HER NAME WAS MARIA

HER NAME WAS FRAU MARIA RINDER

In 1991, I was in the Army and assigned to the 527th Military Intelligence Battalion in Kaiserslautern, Germany. I lived in Wielerbach, a small village 7 kilometers (about 5 miles) northeast of Kaiserslautern. Weilerbach was a convenient 20-minute commute from my unit on Vogelweh Kaserne.

Maria was my landlady, who was a beautiful, generous human being. She and her husband, Gerhardt, owned a charming two-story home in Weilerbach. I rented the downstairs apartment on one side of their home.

When I first met Maria, we clicked instantly. She had the brightest smile and a twinkle in her eyes which warmed my heart and made me feel so at ease with her. Maria was a kind-hearted soul. She treated me like a member of her own family.

MOVING FROM KINDSBACH TO WEILERBACH

I cherish the memories of living in Weilerbach at 6 Am Faltor Strasse. My previous apartment on Schulstrase 13 was in another small village named Kindsbach. That apartment was also convenient and located about 4 miles away from my unit on Vogelweh Kaserne. Unfortunate for me, my elderly landlady wanted my apartment for her oldest son, a recovering alcoholic. It upset me because I had comfortably settled in for about four months. But I had to move. Luckily, I found my next home in Wielerbach, which was a Godsend. Fortunate for me, my landlady was Frau Maria Rinder.

MARIA'S CHERRY TREE

She showered endless TLC on her cherry tree, located in the corner of her well-kept backyard. She had planted a bed of flowers inside and along the dark-wood fence in her front yard. She tended to them with the precision of a surgeon. Her plants responded by producing a bountiful array of colorful flowers.

Often during the summer months, after I would come home from work, she would ring my doorbell. After I opened my door, Maria was standing there, revealing a playful demeanor. She had something special for me: a plastic bag full of fresh cherries she had picked from her tree. I remember the words she spoke to me, "Here, Cora. These are for you!" Those cherries of hers were the sweetest I had ever tasted. That was Maria's way of being ever so thoughtful, caring, kind, and full of joy.

MARIA'S HONESTY AND RELIABILITY

In 1994, I was scheduled to go to an Army military intelligence course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. I informed Maria of the time I would be away. I made arrangements with her to take care of certain things for me and keep an eye out on my place while I was gone. I had no worries because I knew my belongings would be in good hands. I thought of Maria while I was away at school. After finishing my advanced MI course, I went to a local shop in downtown Sierra Vista, Arizona, to pick up a few souvenirs for her. She was special to me, too, just like family.

RETURNING TO GERMANY FROM MY ARMY SCHOOL

When I returned to Germany, Maria welcomed me back home with open arms. A few days after my return, Maria invited me to her place. She had prepared a delicious homemade apple cake which she served with coffee. I remember sitting with her in her living room, sharing the details of my trip to the states. She looked excited and eager to hear what I had to say. And when I gave her the gifts I had bought for her, she almost cried. I remember she thanked me as she held them to her heart. This gesture told me how much she cared about my gifts to her. Then she unwrapped them with care and placed them on the mantle over the fireplace in her living room. I remember that she always had fresh flowers in a vase in the center of her dining room. A snow-white lace tablecloth with an intricate pattern covered her highly shined dining room table. I always felt comfortable in her home.

MY PROMOTION TO SERGEANT FIRST CLASS

I remember how excited I was when selected for promotion to sergeant first class. I told Maria about it and that I planned to have a party with a few friends in my apartment. I invited her to come. Before my party, Maria brought me a tray full of finger sandwiches she prepared for my guests. Another one of her surprises. I was so happy about her thoughtfulness and kindness.

MY CHURCH AND THE PASTOR

I was a member of a church in Mackenbach, Germany, which was about 20 minutes from my apartment in Weilerbach. The pastor was an Air Force chaplain to a small but spirited crowd. All of us in the congregation felt blessed to have him as our pastor. I remember that we had rousing, exciting services every Sunday. I could feel the Holy Spirit in the midst of the congregation, especially on Sunday mornings.

Over time, I noticed that the pastor had no robe. He would conduct the service in a suit. I wanted to do something about that. I could still sew, so I approached him after the service one Sunday. I told him of my sewing ability. Without hesitating, I offered to make a pastor's robe for him. I had my sewing machine with me, and I thought I could put it to some good use. He was excited and asked me what I needed from him to make this happen.

He gave me money to buy the material and a pattern. It felt good to get back into sewing, which I always loved to do. After buying the material, I went home, cut the pattern out for the robe, and began sewing like a madwoman. However, fate struck a devastating blow. My sewing machine broke down when I was about halfway to completing the pastor's robe. I was so disappointed and didn't know what to do next. God knew my heart and fierce determination! Though the devil was busy, God had other plans for me and the pastor's robe.

One day, I mentioned the situation with the pastor's robe to Maria. Without hesitation, she offered to let me use her sewing machine to finish the pastor's robe. I was so happy and relieved. God moved in a special way to allow me to continue moving forward with this labor of love. To this day, I don't know why I mentioned this situation to Maria. I had no idea that she had a sewing machine, too. All I can say is that God moves in mysterious ways.

After I finished the robe, I visited the pastor at the church during the week for fittings. The robe was ready for him to wear the following Sunday in no time. He was happy about holding our service in his new outfit. But I had to tell the pastor about my machine breaking down. I told him that my landlady had given me her sewing machine to finish his robe. I had to let him know that I could not have completed this job without her generous offer. He looked delighted at hearing my story. He wanted to meet this wonderful lady who was so kind and helpful. Without hesitating, he asked me to invite her to our Sunday service. He couldn't wait to thank Maria in front of the congregation.

I couldn't wait to get home to share the news with Maria about the pastor's invitation for her to come to church with me. She was excited and happy and agreed to go. I was so pleased with how everything turned out.

After that Sunday's service, the pastor came over to Maria, shook her hand, and hugged her like an old friend. Then he introduced her to the entire congregation. He honored and thanked her for her selflessness and service to our church. The church assistant pastors and members greeted Maria, too. Church members came up to embrace Maria and thank her for her generosity. She became a little embarrassed, as evident by the redness in her cheeks, which gave that away. But she was happy. I was delighted for her, too. I must say that although she was the only White person in the congregation, I never saw Maria look uncomfortable. She blended right in, so to speak. I knew Maria felt right at home. She knew she was always welcome in God's house with us.

MARIA'S BELOVED COLLIE: ANDRE

Maria and Gerhardt had a daughter and a son, who was in the German Army for a short time. But her real baby was Andre, her big Collie always gentle as a lamb. He had a thick, flowing, fluffy coat of tan, black and white fur. He reminded me of the TV dog Lassie. Maria loved that dog so much. I never heard him bark or become aggressive the entire time I lived there.

My youngest daughter was also in the Army. She was stationed in a unit on a Kaserne not far from mine. Whenever she visited me, Andre would run to her as soon as she stepped on the porch. He would stand up on his hind legs and plant his front paws on her shoulders while he looked her in the face. That's all he wanted to do, just look her in the face. All my daughter could do was stand there until Andre got his fill of greeting her like that. Maria and I thought it was so funny of Andre to welcome my daughter that way. I will never forget that sight.

ANOTHER VISIT WITH MARIA BEFORE LEAVING GERMANY

The time came for me to relocate to Fort Campbell for a new assignment. Though excited, I really did not want to leave Germany. I told Maria that I was leaving for good. She looked sad, but she understood why I had to go. Unexpectedly, she gave me a gift before I left. It was a wall hanging with my name on it. I still have it hanging on my wall by the door downstairs. It will always be precious to me.

Following my tour at Fort Campbell, I attended the Defense EO Management Institute (DEOMI) at Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, Florida. That six-month course proved to be a welcomed challenge and a boost in my Army career.

RETURNING TO GERMANY

After graduating from DEOMI, I accepted an assignment to Heidelberg, Germany as an Equal Opportunity Advisor for V Corps. After two challenging and demanding years there, I requested and received another assignment to the 7th Army Command, Combined Arms Training Center in Vilseck, Germany. The Army post on Vilseck was located in eastern Germany near the Czech border. I looked forward to my next assignment as an Instructor at the EO School, a lifelong dream for me. I loved my job of teaching the Army's EO program to officers and noncommissioned officers. In August 1999, I retired in Vilseck, Germany after 22 years of honorable service in the US Army.

In 2000, I got a new civilian job in Kaiserslautern after leaving a contracting job in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Unfortunately, the job didn't come with a housing allowance. That meant that I had to pay for my own expenses until I could find a permanent place to call home again.

On a whim, I stopped by to see Maria. She was so surprised and glad to see me. I remember she prepared and served fresh coffee to go along with the pastries she had bought that morning. As we chatted, I noticed the souvenirs I had given her years ago from the little shop in Sierra Vista, Arizona. They were still on her mantle where she first put them. Smiling, I was pleased to see that they were in the same place she originally set them. I told her of my new job and my situation of not having a place to live just yet.

Like Maria, she jumped at the chance to help. She said I could stay in her apartment upstairs, which was completely furnished: for free! She wouldn't take any money from me. That was another example of Maria's endless generosity.

Maria helped me find an apartment in Hochspeyer, a small village 10 minutes from where I worked. She called around and spoke to different renters to find the ideal place for me at a price I could afford. I stayed in Germany until 2005 and returned to another security job in Homestead, Florida. In 2008, I went back to Germany and found a beautiful apartment in a small town near Wiesbaden. I worked in security there until 2010, then retired.

THE DAY MARIA'S SPIRIT GUIDED ME BACK TO WEILERBACH

Over the years, I made several trips to the Kaiserslautern area to shop at the Ramstein Base Exchange or on my way to France. I always thought of Maria whenever I passed the exit for Weilerbach off Autobahn 6. I always meant to stop by and see her but never did. Not until that day.

Numerous times, I had to go to Landstuhl Hospital for medical appointments for my knee pain and other treatments. When I finished my appointments at Landstuhl one day, I thought of Maria. I felt the strongest urge to visit her. I couldn't shake it for some strange reason. 'Something' wouldn't let me put off visiting Maria any longer.

After shopping at the Ramstein base exchange, I drove out the back gate and took the two-land road to Weilerbach. Still familiar with the area, I passed signs of many other small towns I remembered: Mackenbach, Miesenbach, Rodenbach, and Siegelbach.

The two-lane road to Weilerbach had changed quite a bit over the years. Many of the roads had been re-routed. A traffic circle here. A new ramp there. Lots of new homes and apartments in the towns before Weilerbach. Older buildings I remembered had given way to new businesses and modern shopping areas. I hardly recognized the Weilerbach where I once lived. It was like a brand new village.

It took me a few minutes to reorient myself. I wouldn't let the frustration of not knowing the new area get to me. I had to circle some blocks a few times and maneuver through two umleitungs (detours). Then I did two drive-bys to get to the street where Maria and I once lived: Am Faltor Strasse. I longed to see her again and my old apartment on the bottom floor of her house. I felt like I was revisiting my old home.

I swung my car around a corner I recognized, and it finally led me to the street where I needed to be. I saw Maria's house up ahead on the right. I pulled up to park in front. I got out of my car. Immediately, I sensed an emptiness shrouding the house. Something seemed to be missing, but I didn't know what it was.

The garden in front of the house was still there, but it didn't look like it did before, not like I remembered. The abundant flowers that once filled Maria's garden were sparse. The dark wooden fence in front was still there. And the intricately carved wooden front door to Maria's living room was still there. I noticed that it was ajar like she always used to do to let cool breezes waft through her house. I knew that the opened door was Maria's habit, but something felt eerie and sad about the place.

I looked over to the wooden mailbox built onto the fence and saw the button with the name "Rinder." I pushed it and waited, relieved when I saw Gerhardt, her husband, appear at the door. I didn't know if he recognized me, but he came down the steps to the gate to greet me. I told him who I was. Thankfully, he remembered me. I noticed that he looked sad and deep in thought about something else.

ANOTHER COLLIE TO REPLACE ANDRE

I saw a small collie trailing behind Gerhardt. The Collie had a similar coating, just like Andre's coat. The Collie never barked or growled at me. German dogs are always well trained.

I asked Gerhardt what the Collie's name was. He told me its name was Mauritz, which I thought was a funny name for any dog. But the dog had a gentleness about him, just like Andre. Mauritz stood by the gate and looked up at me with such love in his eyes, just like Andre would do. I asked Gerhardt if Mauritz was from Andre, and he said no.

GERHARDT, MARIA'S HUSBAND

Gerhardt never spoke English when I lived there, but I could still understand him when he spoke German. After I felt comfortable that he knew who I was, I asked for Maria. I wanted to see my Maria.

I WANTED TO KNOW WHERE MARIA WAS

"Wo ist Maria?" Wo ist Maria? (Where is Maria?) Ist Sie zu Hause? (Is she at home?) He looked sad and held his head down for a few seconds. I knew something was seriously wrong. Gerhardt looked at me and told me (in German) that Maria had passed away seven years ago. He held up seven fingers to make sure I understood how long Maria had been gone. Seven years ago! I put my hand over my heart to steady myself. To hear that Maria had passed away hurt me so bad that I almost fainted! Maria? Tot? (dead?) He held his head down and said: "Yes, Sie ist tot." (She is dead) I couldn't believe it.

I had been living in Germany since 2008! I was less than two hours away and had never taken the time to visit my dear friend, Maria. The last time I saw her was in 2004. Immediately, I regretted that I had not come sooner. Since I didn't know how to convey my condolences in German, I got quiet as I held my head down for a few moments of prayer and silence for my dear Maria. I held back my tears as I stayed by the gate, speechless, in shock, and frozen with grief. Somehow I gathered my composure to ask Gerhardt if I could take some pictures of the house. He granted my request.

Before leaving, I looked over the house again, which held so many good memories for me. I couldn't make any sense of the profound loss. I wished I had taken the time to visit Maria while she was still alive. She will always be one of my dearest friends. Hard to say, but I am thankful for that fateful day. I knew in my heart that Maria's spirit had guided me to Weilerbach. She had to tell me that she had left.

Then I turned my attention to Mauritz, the small Collie. He stared up at me and looked tenderly into my eyes. I felt he sensed and understood my grief and loss of Maria.

I gathered my composure and enough strength to say goodbye to Gerhardt. He looked so heartbroken, and I felt worse because I could not convey my sympathy to him in German. I knew he was still in mourning after losing Maria.

After I got in my car and drove away, tears streamed down my face. I turned onto the main street in Weilerbach. I parked to take a few more pictures of the quaint little town that held so many heartfelt memories for me. I will never forget my time in the Army, Gerhardt, Andre, the Collie, and no doubt my dear friend, Maria.