The Power of Attraction - Gräfin Marion Dönhof

 

The Power of Attraction - Gräfin Marion Dönhof

There are people with very strong powers of attraction. They have very strong characters, they always stick to their plans, and they never give-up. Marion Gräfin Dönhof was just such a lady.

In 1945, Marion Gräfin Dönhof said goodbye to her family home in Prussia. Schloss Friedrichstein. The 2^nd World War was nearing its end. The Russians were coming. Marion Gräfin Dönhof had to flee. Staying in Friedrichstein would have meant the end of her freedom and possibly even prison in Russia. And, worst of all, the winter was coming as well. And so, early one morning, Marion Gräfin Dönhof saddled her faithful horse Alarich and galloped into freedom. Hamburg was where she was going.

Once in Hamburg, Marion Gräfin Dönhof went to „Die Zeit“ where she got a job as journalist. Marion Gräfin Dönhof was a very good writer and specialised in political reporting. Marion Gräfin Dönhof became a very popular writer. And, journalism is all about people.

Marion Gräfin Dönhof was a people’s person. She understood human nature. Everyone she met was important.

Everyone loved her. She felt just as much at home in the company of kings and presidents as she did with the most humble of farmers. Her background and family certainly helped. Her father was the Kaiser’s best friend. and, because of her position in life, Marion Gräfin Dönhof had had the finest of educations. She was also the first ever woman to have studied at Basle university in Switzerland.

In the course of her life, Marion Gräfin Dönhof met lots of interesting people and wrote many interesting books. But, it was her escape on her faithful horse Alarich for which she's remembered. Marion Gräfin Dönhof loved horses. She was a brilliant horseman. After her escape on Alarich, Marion Gräfin Dönhof never rode again.

Marion Gräfin Dönhof was born in December 1909 and died in March 2002.

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Christine Harecker

 

Click here for YouTube   Christine Harecker - Tales From Her Viennese Childhood 

Christine Harecker grew up in Vienna and her summers were spent with her aunty and uncle. They had a small wooden house. And, this small wooden house, with its very small garden, was surrounded by many other small houses and gardens. It was the 60s and 70s. Summers were fun and summers were long.

And, Christine had many good summer time friends. There were many other children to play with, and everyone's home was everyone else's as well. Fun every day. Fun from morning till night. But, it's a monkey Christine remembers the most.

Just a few houses away stayed a young couple and they had a pet monkey. And, this little monkey named Rico was free. He used to run from garden to garden and everyone loved him. Rico was never too much. He was everyone's friend. But then, something changed.

Rico discovered the taste of good flowers and gave up having time for his friends. Rico started jumping from flower to flower; eating each one as he went. Rico was no longer welcome. People were angry. Something had to be done.

Rico was locked in his cage. He became very unhappy. He was missing his freedom. Rico was sad. His owners had an idea. A glass of wine at the end of each day. Ricoo tasted wine for the very first time. He was happy, but not for too long. Rico started wanting more than one glass. One glass of wine had stopped being enough. And, when he didn't get what he wanted, Rico became very aggressive. His screaming was terrible. It was bad. It was heard all around. This once happy monkey was now alcoholic in a very bad way and everyone knew it.

The next summer, Christine came back again. Her aunty and uncle and her summer time friends were waiting for her. Rico was gone. He had gone far away and was happy. Maybe heaven? But, one thing was clear. Rico had not gone to hell. Hell had come out of a bottle. An idea to cheer Rico up. But, sadly, an idea that had killed him.

The years moved on and Christine moved on as well. But, her summer time fun is still there where it was in a time that has gone. And, Rico the monkey was part of this time. He made people happy but sadly loved flowers. The flowers came back.  Rico stayed gone. Rico was never forgotten.

Christine Harecker – Tales from Her Viennese Childhood.