"Hunger Jahre 1947" (Hunger Year 1947), is written in stone right on the banks of the Rhine River north of the city limits of Worm, Germany or, if you prefer, dear reader, heading south from Mainz and just 300 meters from the Rheinperle restaurant (that's another story). Well, the chronicles tell us that during the winter of 1946/47, just a little more than 18 months after the end of the Second World War, Germany suffered a great famine with three big cold waves that made life difficult for the population. According to historical records, temperatures reached -17 degrees Celsius on January 5, so the Rhine River froze, paralyzing river navigation and definitively cutting off the most important transport route in the area south of Frankfurt.
Another rock, also located on the bank of a river bears the inscription "If you see me, weep" (Wenn du mich siehst, dann weine) but this one is located on the bank of the Elbe River, right in the Czech town of Děčín, very close to the German border. The rock is inscribed with the following years, which indicate when the water level dropped to make it visible and where it caused famine, death and poverty: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1892 and 1893.
So clearly, and in a simple way, the Germans represented the lowest water levels in their rivers, just with rocks. When observed, it was a magnificent indicator that something bad was coming (drought), and with it, all that it implies: Famine, general shortage, lack of medicine, food, services, etc.
And suddenly I came across my own Hungersteine, and I could not help but reflect on them.
How many stonenancial hunger have I written about in the darkest point of my economic materiality?
How many Hungersteine I have in the river of my life in relation to dreams and plans in life, and that I have not fulfilled?
And I thought at the time I was writing this collaboration, it is time for the water levels of the river of my life to rise. It is raining outside opportunities, I can see them and in them existence and love combine to leave those rocks just as a testimony, and a warning. However, I will always respect each one of them, the same ones that today serve to rescue us from the harsh winters that divert us from living.
I do not deny that I have throughout my life, perhaps hundreds of stones thrown into the river, but it is also true that when the water levels begin to drop and want to appear before my eyes I tighten my pace, check my notebook, sketch a smile and give thanks.
Today I have learned that the stones we throw into the river can serve as entertainment, but they also bring us face to face with our realities, with who we really are, and what we aspire to be.
The stones of Hungersteine can be a good reference about the levels of energy that we carry at this moment in our lives. And with that pretext, dear reader, I asked you: Have you already checked your stones?
If you have not, you are still in time, winter is coming and the gas bill must be paid.
See you next time.