This post will either make my mom happy because it's more salacious or it will worry her. We'll see.
To supplement my income in trying economic times (and because I'm on an almost 3-month long break in between Winter and Summer Semesters at University) I've started babysitting for a family in the 'Furts Westend.
The Westend is by far the toniest neighborhood in the 'Furt. It's bordered by the University to the west and the Palmengarten, a gorgeous botanical park, to the north and the financial district to the south. The streets are wide and tree-lined, 80% residential and 80% Altbau (pre-war construction). It is such a beautiful area, that the American occupation forces chose this neighborhood to set-up shop for the last half of the 20th century. Everyone who lives here now is employed in the banking sector, including the family I work for. The Westend is shockingly white, blissfully unaware of a failing market and one of the only neighborhoods in the city where the strollers are as nice as the cars. These three factors make for one certainty: Amazing playgrounds.
Throughout Westend there are maybe five, six, black-iron gated playgrounds, sandy and full of wooden caterpillar slides and lime-green monkey bars. The playgrounds appear like mirages, nestled in between apartment houses and shaded by trees. Yesterday, it was sunny and 55, I took my charges to the playground nearest to their home and was amazed at the flirtations taking place between moms and dads on the swings. It was just like the movie/book "Little Children," except these Germans were better looking (don't get me started on how good the moms looked, it was 10 am on a Saturday and they were wearing the typical "off-day" uniform of rich German ladies: skinny jeans, riding boots, Burberry trench. I was wearing some New Balances and old Gap jeans with baby puke on the thigh.)* and had way more money than the characters in Tom Perotta's work.
One couple was so into each other, sitting side by side on the swings, babies in lap, that I thought they were the proud parents of fraternal twins. But they were not. They left at different times, with different strollers, but not before planning to meet again after afternoon naps. Emotional affair!
I can't wait to go back.
*One thing about German rich moms, they are OLD. You think they're not, but then you get up close and it is wrinkle city. And they have the old lady skinny thing which makes them all sinewy.
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3 comments:
A. I love the word "tony" and I respect you more than ever now because you used it correctly.
B. I don't know about you, but I found the Kate Winslet/Patrick Wilson sex scenes in "Little Children" to be the second-hottest movie sex scenes ever, behind only "The Thomas Crown Affair." So these emotionally promiscuous Germans better be pretty damn good-looking or else they won't stack up in my opinion.
I loved this neighborhood. Next time, look like you fit in. And I agree with aka Will.
I always felt like I was in the movie/book Little Children when I was with Timmy. But of course I was an onlooker, not a participant in the scandalous love affairs. Probably because I didn't have a trendy trench. Oh, I miss Timmy! Go give him a hug for me.
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