Oktoberfest Season

This entry isn't going to be a rant. It's not going to be critical, sad, or smart-alecky. No, it's going to be appreciative. Appreciative that God allowed the people of the earth to create their own cultures, their own versions of sustenance, and festivals to celebrate just how awesome that is.

In this particular entry, I'm appreciative of the part of German culture and heritage that created the Oktoberfest. German governments haven't exactly set the best standard for the world. Whether it's the landlust of the Hohenzollerns or bloodlust of the Nazis, they're not exactly making a good name for themselves. As for the people, though, I suppose they're doing okay. When I think of German culture outside of the unpleasant parts, I think of the tiny cottages nestled in the Bavarian Alps. Kind of like the picture you see above. Cobblestone roads, fresh flowers hanging from eaves and awnings, the echoes of accordions from a bierhaus down the street. (There's a cottage-town nestled in the Cascades of Washington state called Leavenworth that brings all that to the US. Great place. Not much to do, but it was fun. We went there on vacation once. In fact, that's a picture of it above...not the real Bavarian Alps. Sorry.)

There's just something to all that that makes it very comfortable. You feel right at home in that kind of environment. Maybe it's the German blood in me. Maybe it's because Mom fixed German a lot for dinner growing up. Whatever the reasoning, I just feel very relaxed and content after a fine German meal at home or out at a restaurant. No other type of food or restaurant generates that kind of after-dinner warmth quite like that. After Cracker Barrel, you're content, but ready to move onto some other activity. After Olive Garden, you're the same way. But after German, you just want to kick back and really let the ecstasy of the meal set in and savor the last few drops of bier in the stein. Ein herzhafte Mahlzeit (a hearty meal).

So with that level of respect and admiration for the experience of German cuisine, I excite myself over the prospect of Oktoberfest. A festival devoted to this unique culture and taste of the world can't be all that bad. Hopefully, I actually make it this year. Viel Glück!