German For a Day!

Attended my fourth annual Octoberfest over the weekend. It was a smashing success. I consumed the highly touted, long awaited, Warsteiner Octoberfest beer. It just so happens, September is the time they tap the first keg of octoberfest. So Octoberfest celebration is for the tapping of the kegs, it has nothing to do with the month of October. I don't make the rules, I just go along with them. It is one of the most festive celebrations I've been to. There are several Octoberfests throughout the month of September, in various locations. I've been to a couple of different ones, but the best is at the German American Society. It's by far the largest one in Omaha. Four years ago, my friend, Ben, and his family, introduced us to Octoberfest. They, being true Germans, have been attending for years. Last Octoberfest was their last 'hurrah' for Omaha, since they all moved to Arizona. Last year was definitely bittersweet. I felt the need to join them to properly send them off to the desert, because they were leaving two weeks afterward. I wasn't sure how this year's festival was going to feel, for this was my first festival without them. It felt a little like the first day of kindergarten (hey, a German word). Not sure what to expect, will I make friends, will my teacher be nice, am I going to cry and miss my mom, will the beer still taste the same, so many unknowns. Fortunately, I invited a few friends, who have never been. This was their maiden voyage. They're a fun loving group, most of the time, so I figured if we mix that with a little bit of draft, this could be a jolly good time. I felt, by the evenings end, everyone enjoyed themselves, especially the children. How could you not enjoy yourself. You have heavy German beer, laden with calories, heavy German food, laden with calories, heavy German women dressed in old world German garb, laden with calories, and polka music! My oldest daughter mentioned this is, by far, the best activity we do together, as a family, all year. She now looks forward to joining in the festivities a whole year in advance. We've already marked it on our calendar for next year.