Lemback Blog

The Potpourri of Ramblings blog of Marlene and Leif Lemback

The Fall Of The Wall

It will be 20 years tomorrow since the Berlin Wall was torn down amidst the protest of the east side for freedom.  My morning newspaper is making a big deal of the history of the Berlin Wall, with ten pages of stories and illustrations from the day it was built, torn and how significant it is now for the people.  Darn, I wasn’t born yet when the east side of Berlin started to build the wall in 1961.  And by the time it was razed in 1989 I was already in college studying to be a teacher.  But my mind was not completely focused on the event when the people shouted in jubilation because it was the same year when my beloved father died.  A month and a few days after the fall of the wall, my father succumbed to death. Not because he was devastated or overjoyed about the event, I wouldn’t know he’d feel about it but he died due to prolonged illness.

I didn’t think of relating this event with my father but somehow, reminishing the fall of the wall has led to another event to be reminisced.  I was trying to remember where was I and what did I do during that time when the year 1989 suddenly poked me and I exclaimed in the back of my mind, “Oh, my God!” and started to recall the days that were.  How ironic how the fall of the Berlin Wall reminded me of my father when today is also Father’s Day here.  Jesus Christ!  How all these things just popped in my mind while writing.

Anyhow,  back to the Berlin Wall,  part of it is still standing in the city and tourists visiting there can imagine how thick and high the walls that used to divide the city of Berlin.  Now it’s there to remind the history behind it.

The Berlin Wall in the background

The Berlin Wall in the background

Ruins of the Berlin Wall

Ruins of the Berlin Wall

 That’s how the ruins of the wall looks now.  My father could have seen me with these pics if he’d still be alive.  But I’m really surprised how that year gave me a back-to-back memory of the past, both of the world and of my life.  How about you?  Where were you and what did you do when the Berlin Wall was fallen down on November 9, 1989?


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About The Author

Marlene
Marlene graduated from the University of Mindanao with a Degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education. She worked as a teacher for five years and two years as a Head Teacher in Davao City, Philippines. She presently resides in Sweden with her hubby and she works as a Mother Language (Filipino) Teacher.

Comments

43 Responses to “The Fall Of The Wall”

  1. Khim says:

    Den var bra inlägg!…don´t know much about Berlin walls..
    now I got a little bit of knowledge to it…thankz to you!
    Have a good sunday
    Khim´s last blog ..My Dear Te Rose Fest! My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

  2. Khim says:

    Say Hello to Beth from me diay….
    na-a sya blog? missed her dugay na sad mi wala nag-kita kita…

    agoy nag-lisod gyud ko ug pangita sa imo comment botton..

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Thanks for dropping by, Khim. Kinsa na Beth? Hehee, wala man ko kaila Beth na naga-blog.

    Reply

  3. This occasion is surely a international occasion. I say that because My morning news papers (here in Indonesia) also cover complete writing about 20 years fall of Berlin Wall.
    Dana @ Online Knowledge´s last blog ..How To Create Sub Domain Name My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Dana, it’s really good that it’s in the newspaper, cos it reminds all of us, even those who were not yet born at that time to learn something from it.

    Reply

  4. Fall of Wall reminds me of my school days.
    Shanker Bakshi´s last blog ..How to Make Money Online in India? My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    I bet your school was aware of the event.

    Reply

  5. EarningStep says:

    wall with full history , war and peace

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    And peace is the best thing that ever happened to mankind.

    Reply

  6. willie says:

    I’m glad that the wall has fallen. Good for them. Democracy is the way.
    willie´s last blog ..Visit by YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    The whole world has been glad that it happened. Now they remember.

    Reply

  7. Wow, has it been that long? I remember it like it was only yesterday :D
    Nick Phillips´s last blog ..All By Myself … My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Waaa! Yesterday? But twenty years went fast, really.

    Reply

  8. sernan says:

    not familiar of the Berlin Walls, but if that wall is situated here in manila, it would be full of graffiti’s and vandals…hehehehe…

    i’m sorry to hear about your dad… but he is definitely proud of you!
    sernan´s last blog ..Ninite – Install Apps in One shot! My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Hahaa! Sure it would be. Filipino arts.

    It was a long time ago, so. Yes, indeed.

    Reply

  9. you writing skills were brilliant and the articles you choose to write make to stick to your blog for a long while..
    Rajesh Kanuri´s last blog ..5 Best Free Magazine Style Wordpress Premium Themes My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Flashpoints replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Hi, Rajesh I would like to tell you that i am one of the follower of this blog and have been following for long time. Such blogger is rarely found.
    Flashpoints´s last blog ..Howzat for Shane’s new crowning glory? My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    Rajesh and Flashpoint,

    You both flattered me. Thanks a million for your nice words.

    Reply

  10. Before 20 years we were kids in school. At that time i was not much interested in this event. But now I realise that it was a great event of history.

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    I hope it’s in the news paper in your place now. Really great turn of event in Berlin.

    Reply

  11. izzat aziz says:

    now i’m just hoping the wall that divide Israel state and Palestine will torn down too.

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    I saw on TV that they fell down a brick but they threw stones on each other. :-(

    Reply

  12. priscus says:

    The fall of Berlin wall is a historic achievement for humans. A wall full of hatred and pain pull down.

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    So true. A war turned to peace is remarkable.

    Reply

  13. Diabetis says:

    Wow, sana makapunta rin ako duon.
    Diabetis´s last blog ..My Mother is Confined in the Hospital My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    O, tara na! Sure naman, makakapunta ka rin diyan.

    Reply

  14. Flashpoints says:

    Hey, thanks for apprising me about such great Berlin wall’s history.

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    And don’t forget to read your newspaper today, hehee!

    Reply

  15. Amor says:

    November 9, 1989? I was 12 years old then, grade 6. Nasa probinsya at walang kamalay-malay sa mga nangyayari sa ibang parte ng mundo. Buti na lang may history subject nung high school.

    Ngayon or kahapon pala ang Father’s Day jan? Di pala pare-pareho?
    Amor´s last blog ..Pretend Play My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    12 yo ka pa lang pala ng year na yun. Lola na pala ako, hahaa!

    Oo, hindi pareho. Ganun din ang mother’s day. Nauuna din kayo diyan.

    Reply

    Amor replied on November 13th, 2009:

    Lola ka jan, haha konti lang naman difference natin eh, at since November na, advance ha! Madadagdagan na naman age natin. Ang bilis ng panahon.
    Amor´s last blog ..Ganito ka rin ba mag English? My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 14th, 2009:

    Eee! Niremind mo naman ako. Ang bilis nga eh, parang kahapon lang ang last, hehee. And thank you sa advance. :-)

    Reply

  16. i was still in high school when the wall was torn down. Berlin sure sounds like a fascinating place to visit and there is no better place to start than the Berlin Wall. :)
    liferamblings´s last blog ..Today’s Flowers – Splash of Yellow My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    I’m older than you, but I’m sure you learned about it from your school. yes, it’s a must because of it’s history.

    Reply

  17. Ruchi says:

    I was not aware about history of Fall of the Wall.U seem to enjoy a lot there.:)
    Ruchi´s last blog ..Tips to improve your Online Persona My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 9th, 2009:

    I enjoyed my visit there because it’s no longer divided (between east and west).

    Reply

  18. Sometime it happen in life when we remember incident without our will. My birthday remind my mother about the dead of my grand pa because he died exact 40 day before I born.
    Arafat Hossain Piyada´s last blog ..How to detect what .Net version installed on your machine? My ComLuv Profile

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 10th, 2009:

    It must be a hard situation everytime you celebrate your celebrate and at the same time remember the death of your grandpa. My heartfelt sympthy.

    Reply

    Arafat Hossain Piyada replied on November 11th, 2009:

    Yeah..it’s hard. Thanks for your kind word.

    Reply

  19. Ana says:

    It was all over the danish TV cause I think Denamrk is connected to the mainland Europe via Germany and its very important in European history. Remember the cold war and the communism it was just like a thing of the past but Europeans learned a lot from their history (war etc.)
    I have a couple of German friends who families were separated by the wall and it was too painful to hear what they had been through.
    While me 20 years ago I was trying hard to pass all my subjects in the University and that was a battle I won. :)
    20 years ka na pala walang tatay ako naman few months pa lang but see you will never forget them.
    hils

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 12th, 2009:

    You won the battle and now you have a history, too, hahaa! Yes, 20 yrs na at muntik ko pang nakalimutan na 20 yrs na pala. Pero siyempre di ko nakakalimutan papa ko.

    Reply

  20. i wasn’t born yet when the berlin wall fell. but i do watch ww2 documentaries and how that wall came about. it’s a good thing that communism didn’t survive in europe. democracy for me is the best form of government as it respects our birthright for private ownership…

    Reply

    Marlene replied on November 27th, 2009:

    Good to know you learned about the wall, anyway. It’s history passed on to generations.

    Reply

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