on
us.
How important our daily bread is became clear when I saw upon
leaving
 a huge 10 pound rye bread, generously donated with
pretzels and other goodies by Dimpfelmeier Bakeries lying sliced
and barren, far away from the delicious Brandt sausages, no
butter or cold cuts or cheese nearby, untouched. I wonder what
happened to it. I guess we are still learning to adjust to less,
are not used to it yet. I can recall that my father, years after
he came back from being in an American prisoner of war camp, had
to have a piece of dry bread, even after a pretty opulent meal.
Who eats dry bread now?
This in contrast to the culinary extravaganza later this month
planned instead of the annual German Gala Ball to the tune of
$250.00. I hope I am forgiven when I say that I am a tad
confused by these different signals.
The Fabulous Four
 When the original fabulous four, namely the Beatles, arrived
on the scene I was a teenager and not impressed at all with the
noise they made. I was into classical music and Harry
Belafonte’s Calypso rhythms. I would rather have him tally me
bananas than listen to the music that caused girls to scream
their heads off and faint. Now it is safe to say that I love the
Beatles more than I have ever loved any
 other contemporary
group. I was not alone with this sentiment when we recently went
to the Scarborough Danube Swabian Club to attend an evening with
the Fabulous Four, a group of young men that quite marvellously
recreated the sound that had me cringe way back then.
| The Beatles
portrait through the ages |
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 Amazingly the Beatles and their music attract all generations,
as was also apparent that evening. At least 4 generations were
present and all were enthusiasts. To the sound of Ed Sullivan’s
 introduction on his show, when he first introduced them to
American Audiences, one by one they came on stage and immediate
played some of that memorizing
 music. After an intermission they
arrived in the Sergeant Pepper costumes and created the
Yellow Submarine mood that had us smitten then and now. They
hobnobbed with the audience, teased and joked and were as
playful as we remember them to have been.
| Coming out into
the crowd |
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 And when the performers came out in modern casuals, and the
fellow impersonating John Lennon sang "Imagine", my all
time favourite popular song, I felt young again and transported
into a time that was a lot less stressful than now, despite a
war in Vietnam.
This show attracted not only folks from our ethnic background
but all sorts of nice people discovered the club that night and
hopefully will come back. I know I will, especially after the
delicious dinner that was served up!
There will be all sorts of concerts, popular and classical,
check out the club’s event schedule. See you there!
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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