Austria

I just felt like typing, so I doubt this post will have much of a flow of thought, and it will most likely end adruptly.
Certain events of today, that I won't necessarily get into here, have brought into focus my Austrian heritage and some great memories I've had there.
I remember in particular a trip I took there in 1992. I had just graduated high school and went to Europe for the first time alone. I spent the majority of my time with my grandmother in Switzerland, but for one week, I went to Austria to visit my other grandparents. I shared the train ride with a life-long family friend from Switzerland whom I was always told I'd marry...my sisters were best friends with the girls in this family, and of course mischief ensued, but that's another post entirely, and not what I wanted to talk about here.
During my visit, I spent a great deal of time with my grandfather and other members of my family whom I hadn't met before. Learned that my family name dates back to 1644 and we've been in the same corner of Austria since then.
Every evening, my grandfather and I would watch a documentary on Australia, and during the day we'd walk and explore. He gave me a tour of all the buildings my great grandfather designed along the river in Graz. We also toured many of the castles (schlossen) of the area so that we could discuss architecture.
In 1996, my parents, one of my sisters, and I headed to Austria for a huge family reunion built around my grandfather's birthday. Half of these folks I'd never met before, but it was great fun. I still have a boomerang my uncle Eddie gave me.
I think I'll leave it on this note: I hope my brother, sisters, and I can be there for our dad as he has been there for his.