An Unexpected Helping Hand.

Village living at its best.

Mum asked me to help them with the Schnapps. Gosh no, not to drink it but to help roll the heavy containers of Maische onto the trailer. One could call Maische the pre-schnapps as it still has to be burned and distilled. Each weighs at least sixty kilograms and with a few steps
( the real sort ) along the way, it was going to demand our combined might and effort.

The three of us, Albert, mum and I had the first barrel halfway out of the cellar on one of those delivery trolleys with wheels one tends to use for beer barrels. Didn't we look a pretty sight? Mum slight as a willow pulling the trolley and the rest of us trying to push it. Well, we had to pause on the verge waiting for an approaching tractor and when I recognized Martin, I waved in greeting and then put my head down again trying to balance the barrel.

Bear in mind, that he is a wine farmer and has been harvesting for over a month now, which surely meant he was on the brink of exhaustion, or so I thought. He slowed down and obviously saw the three of us struggle with the barrel, and shouted:

" Do you guys need any help ? "

Within the blink of an eye, we rendered a jubilant and unanimous ' yes '. He pulled over to the side, parked his tractor and straight away took over the heavy work. Even though he's only a few years younger than I, he had the first barrel on the trailer in no time and I felt a bit awful when I told him; " Eh, sorry Martin, there are three more to get out of the cellar! "

He didn't mind at all and helped us with a smile and more strength than the three of us had together...

Today was one of those moments in life, where an act of human kindness made the world of difference to us and confirmed my deep felt belief that people are intrinsically good. You know, he could have merely waved a friendly greeting and carried on driving but he stopped to lend us a helping hand.

Eisenberg, a place where good people live...

Biggi