Text 2261, 94 rader
Skriven 2008-02-11 16:52:58 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
   Kommentar till text 2048 av hap newsom (1:124/311)
Ärende: travels
===============
Hi Hap,

-> couple of kids but you went as a child (teen).  But, we were in Berlin
-> when the wall came down; that will always be a hall mark reference for
-> our time in Germany.

 hn> My hallmark reference  is the assasination of JFK...watched
 hn> the funeral on French TV at a Friend's house via telstar. There
 hn> were no "USA" TV's over there in those days.

Interesting, the perspectives. We were in Berlin when the wall came down
so we saw a lot of the action in person.  A few years ago, while
visiting Rachel, Steve, my one BIL and I were talking about what
influenced our lives what year (we were all born the same year) and got
to talking about the JFK assasination. We were in 3 different schools,
same grade, one parochial school, 2 public in 2 different states
(opposite ends of the same state for Steve and me).  I think Rachel
enjoyed listening to the differing viewpoints.

->  hn> Can you believe we were in France for almost 5 years
->  hn> and the I was the only one who did much travelling!

-> I'm surprised your dad and mom didn't go, or was it too close to their
-> personal history to do so?

 hn> Well Pop was home so seldom, as he was on Flight Status
 hn> almost all of his career. He'd be off flying somewhere for days,
 hn> weeks, or months at a time! I was the only one who was
 hn> old enough to be off on my own so I went off as much as
 hn> I could! Sometimes with friends, but mostly on my own.
 hn> By bike if it was close enough, or by train if not.

OK, that makes a big difference. Mom had to stay home and take care of
your siblings. You got the chance to roam around.


-> That would be a hard one to take, especially after reading so much about

 hn> It was my first concept of what real war was about.
 hn> Not long after I visited Normandy, the movie the Longest
 hn> Day came out. What an added perspective that gave!

Very much so! After the wall came down, one of the German televsion
stations did a special on the history of it and made it available for
American VHS players. I got a copy and whenever we had visitors who
would ask questions, I'd tell them to "watch this and then we'll talk
about it".  It helped. I doubt I could get that in DVD format now tho.

-> We didn't have that option; it was all DM on the economy. Got some good
-> food from those little imbiss stands all over the place--good prices
-> too. Much better than the fast food places available on post! (G)

 hn> When I was in Berlin (and most of Germany for that matter) you
 hn> could spend US $$ just about anywhere, the Germans were HAPPY
 hn> to have them!

We had to use the DM. I think maybe a couple of food stands outside some
of the kasernes accepted $$ but can't say for sure; we just used DM all
the time on the economy.

->  hn> Last year there was a reunion of kids from my school
->  hn> (kids...all of us are in the "over 50's now!) back in

-> I've not heard of any reunions from the school Rachel & Deborah went to
-> while in Germany. Rachel is in touch with some of her Berlin classmates

 hn> There are a few sites dedicated to those of us who went to that
 hn> small exclusive club of DOD schools. If she's interested I could
 hn> email them to you.

I'd have to ask her. I'm sure, if she did, the topics of kinder eier,
advent calendars with chocolate and doner kebaps would be brought up.
(G)

->  hn> I've been called a lot of things
->  hn> Normal isn't usually one of em (grin)

-> Normal is a setting on my washer. (G)

 hn> I think it's on my dryer (grin)

Actually, I think both of my machines have it.


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly@earthlink.net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... OH NO!  Not ANOTHER learning experience!

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)