Article by Louise Schweickerdt-Alker
Dreams never die
…for the lucky ones, sometimes a dream comes true.
We used to have a Variant Squareback – in Hermanus.
Hermanus, holiday home, childhood happy days.
When I was 17, we brought the Variant from there. It was supposed to become my and my stepsister’s car. My Dad had her re-sprayed and then he fell in love and the Variant became his pride and joy – his Baby.
She was beautiful – a deep maroon – and when I was lucky, I was allowed to drive her. I did bump her one evening. Phoning my dad with the news, was probably one of the most difficult phone calls I have ever had to make … I knew that I would come off second best.
Anyway, days came and years went. I do no remember well under what circumstances my father sold the car, I just know that one day she was gone without me having had the chance to remember what the car had meant – or being able to make an offer – or say goodbye.
Now she is standing somewhere left to fend for herself amidst the elements and nature and rust …
At some point our holiday home in Hermanus also went – and I suppose that is when the Squareback became a symbol of what had once been.
When Werner and I were in Wolfsburg in 2003, there was one Type 3 in the museum – a Cabriolet …
And once in a while there were one or two at car shows – tugging at my heart.
Whenever I mentioned a Squareback, I was told how they overheat, how the engines do not last, how impractical the design …
BUT I did not let the dream go – sometimes I probably nearly drove Werner mad with my: “There must be a way …”
And so it happened that the day came – most unexpectedly for me – and by no other means than through Werner and the person he is. For a little while providence smiled down on us.
And now we have a tiny piece of Hermanus at home – more perfect, more original than I could have hoped or prayed for.
I took her for her maiden voyage drive yesterday and, sitting behind her steering wheel, I feel whole. And the fact that she is not an automatic as the previous one was, makes it even more of a bonus. She drives like a dream.
Above all, I am reminded and intensely aware of how with Faith and a ferocious fighting for and never giving up on dreams and with a lot of patience, miracles still have a way of happening in today’s day and age.
Welcome home, Baby. Now we still need to think of a name …
Louise Schweickerdt-Alker
Louise,
Absolutely stunning story! So glad your dream came true.
May she give you all the joy and pride that you (and she) deserves.
Regards,
Johan Mouton
That’s what makes them so special, they get under you skin and into your heart. My square back did the same thing.
Will look forward to hearing more about her.
HI Loise
GELUK met jou nuwe gesinslid. Ek weet ook hoe dit voel om so n baba by te kry , soos my eie gesin van VW_-_LOVES Geniet haar !
Groete Dirk
Liebste Loulou…ich habe eine schlaflose Nacht und mich mal an den Compi gesetzt und nach “DIR” gesucht…und bin auch fündig geworden…Ich weiss ja (noch) nicht, ob Du diese Mail überhaupt erhältst, – und….ob Du noch soviel Deutsch verstehst ;-),
dass Du es lesen kannst…Wir haben leider nichts mehr von Dir gehört seit langer Zeit, sprechen aber so oft von Dir!, wir würden uns freuen, wenn Du Dich per Mail einmal melden würdest! Deine Frau Deißler
Liebe Frau Deißler – habe mich gefreut 🙂 Ich weiß auch nicht, ob Ihr diese Antwort erhaltet, aber falls, meine e-mail Adresse : louise.alker@ul.ac.za dann könnten wir uns mal wieder ordentlich unterhalten … Gruß auch an Mephisto, Tobias, Johannes usw usw usw Lou-Lou