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02/09/2004 Entry: "Katie Jeter"

The recent winter storms back in the states have made last weekend a sad one for me.

Dr Kurt and Mamie Jeter, both church youth counselors years back when I had great times at the Franklin 1st United Methodist, have lost their daughter, Katie. She was killed in a car accident two days ago on a college road trip. Katie was 19, about the age of some of my younger students at the University of Dresden.

I must admit, I hardly remember little Katie. The most time I spent with her was when I was about thirteen or so. She could not yet talk at that time. I used to ask her, "did you see what Katy did?" Katydids are these grasshopper-like bugs we have back home, also there was a fairy tale called "what Katy Did", so I thought it funny at the time.

I am pretty sure that at least one or two times I said to her as she was just a babe, "you is one ugly baby!" in this crazy voice. She found that funny, regardless of whether or not she understood what I said; she was a basket of sunshine. I thought she was absolutely adorable.

Mamie, Kurt, I've sat and I've counted how many friends and family I've lost in my life; it took almost the both of two hands. But no loss is greater than to not die before your own children. It is a sorrow I cannot fathom, and I cannot provide any words as salve to your pains.

I bid you grieve to the fullest. It is your right. And then at somepoint remember that you are still alive.
Then walk on.
That your footfall be divine verse.

Incidentally here is a story about the last surviving member of a failed
plot to wax the H.

This is a frightening story, which reminds me of what Mom told me years ago. Dad, who was born in Berlin in '45, was constantly haunted by terrible nightmares his whole young life. Nightmares of explosions and flashes and terror. As a young adult, he then learned from his older sister Christa that he was born durn a firestorm. After that, the nightmares ceased.

Anyway, my favorite line from above article is below, which I find so beautiful, and my parents, gritting their teeth, would have to admit that that is no surprise:
Over the front door of his house in Kreuzberg near the western city of Bonn, a sign reads "Et si omnes ego non -- Even if all, not me."