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
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?
Khim says
8 November 2009 at 15:53Den 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! =-.
Khim says
8 November 2009 at 15:55Say 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..
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 21:56Thanks for dropping by, Khim. Kinsa na Beth? Hehee, wala man ko kaila Beth na naga-blog.
Dana @ Online Knowledge says
8 November 2009 at 15:57This 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 =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 21:59Dana, 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.
Shanker Bakshi says
8 November 2009 at 16:47Fall of Wall reminds me of my school days.
.-= Shanker Bakshi´s last blog ..How to Make Money Online in India? =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 21:59I bet your school was aware of the event.
EarningStep says
9 November 2009 at 04:10wall with full history , war and peace
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:01And peace is the best thing that ever happened to mankind.
willie says
9 November 2009 at 04:41I’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 =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:02The whole world has been glad that it happened. Now they remember.
Nick Phillips says
9 November 2009 at 04:46Wow, has it been that long? I remember it like it was only yesterday 😀
.-= Nick Phillips´s last blog ..All By Myself … =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:02Waaa! Yesterday? But twenty years went fast, really.
sernan says
9 November 2009 at 05:15not 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! =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:05Hahaa! Sure it would be. Filipino arts.
It was a long time ago, so. Yes, indeed.
Rajesh Kanuri says
9 November 2009 at 06:34you 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 =-.
Flashpoints says
9 November 2009 at 12:32Hi, 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? =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:06Rajesh and Flashpoint,
You both flattered me. Thanks a million for your nice words.
business mobile tariffs says
9 November 2009 at 06:44Before 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.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:08I hope it’s in the news paper in your place now. Really great turn of event in Berlin.
izzat aziz says
9 November 2009 at 08:16now i’m just hoping the wall that divide Israel state and Palestine will torn down too.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:09I saw on TV that they fell down a brick but they threw stones on each other. 🙁
priscus says
9 November 2009 at 09:26The fall of Berlin wall is a historic achievement for humans. A wall full of hatred and pain pull down.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:10So true. A war turned to peace is remarkable.
Diabetis says
9 November 2009 at 12:07Wow, sana makapunta rin ako duon.
.-= Diabetis´s last blog ..My Mother is Confined in the Hospital =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:17O, tara na! Sure naman, makakapunta ka rin diyan.
Flashpoints says
9 November 2009 at 12:29Hey, thanks for apprising me about such great Berlin wall’s history.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:17And don’t forget to read your newspaper today, hehee!
Amor says
9 November 2009 at 13:56November 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 =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:1912 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.
Amor says
13 November 2009 at 12:49Lola 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? =-.
Marlene says
14 November 2009 at 21:59Eee! Niremind mo naman ako. Ang bilis nga eh, parang kahapon lang ang last, hehee. And thank you sa advance. 🙂
liferamblings says
9 November 2009 at 15:37i 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 =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:21I’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.
Ruchi says
9 November 2009 at 16:24I 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 =-.
Marlene says
9 November 2009 at 22:22I enjoyed my visit there because it’s no longer divided (between east and west).
Arafat Hossain Piyada says
10 November 2009 at 05:59Sometime 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? =-.
Marlene says
10 November 2009 at 23:27It must be a hard situation everytime you celebrate your celebrate and at the same time remember the death of your grandpa. My heartfelt sympthy.
Arafat Hossain Piyada says
11 November 2009 at 01:02Yeah..it’s hard. Thanks for your kind word.
Ana says
11 November 2009 at 19:41It 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
Marlene says
12 November 2009 at 22:07You 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.
Edward Palomo says
19 November 2009 at 23:55i 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…
Marlene says
27 November 2009 at 12:22Good to know you learned about the wall, anyway. It’s history passed on to generations.