By the time Lee and I and the girls boarded the huge ferry, we lost track of the Irish family. The ferry boat had several levels, and we had no idea where the young couple was seated. After about 1 1/2 hrs into the trip, the girls and I decided to go for a little stroll to find some snacks. On our way back to where we had been sitting we passed by Hazel & Clive and the baby. I heard someone call my name, what a pleasant surprise to meet up with our new found friends. This was certainly a serendipitous reunion of sorts, and I am eternally grateful for it. The girls located Lee and brought him back so that we could all sit together. Actually, Lee was a little skeptical, I mean we just met these people, he said. I have always considered myself a good judge of people, and I had absolutely no qualms whatsoever about these people, and besides they're Irish! The baby started to get fussy and Hazel had nothing left to put in her bottle. I carried snacks and juice routinely in those days, as those products tended to be expensive to purchase in local stores. Our stock was pretty much depleted for the day, except for 1 small can of apple juice. Alison drank the juice without hesitation, even though her "mum" was a little leery about it. She had never put juice in the bottle before. The baby quickly settled down and went off to sleep, and Hazel was very grateful. Our journey was almost complete, and we would both go our separate ways. The Irish family would head North towards Belfast, and we were South bound. One of our first stops was the beautiful town of Killarney. Even back then, which is over 30 years, it was quite touristy, but it is a lovely place non the less. Before we separated, Hazel invited us "to take a meal" with them at their home, and we said our goodbyes. I was very pleased, and honored by the invitation to their home, but since they lived in the North of Ireland, Lee did not think it would be prudent for us to go there. Keep in mind that this was 1979 and Belfast, and the town where Hazel lived, Omagh were especially hot spots, and Lee was active duty in the U.S. Military. I was disappointed, but I certainly understood. However, Clive explained to Lee that the border crossing from the South to the North would not be a problem for us because were are Americans.
When we arrived at the Wexford landing, a middle age man approached us to ask for a ride into town. His name was Paddy O'Brien, and he had imbibed heavily in his favorite alcoholic beverage. He was harmless enough, we dropped him off in the middle of the town square. "Paddy" offered to show us around the City of Wexford, and the local sights. We thanked him, and then headed off to start yet another wonderful adventure. This was over 30 yrs, ago, and it was common at that time to offer a ride to someone who was stranded. This was done without fear of harm. In fact, many teenagers hitchhiked their way through Europe without incident, and have many stories of generosities bestowed upon them by the Europeans. My emotions caught me off guard as we landed in Ireland. My eyes filled with tears as we disembarked from the ferry, I felt a kinship with this country. It was as if I was coming home. This was the place my father's mother, Elizabeth was born, and loved. Here was a woman who in her late 30's had to abandon her mother country, and many family members as well. She set out on a voyage with other relatives, and friends to America to begin a new life, filled with hoped and dreams for a more prosperous life. Living in Ireland had been a terrible struggle, there was so much poverty, and no jobs, a bleak picture for the future, all of which contributed greatly to a mass exodus for many Irish families. , When I was a small child, my grandmother used to reminisce about Ireland and how beautiful it was. She sang Irish songs, one of her favorites was "I'll take you home again Kathleen." She married my grandfather in 1903 at the age of 40 and gave birth to 6 sons, she was 52 years old when her last child was born. When I was born in 1940, she was delighted, not only because I was a girl, but because I had bright red hair and bright blue eyes as well. She called me her little "chatterbox!" with her thick Irish brogue!
Goodnight for now, Carol
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The miracle of life, her name is "Saoirse" pronounced Sayr-sha, of Celtic origin, meaning FREEDOM
I have been remiss in announcing to all my blogger friends that Lee and I are presently in Portland, Oregon to meet our newest granddaughter. Her name is Saoirse, it is a Gaelic name which means "freedom." Her name is pronounced SAYR SHA, and she is absolutely beautiful. She has lots and lots of auburn hair, blue eyes which when she is awake are bright and alert. They say that when baby's smile it is gas, but this baby appears to smile appropriately. This is a completely unbiased opinion, of course, from a grandmother who has loved this infant from the time I knew of her existence growing in the recesses of her mother's womb. Lee and I now have 5 grandchildren, 2 boys and 3 girls and we are elated to welcome this little girl into our family. A new baby is a sign of hope, and new beginnings, expectations, and dreams of a bright future. An indication that life goes on and the future is bright. These children are part of a new generation, a generation full of fresh ideas, broad horizons, and endless opportunities. I have heard comments such as "I wouldn't want to bring a baby in to this world with all of the turmoil going on." Those of us who have lived through national tragedies, disasters, and periods of grave sadness may become jaded at times, but we must not allow ourselves to dampen the spirits of young couples. Couples who are eager and may I dare say even passionate to create a family of their own. All of us who have children have created a legacy which will live long after we are gone. It can at times evoke strong emotional feelings for me when our family is all together. Regardless of whatever problems and/or troubles our family has experienced in the past, it is very obvious that we all love each other very much. Recently, we had a house guest and we had a family get together so everyone could visit with our guest. After everyone had left, our guest commented that we had such a wonderful family, and that he was impressed at how they all hugged and kissed one another. It was a long time coming, but as we grow older I think we become more generous and more tolerant in our assessments of people in general, and family in particular. Life has a way of moving along at a swift pace and we begin to realize what is really important to us. When we were going through the heartbreaking and painful problems of our addicted son, there were times when I felt that life was not worth living. Thankfully, I was able to rally, and keep putting one foot ahead of the other. I never gave up hope that our son would return to be reunited with our family. As I told him, I always knew that "my son" was inside that body somewhere. It is easy to give up and walk away, and at the time his sisters were fed up and ready to do just that. As his mother who had carried him for 9 months inside my body I was not prepared to do that.
I was not aware at the time, but our son unfortunately was a symptom of other problems in our family, he was a scapecoat really. I was a very angry woman at that time. My relationship with Lee was strained, I felt like I was raising the children alone. It was several years later before I began to see a Clinical Psychologist on a regular basis, and to discuss with her the events of my childhood which influenced my adult life. I may be redundant in saying this, but I feel that therapy gave me a new life, a life that I enjoy much more.
In some ways I feel that I have made it my life's work to educate myself, and attempt to understand the dynamics of a healthy family. It has definitely paid off and I still consider it a work in progress. Our son has told us many times how fortunate he is to have such a supportive family. While he was in rehab he had to participate in group discussions. These discussions can be difficult, especially for individuals who have difficulty expressing their feelings. He told us some of the stories he heard from other clients. Stories of abuse, abandonment, and neglect, and our son told us "I was not brought up like that, my family never treated me like that." The important part for me is that we are all together now, helping one another, and being present for each other. Lee and I moved to Arizona solely to be closer to our children and grandchildren. We frequently take the 2 older kids (15 & 16) to various appointments, and then we usually try to squeeze in lunch so we have a chance to chat with them.
As usual, I have veered off the track. I am aware that I am doing it, but I feel compelled, it seems, to put my thoughts down on paper as they come to me. Certain areas of my life are difficult, and painful to recall, and sometimes when I set out to write exclusively about these painful experiences, I seem to "freeze up," and be unable to write at all. When this occurs I may feel a sadness, or a darkness come over me as a result of delving into the past. At this point, I will do my best to weave together these thoughts and stories to make some sense for my readers.
This edition started out with the news of our beautiful granddaughter, and how this birth has renewed our spirits, hope, and sense of enthusiasm for the future. When I hold a new baby, there is such a sense of awe and amazement. I have always considered it a privelege, to be able to witness the miracle of birth again, and again, as I have done over a period of 25 years. It goes without saying that my sense of happiness, and elation, are heightened considerably when the baby I am holding is one of our own grandchildren. As I held this tiny little replica of not only her mother and father, but all of the blood relatives on both sides of her family. I see little facial expressions, and glimpses which remind me of our beautiful daughter as an infant. The baby has fair hair and skin as her mother does, and every day it seems there are changes in her appearance. Having worked as a OB/Labor & Delivery nurse for many years, I never lost my enthusiasm and energy to work with couples to have a good, happy, and safe experience. Many times, I would still get teary eyed when the baby was born. The delivery room, usually filled with family, and friends who demonstarted a myriad of emotions, tears, laughter and hope. Over the 25 years of assisting patients in labor/delivery I have seen many, many babies who were not born perfect, and had some sort of anomaly. I also have seen babies who did not survive for one reason or another. Therefore when couples had their heart set on the sex of the baby, I have tried to gently remind them that the most important thing is for you to have a "healthy baby."
Having had so many years experience was a detriment for me with our daughter's pregnancy. Coupled with the fact that we live about 1300 miles away from her. From the time I found out she was pregnant, I worried and ruminated about the possible problems which could occur, especially since our daughter is an "older mom." But just as God worked his magic to create, and mold each intricate feature and bring forth this beautiful perfect baby girl, He also guarded and protected our daughter and kept her healthy during her pregnancy.
In closing this episode , let me say if you are privileged to have a new baby, a toddler or young child in your life as I do, you will quickly appreciate and enjoy, the energy, optimism, and the complete innocence and exuberance that they possess. Lee and I returned this week after traveling to meet our grandaughter, we were gone almost 1 month. When we arrived at our oldest daughter's home unexpectedly, what a warm and wonderful welcome we received from our 2 1/2 yr. old grandson, Ben, and our 6 yr.old granddaughter, Olivia. They make it all worthwhile for me, and I really did miss them as we are accustomed to seeing them almost every week. They are part of my being and my every fiber. I thank God every day for the gifts He has given me. If I died today I would die a happy and fulfilled woman. Live life to the fullest, "take the bull by the horns and enjoy every minute of it."
Enjoy your weekend and have fun.
Carol
Sometimes when I am watching our children interact with each other, I marvel at this group of eight individuals. People who with God's assistance were brought into this world because of the love which Lee and I share. here is
I was not aware at the time, but our son unfortunately was a symptom of other problems in our family, he was a scapecoat really. I was a very angry woman at that time. My relationship with Lee was strained, I felt like I was raising the children alone. It was several years later before I began to see a Clinical Psychologist on a regular basis, and to discuss with her the events of my childhood which influenced my adult life. I may be redundant in saying this, but I feel that therapy gave me a new life, a life that I enjoy much more.
In some ways I feel that I have made it my life's work to educate myself, and attempt to understand the dynamics of a healthy family. It has definitely paid off and I still consider it a work in progress. Our son has told us many times how fortunate he is to have such a supportive family. While he was in rehab he had to participate in group discussions. These discussions can be difficult, especially for individuals who have difficulty expressing their feelings. He told us some of the stories he heard from other clients. Stories of abuse, abandonment, and neglect, and our son told us "I was not brought up like that, my family never treated me like that." The important part for me is that we are all together now, helping one another, and being present for each other. Lee and I moved to Arizona solely to be closer to our children and grandchildren. We frequently take the 2 older kids (15 & 16) to various appointments, and then we usually try to squeeze in lunch so we have a chance to chat with them.
As usual, I have veered off the track. I am aware that I am doing it, but I feel compelled, it seems, to put my thoughts down on paper as they come to me. Certain areas of my life are difficult, and painful to recall, and sometimes when I set out to write exclusively about these painful experiences, I seem to "freeze up," and be unable to write at all. When this occurs I may feel a sadness, or a darkness come over me as a result of delving into the past. At this point, I will do my best to weave together these thoughts and stories to make some sense for my readers.
This edition started out with the news of our beautiful granddaughter, and how this birth has renewed our spirits, hope, and sense of enthusiasm for the future. When I hold a new baby, there is such a sense of awe and amazement. I have always considered it a privelege, to be able to witness the miracle of birth again, and again, as I have done over a period of 25 years. It goes without saying that my sense of happiness, and elation, are heightened considerably when the baby I am holding is one of our own grandchildren. As I held this tiny little replica of not only her mother and father, but all of the blood relatives on both sides of her family. I see little facial expressions, and glimpses which remind me of our beautiful daughter as an infant. The baby has fair hair and skin as her mother does, and every day it seems there are changes in her appearance. Having worked as a OB/Labor & Delivery nurse for many years, I never lost my enthusiasm and energy to work with couples to have a good, happy, and safe experience. Many times, I would still get teary eyed when the baby was born. The delivery room, usually filled with family, and friends who demonstarted a myriad of emotions, tears, laughter and hope. Over the 25 years of assisting patients in labor/delivery I have seen many, many babies who were not born perfect, and had some sort of anomaly. I also have seen babies who did not survive for one reason or another. Therefore when couples had their heart set on the sex of the baby, I have tried to gently remind them that the most important thing is for you to have a "healthy baby."
Having had so many years experience was a detriment for me with our daughter's pregnancy. Coupled with the fact that we live about 1300 miles away from her. From the time I found out she was pregnant, I worried and ruminated about the possible problems which could occur, especially since our daughter is an "older mom." But just as God worked his magic to create, and mold each intricate feature and bring forth this beautiful perfect baby girl, He also guarded and protected our daughter and kept her healthy during her pregnancy.
In closing this episode , let me say if you are privileged to have a new baby, a toddler or young child in your life as I do, you will quickly appreciate and enjoy, the energy, optimism, and the complete innocence and exuberance that they possess. Lee and I returned this week after traveling to meet our grandaughter, we were gone almost 1 month. When we arrived at our oldest daughter's home unexpectedly, what a warm and wonderful welcome we received from our 2 1/2 yr. old grandson, Ben, and our 6 yr.old granddaughter, Olivia. They make it all worthwhile for me, and I really did miss them as we are accustomed to seeing them almost every week. They are part of my being and my every fiber. I thank God every day for the gifts He has given me. If I died today I would die a happy and fulfilled woman. Live life to the fullest, "take the bull by the horns and enjoy every minute of it."
Enjoy your weekend and have fun.
Carol
Sometimes when I am watching our children interact with each other, I marvel at this group of eight individuals. People who with God's assistance were brought into this world because of the love which Lee and I share. here is
Monday, January 31, 2011
"We go rolling along"
It was not very long before I found myself with too much extra time on my hands. Remember, we only had a 1000 sq. ft apartment. The girls were both in school all day, and of course, Lee worked most days, albeit short days. Compared to Lee's last assignment, the 130th station hospital at Heidelberg was a "dream" job. While Lee was assigned at Walter Reed Army Hospital, he routinely worked 10-12 hour days.
I enjoyed playing golf and tennis, however I really did not care for a lot of the "ladies" activities. I attended when I needed to, but it wasn't really my "cup of tea", no pun intended.
I talked to Lee about it, and as always he was supportive of my new interests. The hospital, as well as many other facilities on post, always needed volunteers. Actually, as an officer's wife there was an expectation to help out and volunteer. While Lee was stationed at Fort Devens I volunteered at the Thrift Shop, and both of us taught Religious Education which I enjoyed. The hospital was the place I was most interested in, and subsequently made an appointment with the Director of Volunteers. As I remember, I barely stepped foot in the office, and was "hired," so to speak. They needed a volunteer for the OB/GYN clinic, I was excited, and planned to work one day a week. Since a large number of the military were young, and childbearing age, the clinic was extremely busy. As I said, I planned to work one day/wk. The staff would call me almost every day to come in to help out, and many times I did answer the call. At one point I was working in the hospital 4-5 days a week. I did that for about i year. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I learned a great deal. In the months that I had volunteered, I had noticed that there were many positions open for employment in the hospital. I decided to apply for a position in the hospital's central appointment office. Keep in mind, this was 1980, and I had not been gainfully employed since 1966 when our second child was born. Needless to say, I was rather anxious at first. I had been out of the work force for over twelve years. The position entailed manning several telephones, and remembering the order of the calls. Appointments were made for all of the various clinics, and we also made referrals for Landstuhl General Hospital for the various specialties. My 40th birthday was looming in the fore front. Most of the girls I worked with were in their early twenties. They accepted me quickly and I enjoyed the work, and I really enjoyed receiving a pay-check. In retrospect, this position in the hospital did wonders for my self esteem. Lee was on the staff and therefore I knew many people immediately, and felt accepted and valued. Now, I could contribute to our travel fund, and we could actually travel more with the extra income. Monetarily, it was not the best time to be living in Europe. The dollar was weak against the German Deutsche-mark. On our arrival in Germany, the exchange was 2 marks per American dollar. It proceeded to get weaker and weaker, and I believe at one point it dropped to 1.65 German marks to the dollar. When we arrived in Germany, many Americans told us that it was very expensive to travel. They told us if you travel, you can't afford to purchase European products, so it is either/or. Therefore,based on this information we purchased a camping travel within the first couple weeks of being in the country. It turned out to be a wonderful purchase for us, and allowed us to do much more traveling. Our daughter's were at a perfect age for travel, 9 and 11 years old. When we left Germany at the end of Lee's tour, we sold the trailer for the exact same price we had purchased it 3 1/2 years earlier. While living in Germany we were exposed to products all over Europe, and the United Kingdom. One of our first purchases was Waterford Crystal, made of course in Waterford, Ireland. In 1978 we purchased water goblets for $18.00/stem. In 1998 I had to replace one which was broken by a friend while helping me with the dishes. The replacement was $75.00/stem. They will be passed on to our daughters, therefore I wanted them to have 6 stems each. As an aside, ever since that happened I delay washing the dishes until our guests leave. Actually, it is two fold, I want our guests to relax, and I like to visit with them after the meal.
Returning to the purchase of the travel trailer, one of our first trips was to Ireland. The trailer was packed with provisions for an entire month. Fortunately, we had shipped our Chevrolet Suburban to Germany, and it was the perfect vehicle for us, albeit large and not economical. The girls had lots of room to play and were comfortable, and had plenty of room to sleep. That car was a conversation starter every where we traveled. At that time, European cars were all compacts pretty much. However, many Europeans loved the large American autos! Once in Wales, we were stopped at a traffic light when pedestrians began to crowd around our car. They were exclaiming what a "lovely" automobile it t'was, and it even has a third seat in the rear. I can still hear that Welsh accent as they marveled over that car.
Our voyage to Ireland was one of the most wonderful, and memorable for me, being of Irish heritage. We drove from Heidelberg to Belgium where we boarded an enormous ferryboat which took us to Dover, England, a trip of approximately 3 hours. That evening we all wanted to have a nice hot shower. We soon discovered that the facilities were somewhat antiquated, compared to what we were accustomed to. Our oldest daughter came out of the shower with a quizzical expression on her face. The shower was sort of like an upside down tin trash can cover with holes in it. There was a chain to pull to let the water down, and it seemed a bit complicated, therefore we took a shower together. I pulled the chain for her while she soaped up, and then vice-a-verse. We were laughing and having a good old time.
It was our first visit to England, therefore we trooped around London to see as many sights as we could on foot. We also used the subway, (called the Tube,) and the red doubledecker buses. It was all great fun, and we were in awe of this beautiful city. The one down side was that it poured rain, and even with slickers and umbrellas, we were all soaking wet. In retrospect, it turned out to be fortuitous for us. Since we were trying to cut corners on expenses, we had planned to eat in restaurants as little as possible. Lee and I talked about it, and decided that we wanted the girls to get warm, and perhaps dry out a little. The last thing we wanted was for them to get sick, especially just starting our trip. So we went into a restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal of English fare, albeit expensive. Everything on the menu is alacarte, therefore it can be pricey! This was my first experience of eating Plaice (a mild, delicious white fish) The girls really enjoyed everything as well, especially the "fish n'chips" and "licked the platters clean", so to speak. The reward for which was a wonderful dessert of raspberry trifle, and of course their first experience in an English Pub.
The next day we were scheduled to board another giant ferry from Fish guard,Wales which would transport us to Wexford, Ireland. Little did we know that the Sea Links Ferry was experiencing what they referred to as a "slow down." Consequently, the line to embark the ferry was very long. Our family was the last to board the ferry, this was related to unhitching our travel trailer so that the crew could maneuver it into a corner of the ship. It was a beautiful sunny day in Wales and we were informed that due to the slowdown it would be several hours before we would be boarding the ship. As time went on the weather turned warmer, and we all began to get out of our automobiles and mingle with one another. There was a young Irish family ahead of us, they had a beautiful baby girl, and she was just such a delightful, happy baby. She had black curly hair and bright blue eyes, with porcelain looking skin. I talked to the baby and she had the most beautiful smile, and a sweet disposition. I commented to "Alison's mum that her baby is beautiful. Thus, started a wonderful relationship which has endured over 30 years. >
This offering for my blog sort of took on a life of it's own, therefore it is continued on the next blog.
Thanks,
Carol
I enjoyed playing golf and tennis, however I really did not care for a lot of the "ladies" activities. I attended when I needed to, but it wasn't really my "cup of tea", no pun intended.
I talked to Lee about it, and as always he was supportive of my new interests. The hospital, as well as many other facilities on post, always needed volunteers. Actually, as an officer's wife there was an expectation to help out and volunteer. While Lee was stationed at Fort Devens I volunteered at the Thrift Shop, and both of us taught Religious Education which I enjoyed. The hospital was the place I was most interested in, and subsequently made an appointment with the Director of Volunteers. As I remember, I barely stepped foot in the office, and was "hired," so to speak. They needed a volunteer for the OB/GYN clinic, I was excited, and planned to work one day a week. Since a large number of the military were young, and childbearing age, the clinic was extremely busy. As I said, I planned to work one day/wk. The staff would call me almost every day to come in to help out, and many times I did answer the call. At one point I was working in the hospital 4-5 days a week. I did that for about i year. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I learned a great deal. In the months that I had volunteered, I had noticed that there were many positions open for employment in the hospital. I decided to apply for a position in the hospital's central appointment office. Keep in mind, this was 1980, and I had not been gainfully employed since 1966 when our second child was born. Needless to say, I was rather anxious at first. I had been out of the work force for over twelve years. The position entailed manning several telephones, and remembering the order of the calls. Appointments were made for all of the various clinics, and we also made referrals for Landstuhl General Hospital for the various specialties. My 40th birthday was looming in the fore front. Most of the girls I worked with were in their early twenties. They accepted me quickly and I enjoyed the work, and I really enjoyed receiving a pay-check. In retrospect, this position in the hospital did wonders for my self esteem. Lee was on the staff and therefore I knew many people immediately, and felt accepted and valued. Now, I could contribute to our travel fund, and we could actually travel more with the extra income. Monetarily, it was not the best time to be living in Europe. The dollar was weak against the German Deutsche-mark. On our arrival in Germany, the exchange was 2 marks per American dollar. It proceeded to get weaker and weaker, and I believe at one point it dropped to 1.65 German marks to the dollar. When we arrived in Germany, many Americans told us that it was very expensive to travel. They told us if you travel, you can't afford to purchase European products, so it is either/or. Therefore,based on this information we purchased a camping travel within the first couple weeks of being in the country. It turned out to be a wonderful purchase for us, and allowed us to do much more traveling. Our daughter's were at a perfect age for travel, 9 and 11 years old. When we left Germany at the end of Lee's tour, we sold the trailer for the exact same price we had purchased it 3 1/2 years earlier. While living in Germany we were exposed to products all over Europe, and the United Kingdom. One of our first purchases was Waterford Crystal, made of course in Waterford, Ireland. In 1978 we purchased water goblets for $18.00/stem. In 1998 I had to replace one which was broken by a friend while helping me with the dishes. The replacement was $75.00/stem. They will be passed on to our daughters, therefore I wanted them to have 6 stems each. As an aside, ever since that happened I delay washing the dishes until our guests leave. Actually, it is two fold, I want our guests to relax, and I like to visit with them after the meal.
Returning to the purchase of the travel trailer, one of our first trips was to Ireland. The trailer was packed with provisions for an entire month. Fortunately, we had shipped our Chevrolet Suburban to Germany, and it was the perfect vehicle for us, albeit large and not economical. The girls had lots of room to play and were comfortable, and had plenty of room to sleep. That car was a conversation starter every where we traveled. At that time, European cars were all compacts pretty much. However, many Europeans loved the large American autos! Once in Wales, we were stopped at a traffic light when pedestrians began to crowd around our car. They were exclaiming what a "lovely" automobile it t'was, and it even has a third seat in the rear. I can still hear that Welsh accent as they marveled over that car.
Our voyage to Ireland was one of the most wonderful, and memorable for me, being of Irish heritage. We drove from Heidelberg to Belgium where we boarded an enormous ferryboat which took us to Dover, England, a trip of approximately 3 hours. That evening we all wanted to have a nice hot shower. We soon discovered that the facilities were somewhat antiquated, compared to what we were accustomed to. Our oldest daughter came out of the shower with a quizzical expression on her face. The shower was sort of like an upside down tin trash can cover with holes in it. There was a chain to pull to let the water down, and it seemed a bit complicated, therefore we took a shower together. I pulled the chain for her while she soaped up, and then vice-a-verse. We were laughing and having a good old time.
It was our first visit to England, therefore we trooped around London to see as many sights as we could on foot. We also used the subway, (called the Tube,) and the red doubledecker buses. It was all great fun, and we were in awe of this beautiful city. The one down side was that it poured rain, and even with slickers and umbrellas, we were all soaking wet. In retrospect, it turned out to be fortuitous for us. Since we were trying to cut corners on expenses, we had planned to eat in restaurants as little as possible. Lee and I talked about it, and decided that we wanted the girls to get warm, and perhaps dry out a little. The last thing we wanted was for them to get sick, especially just starting our trip. So we went into a restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal of English fare, albeit expensive. Everything on the menu is alacarte, therefore it can be pricey! This was my first experience of eating Plaice (a mild, delicious white fish) The girls really enjoyed everything as well, especially the "fish n'chips" and "licked the platters clean", so to speak. The reward for which was a wonderful dessert of raspberry trifle, and of course their first experience in an English Pub.
The next day we were scheduled to board another giant ferry from Fish guard,Wales which would transport us to Wexford, Ireland. Little did we know that the Sea Links Ferry was experiencing what they referred to as a "slow down." Consequently, the line to embark the ferry was very long. Our family was the last to board the ferry, this was related to unhitching our travel trailer so that the crew could maneuver it into a corner of the ship. It was a beautiful sunny day in Wales and we were informed that due to the slowdown it would be several hours before we would be boarding the ship. As time went on the weather turned warmer, and we all began to get out of our automobiles and mingle with one another. There was a young Irish family ahead of us, they had a beautiful baby girl, and she was just such a delightful, happy baby. She had black curly hair and bright blue eyes, with porcelain looking skin. I talked to the baby and she had the most beautiful smile, and a sweet disposition. I commented to "Alison's mum that her baby is beautiful. Thus, started a wonderful relationship which has endured over 30 years. >
This offering for my blog sort of took on a life of it's own, therefore it is continued on the next blog.
Thanks,
Carol
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Life goes on..............
Our living situation in Germany was different from the way we were accustomed to living in the States. There were long cinder block buildings which were divided by stairwells. Each stairwell had 4 apartments. On one side there were 3 bedroom apartments, and the other side, were four bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. We were fortunate to get a 4 bedroom, and envied by some of the other stairwell residents. Actually, the truth of the matter was that we had 3 children, one of whom is a boy, therefore we qualified and received a "larger" apartment. The larger apartment had a total of 1000 sq. ft. And yes, we were entitled to a second bathroom, thankfully!
Regretfully, at the last minute, our son chose not to accompany us to Europe. He was able to visit, and we enjoyed showing him all of our favorite sights. Needless to say, he also enjoyed many of the German beers. We also talked on the telephone often to keep in touch, and Lee made a couple trips back to the states to check on our son. It was not a ideal situation, but he did stay in touch with us.
We were very fortunate to be able to travel often, most weekends we visited someplace. It could be a weekend in Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Italy, all of these countries were only a short driving distance from Heidelberg. Our first trip to Switzerland was like a "fairy tale" to me. We reserved a campsite in a lovely campground in a village called Lauderbrunnen. (This was one of the gems which a friend passed on after their visit) The campground is nestled in a beautiful valley, and is surrounded by the Swiss Alps. The mountains were snow capped and magnificent, and left us breathless! We all went for a long walk after we finished setting up our travel trailer. The country side is so picturesque, it was a lovely autumn day, the leaves were crunchy under our feet. The brown Swiss cows grazing in the pasture wore a bell around their neck, just like I had seen them in the travel brochures. Lee and I were both taking photography courses at the time, and this was certainly a "shutter bugs' paradise. We have wonderful memories preserved on film from our various sojourns while living in Europe.
The first thing our daughters did after arriving at the campground was to scope out the bathrooms. They were happy to report that the bathrooms were spotlessly clean, AND the bathroom was warm. Probably sounds a little insignificant to some people, but for us it was important and a lovely bonus! I must interject here, the restrooms in most of the countries of Europe are very clean. This was the first of several trips to Switzerland. Lee and I celebrated one of our anniversaries there, which happens to be in late November. The weather was bitter cold with several feet of snow. We still stayed in our camper. At that time we used a catalytic heater which was very efficient. Years later, we heard of people who succumbed as a result of fumes from these heaters. Lee assured me that he always cracked a window to prevent such an accident. Thank God!
There was a beautiful church nearby and we wanted to attend mass. We walked to the church and there was a sign which directed us around the church, and continued on to the school. Lee knocked on the door, we were welcomed by a flurry of children who could not hide their delight, and excitement at seeing American visitors. They were so sweet, as they proceeded to hang our coats up, and then quickly get chairs for us. No one spoke English, but it did not matter, we were gathered there for the same reason. It was an austere classroom, but something beautiful happened there that evening. The communion was stored in a Tupperware container, the first and only time I have ever experienced that. After mass, we shook hands with many of the parishioners. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and will always be very special to me.
There was a little town called Wengen on top of the mountain which could be seen from Lauderbrunnen. The only access to that town was by cog wheel train, or by foot.
Lee and I decided to go to Wengen, and we made the decision to hike up to the town. In those days, we were both very physically fit, so hiking up to Wengen seemed like a "lark." How difficult could it be? Turns out that it was very difficult. Now-a-days people say it was challenging. Whatever adjectives you chose to use, it was grueling. It took several hours for the two of us to climb up that mountain. The pathways were well worn, rocky and scraggly, making it difficult to get a good foot hold. It was starting to get dark and cool on top of the mountain by the time we reached the summit. Our sweaters were soaked with perspiration, and we were exhausted, but we were victorious.
That's it for tonight friends,
Thank You,
Carol
Regretfully, at the last minute, our son chose not to accompany us to Europe. He was able to visit, and we enjoyed showing him all of our favorite sights. Needless to say, he also enjoyed many of the German beers. We also talked on the telephone often to keep in touch, and Lee made a couple trips back to the states to check on our son. It was not a ideal situation, but he did stay in touch with us.
We were very fortunate to be able to travel often, most weekends we visited someplace. It could be a weekend in Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Italy, all of these countries were only a short driving distance from Heidelberg. Our first trip to Switzerland was like a "fairy tale" to me. We reserved a campsite in a lovely campground in a village called Lauderbrunnen. (This was one of the gems which a friend passed on after their visit) The campground is nestled in a beautiful valley, and is surrounded by the Swiss Alps. The mountains were snow capped and magnificent, and left us breathless! We all went for a long walk after we finished setting up our travel trailer. The country side is so picturesque, it was a lovely autumn day, the leaves were crunchy under our feet. The brown Swiss cows grazing in the pasture wore a bell around their neck, just like I had seen them in the travel brochures. Lee and I were both taking photography courses at the time, and this was certainly a "shutter bugs' paradise. We have wonderful memories preserved on film from our various sojourns while living in Europe.
The first thing our daughters did after arriving at the campground was to scope out the bathrooms. They were happy to report that the bathrooms were spotlessly clean, AND the bathroom was warm. Probably sounds a little insignificant to some people, but for us it was important and a lovely bonus! I must interject here, the restrooms in most of the countries of Europe are very clean. This was the first of several trips to Switzerland. Lee and I celebrated one of our anniversaries there, which happens to be in late November. The weather was bitter cold with several feet of snow. We still stayed in our camper. At that time we used a catalytic heater which was very efficient. Years later, we heard of people who succumbed as a result of fumes from these heaters. Lee assured me that he always cracked a window to prevent such an accident. Thank God!
There was a beautiful church nearby and we wanted to attend mass. We walked to the church and there was a sign which directed us around the church, and continued on to the school. Lee knocked on the door, we were welcomed by a flurry of children who could not hide their delight, and excitement at seeing American visitors. They were so sweet, as they proceeded to hang our coats up, and then quickly get chairs for us. No one spoke English, but it did not matter, we were gathered there for the same reason. It was an austere classroom, but something beautiful happened there that evening. The communion was stored in a Tupperware container, the first and only time I have ever experienced that. After mass, we shook hands with many of the parishioners. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and will always be very special to me.
There was a little town called Wengen on top of the mountain which could be seen from Lauderbrunnen. The only access to that town was by cog wheel train, or by foot.
Lee and I decided to go to Wengen, and we made the decision to hike up to the town. In those days, we were both very physically fit, so hiking up to Wengen seemed like a "lark." How difficult could it be? Turns out that it was very difficult. Now-a-days people say it was challenging. Whatever adjectives you chose to use, it was grueling. It took several hours for the two of us to climb up that mountain. The pathways were well worn, rocky and scraggly, making it difficult to get a good foot hold. It was starting to get dark and cool on top of the mountain by the time we reached the summit. Our sweaters were soaked with perspiration, and we were exhausted, but we were victorious.
That's it for tonight friends,
Thank You,
Carol
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Fasching Party
As I have previously stated, we were the only Americans invited to the party. Therefore, we were naturally excited, and anticipating the evenings events. This was all a new experience for Lee and I. We had never been to The Mardi Gras and had no idea what to expect. That evening was the first and ONLY time in over 50 years that I convinced my husband to wear a costume. Since a costume was requested I felt that it would be insulting to our host if we did not oblige. It was a wonderful experience for our girls too. They loved wearing costumes and making new friends. The food and wine were abundant, and our German hosts were very welcoming and cordial. I engaged in a rather heavy conversation with a lovely lady named Brigitta. She was from the northern part of Germany where the people were not as Americanized, and therefore spoke very little English. It was amazing really how the delightful German wines improved my ability to speak German, and Brigitta's English so that we could carry on a meaningful conversation. The year was 1978, it was right around the time when the Mini Series about The Holocaust aired on American television. Surprisingly, Brigitta introduced the topic which rather caught me off guard, I would not have broached this subject because I thought it was taboo. She was concerned that Americans hated the German people because of the Holocaust, and verbalized that Americans probably knew little else about her country's people. I assured her that my generation did not hold the sins of the past against the people of the present. She had tears in her eyes as she talked about the youth of Germany, and how they had voiced their disdain, and accused her generation of "turning a blind eye" on the torture and disappearances of the Jews. I felt privileged then, and have a renewed sense of gratitude now that Brigitta confided her feelings to me. She went on to explain that "Yes, we knew that our neighbors were disappearing, and being taken away, but we kept our eyes straight ahead, fearing for our own lives, and the lives of our family, every day." It was painful to witness how the weight of that terrible event has taken its toll on this lovely lady. She suffers her private "hell" as do many of her generation, and is ashamed of the terrible deeds which occurred under the dictatorship of Hitler.
The celebration was delightful and somewhat mild, according to some of the tales that were revealed that evening. Apparently, the serious revelers take an "anything goes' attitude regarding their behavior, even going so far as taking a paramour. These short lived associations sometimes resulted in a pregnancy, which from all accounts was accepted. Risky behavior facilitated by the ever present libations, which are ubiquitous at these festivities.
I must confess here that this is the one, and only time of my life that I imbibed lets say a "trifle" too much. We drove back to our trailer, we were camping in the Switzerland Alps. It was late February, so quite nippy, but beautiful still and the sky was clear as a bell. The party was to be continued the next day at Lore's sisters home, but not before we all attended the 0900 parade. When I awoke the next morning, I thought I was near death. Actually, I thought death would be the better option as my head was absolutely pounding! Lore' was absolutely incredulous that I was ill. Why? she exclaimed, "the food was gut, the wine was gut?" Yes, it was, but I was a novice in the wine drinking department, and I did indeed learn my lesson from that experience.
The hour is late, so I bid you goodnight.
Carol
The celebration was delightful and somewhat mild, according to some of the tales that were revealed that evening. Apparently, the serious revelers take an "anything goes' attitude regarding their behavior, even going so far as taking a paramour. These short lived associations sometimes resulted in a pregnancy, which from all accounts was accepted. Risky behavior facilitated by the ever present libations, which are ubiquitous at these festivities.
I must confess here that this is the one, and only time of my life that I imbibed lets say a "trifle" too much. We drove back to our trailer, we were camping in the Switzerland Alps. It was late February, so quite nippy, but beautiful still and the sky was clear as a bell. The party was to be continued the next day at Lore's sisters home, but not before we all attended the 0900 parade. When I awoke the next morning, I thought I was near death. Actually, I thought death would be the better option as my head was absolutely pounding! Lore' was absolutely incredulous that I was ill. Why? she exclaimed, "the food was gut, the wine was gut?" Yes, it was, but I was a novice in the wine drinking department, and I did indeed learn my lesson from that experience.
The hour is late, so I bid you goodnight.
Carol
Monday, November 8, 2010
We proceed towards our new adventures in Europe, albeit with a heavy heart.
Good evening friends, please forgive me for the extended hiatus. It has not been intentional, but I really think it was writer's block. I was not productive with anything it seems. Hopefully, now with the onset of a new month I will be refreshed and energetic, and more productive.
I must digress for a short discussion about the "friends" who assisted me in Virginia, and subsequently took the girls and I to the "Dulles Airport." We met this couple at William Beaumont Army Hospital in October 1968. Lee was about to start anesthesia school. OJ had been assigned Lee's sponsor which means that he showed us around the area, helped us find a house to rent, and just generally made us feel welcome. All of this wonderful hospitality with a heavy heart as OJ was on his way to Viet Nam. He is a very affable, jovial guy with a HUGE heart. It is obvious that he loves people and only sees the good in them. OJ is the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back in a heart beat if he thought you needed it. His wife is a joyful, loving and giving, Christian woman with a heart of gold, and a deep love of God. Over the years she has helped me to see how God has a plan for all of us. It may not be the plan we want at the time, but ultimately it is the best and most beneficial solution. She also helped me to learn that I must be patient, because God has a different timetable than we do. Patience has never been my long suit. However, eventually when I realized that I was not in control of my own life, let alone someone else's, I had to surrender, and ask for God's help. We have been friends with this couple since 1968, and we truly love each other. Remember, I said that he helped us find a place to live, well, they found reasons for us to stay with them for 10 days after we arrived that Friday afternoon. They are "true friends" in every sense of the word. Our first meal with them consisted of macaroni & cheese in a box, hot dogs and green beans, and it tasted delicious! We still kid each other about that meal and one of these days it may be dinner again.
To really put in perspective how I feel about this couple, I drove from Killeen, Texas to Battle Creek, Michigan in June of 1984. A distance of approximately 1300 miles to offer my support to them in a family crisis. Our then 15 year old daughter accompanied me on the trip. I have never regretted doing it and would do it again without hesitation.
Back on track, we have arrived in Germany and are ready to roll. As soon as Lee received orders for Germany I enrolled at the local Community College and took 2 courses in German. Literally, the day after arriving in Germany I was in downtown Heidelberg, Germany shopping! I wanted to meet the people and talk to them, and I wanted to learn about their customs, and sample their food. I had enough enthusiasm for the entire family. Our youngest daughter was eager to learn the language, perhaps more uninhibited about making mistakes. However our 12 year old was rather reticent, and reserved, and just plain did not want to try. I persevered trying to get her interested, and I found the key. She loved the food, and the rule was, I'll tell you what to ask for, but you must do the asking. One day we were at one of Heidelberg's wonderful Saturday open markets. This was something we all looked forward to, there was fresh made bread, and rolls called "brochen," which were crusty on the outside and "oh" so soft inside. Our oldest daughter asked a German lady for a "gerkin" which is their word for pickle. Well! that lady came right around the counter and hugged our daughter. It was then, that the light dawned on her, that it really meant a lot to the native people when you at least tried to use their language.
Americans were quite easy to pick out of the crowd. Usually, they wore jeans and were sometimes rather boisterous. Therefore, I felt complimented that the German people would begin talking German to me thinking I was a local. I loved the people there and I enjoyed every minute spent living in Germany. Actually, I learned a great deal about life and how to really enjoy your life and family from the German people. They lived a slower life, the merchants all closed their shops for lunch, and a cat nap. This was a real bone of contention with the American population. They would become angry because they had been inconvenienced, and did not appear to honor the German people's customs. The German grocery stores and the bakery and butcher shops all were closed after 1 pm on Saturdays as well. The merchants designated one weekend each month when they stayed open until 6 pm in the evening. The Americans had access to a convenience store on the military post, but they still complained.
Upon arriving in Germany, the girls and I were delighted to hear that within a few days, we would all be going on a trip to Holland. Both maternal and paternal grandparents of Lee were all born in Holland, so the trip had a special meaning. The room we stayed in was on the third floor of a very old hotel with no elevator. It was fine for our use, nothing fancy, but it served our purposes. As I recall it was quite expensive by American Standards though. One of the first places we visited in Holland was "The Keukenhof." This is where the beautiful gardens are rich with all kinds of elegant, but common flowers. Tulips of every color in the rainbow. Gorgeous daffodils which announce the arrival of spring with their bright yellow faces. Brilliant hues of various shades of purple displayed in their beautiful iris. There were fields of all these flowers and more, which when we looked down the fields appeared to be as a lovely carpet on display.
We found the people of Holland to be very congenial, and helpful, with directions and such. There are actually cities in Holland named Edam and Gouda, Cities made famous by those pungent and delicious cheeses. In the center of these towns they hold a cheese auction every week. Delft, which is glazed earthenware is a well known product of Holland, made in the city of Delft. It is usually painted blue and white, this is done by hand and signed by the painter. I was fortunate to buy two pieces of delft, one the traditional blue and white, the other multi-colored. This was 1978 and they were just beginning to use the multi-colors for their figurines. It was a wonderful introduction to Europe for all of us. I still have vivid memories of that fabulous trip. By the time we arrived back in Heidelberg it had been just 10 days since we left the United States. Honestly, I think someone threw the chicken-pox virus on the girls as we strolled through the airport! They were both extremely sick and literally covered with blisters. Our oldest daughter has several obvious chicken-pox scars much to her chagrin.
Lee and I and our girls benefited greatly from a wonderful German school teacher named Lore'. A fellow CRNA who had previously been stationed in Heidelberg was friends with Lore'. He was gracious enough to give her our information, and she sort of adopted us for the next 3 1/2 years. Actually, she is a lifetime friend. Lee and I visited and stayed with her and her new husband Horst when we returned to Germany in 1991. Then a few years later Lore' and Horst came to the United States for an extended visit, and stayed with us for a few days. They had amassed so many American friends over the years that they actually visited several families who lived in different states. Lore' is a typical, no nonsense, confident, self assured German lady, with a heart of gold. An example of her personality, she would invite me for coffee at 3 pm, if I rang the door bell at 2;55, lore' would remind me that the invitation is for 3 pm, not 2:55!! At first I would become a little piqued with her, but soon forgot about it and respected her wishes in the future. Lore" took us to the most wonderful and unusual places in Germany. She rather detested all of the more "well known" American haunts which seemingly every American visited. The "Oktoberfest" (german spelling) Nurnemberg, Munich, were places that most American's visited, and to be sure they are lovely, beautiful places. But Lore' took us to places that we had never heard of before and were equally, if not more lovely. Every spring she took us to a brewery in Mannheim for Bock beer which is traditionally a dark beer brewed in the spring. She introduced us to her private winery which is owned and run by Herr Hartmann and his family. Wineries are generally fairly small there and run by the family. The Hartmann's are a wonderful family, and we purchased many a bottle of wine from them. As a Christmas gift one year Herr Hartmann gave us a wine bottle opener made from a very sturdy grape vine. It has been over 30 years ago that he gave it to us, and we still use it, and each time we use it we are reminded of some lovely memories.
Lore' invited us to her house for a "Fasching" party which is the pre-Lenten period of revelry which is akin to our "Mardi Gras We were the only Americans invited and considered it an honor to be included with her family and friends.
I'll stop here for now and continue tomorrow as I am somewhat fatigued tonight. Thank you for your loyalty. Carol
I must digress for a short discussion about the "friends" who assisted me in Virginia, and subsequently took the girls and I to the "Dulles Airport." We met this couple at William Beaumont Army Hospital in October 1968. Lee was about to start anesthesia school. OJ had been assigned Lee's sponsor which means that he showed us around the area, helped us find a house to rent, and just generally made us feel welcome. All of this wonderful hospitality with a heavy heart as OJ was on his way to Viet Nam. He is a very affable, jovial guy with a HUGE heart. It is obvious that he loves people and only sees the good in them. OJ is the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back in a heart beat if he thought you needed it. His wife is a joyful, loving and giving, Christian woman with a heart of gold, and a deep love of God. Over the years she has helped me to see how God has a plan for all of us. It may not be the plan we want at the time, but ultimately it is the best and most beneficial solution. She also helped me to learn that I must be patient, because God has a different timetable than we do. Patience has never been my long suit. However, eventually when I realized that I was not in control of my own life, let alone someone else's, I had to surrender, and ask for God's help. We have been friends with this couple since 1968, and we truly love each other. Remember, I said that he helped us find a place to live, well, they found reasons for us to stay with them for 10 days after we arrived that Friday afternoon. They are "true friends" in every sense of the word. Our first meal with them consisted of macaroni & cheese in a box, hot dogs and green beans, and it tasted delicious! We still kid each other about that meal and one of these days it may be dinner again.
To really put in perspective how I feel about this couple, I drove from Killeen, Texas to Battle Creek, Michigan in June of 1984. A distance of approximately 1300 miles to offer my support to them in a family crisis. Our then 15 year old daughter accompanied me on the trip. I have never regretted doing it and would do it again without hesitation.
Back on track, we have arrived in Germany and are ready to roll. As soon as Lee received orders for Germany I enrolled at the local Community College and took 2 courses in German. Literally, the day after arriving in Germany I was in downtown Heidelberg, Germany shopping! I wanted to meet the people and talk to them, and I wanted to learn about their customs, and sample their food. I had enough enthusiasm for the entire family. Our youngest daughter was eager to learn the language, perhaps more uninhibited about making mistakes. However our 12 year old was rather reticent, and reserved, and just plain did not want to try. I persevered trying to get her interested, and I found the key. She loved the food, and the rule was, I'll tell you what to ask for, but you must do the asking. One day we were at one of Heidelberg's wonderful Saturday open markets. This was something we all looked forward to, there was fresh made bread, and rolls called "brochen," which were crusty on the outside and "oh" so soft inside. Our oldest daughter asked a German lady for a "gerkin" which is their word for pickle. Well! that lady came right around the counter and hugged our daughter. It was then, that the light dawned on her, that it really meant a lot to the native people when you at least tried to use their language.
Americans were quite easy to pick out of the crowd. Usually, they wore jeans and were sometimes rather boisterous. Therefore, I felt complimented that the German people would begin talking German to me thinking I was a local. I loved the people there and I enjoyed every minute spent living in Germany. Actually, I learned a great deal about life and how to really enjoy your life and family from the German people. They lived a slower life, the merchants all closed their shops for lunch, and a cat nap. This was a real bone of contention with the American population. They would become angry because they had been inconvenienced, and did not appear to honor the German people's customs. The German grocery stores and the bakery and butcher shops all were closed after 1 pm on Saturdays as well. The merchants designated one weekend each month when they stayed open until 6 pm in the evening. The Americans had access to a convenience store on the military post, but they still complained.
Upon arriving in Germany, the girls and I were delighted to hear that within a few days, we would all be going on a trip to Holland. Both maternal and paternal grandparents of Lee were all born in Holland, so the trip had a special meaning. The room we stayed in was on the third floor of a very old hotel with no elevator. It was fine for our use, nothing fancy, but it served our purposes. As I recall it was quite expensive by American Standards though. One of the first places we visited in Holland was "The Keukenhof." This is where the beautiful gardens are rich with all kinds of elegant, but common flowers. Tulips of every color in the rainbow. Gorgeous daffodils which announce the arrival of spring with their bright yellow faces. Brilliant hues of various shades of purple displayed in their beautiful iris. There were fields of all these flowers and more, which when we looked down the fields appeared to be as a lovely carpet on display.
We found the people of Holland to be very congenial, and helpful, with directions and such. There are actually cities in Holland named Edam and Gouda, Cities made famous by those pungent and delicious cheeses. In the center of these towns they hold a cheese auction every week. Delft, which is glazed earthenware is a well known product of Holland, made in the city of Delft. It is usually painted blue and white, this is done by hand and signed by the painter. I was fortunate to buy two pieces of delft, one the traditional blue and white, the other multi-colored. This was 1978 and they were just beginning to use the multi-colors for their figurines. It was a wonderful introduction to Europe for all of us. I still have vivid memories of that fabulous trip. By the time we arrived back in Heidelberg it had been just 10 days since we left the United States. Honestly, I think someone threw the chicken-pox virus on the girls as we strolled through the airport! They were both extremely sick and literally covered with blisters. Our oldest daughter has several obvious chicken-pox scars much to her chagrin.
Lee and I and our girls benefited greatly from a wonderful German school teacher named Lore'. A fellow CRNA who had previously been stationed in Heidelberg was friends with Lore'. He was gracious enough to give her our information, and she sort of adopted us for the next 3 1/2 years. Actually, she is a lifetime friend. Lee and I visited and stayed with her and her new husband Horst when we returned to Germany in 1991. Then a few years later Lore' and Horst came to the United States for an extended visit, and stayed with us for a few days. They had amassed so many American friends over the years that they actually visited several families who lived in different states. Lore' is a typical, no nonsense, confident, self assured German lady, with a heart of gold. An example of her personality, she would invite me for coffee at 3 pm, if I rang the door bell at 2;55, lore' would remind me that the invitation is for 3 pm, not 2:55!! At first I would become a little piqued with her, but soon forgot about it and respected her wishes in the future. Lore" took us to the most wonderful and unusual places in Germany. She rather detested all of the more "well known" American haunts which seemingly every American visited. The "Oktoberfest" (german spelling) Nurnemberg, Munich, were places that most American's visited, and to be sure they are lovely, beautiful places. But Lore' took us to places that we had never heard of before and were equally, if not more lovely. Every spring she took us to a brewery in Mannheim for Bock beer which is traditionally a dark beer brewed in the spring. She introduced us to her private winery which is owned and run by Herr Hartmann and his family. Wineries are generally fairly small there and run by the family. The Hartmann's are a wonderful family, and we purchased many a bottle of wine from them. As a Christmas gift one year Herr Hartmann gave us a wine bottle opener made from a very sturdy grape vine. It has been over 30 years ago that he gave it to us, and we still use it, and each time we use it we are reminded of some lovely memories.
Lore' invited us to her house for a "Fasching" party which is the pre-Lenten period of revelry which is akin to our "Mardi Gras We were the only Americans invited and considered it an honor to be included with her family and friends.
I'll stop here for now and continue tomorrow as I am somewhat fatigued tonight. Thank you for your loyalty. Carol
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Our son is discharged from drug rehab program
By the time our son was discharged from the drug rehab program he was almost 18 years old. He had met a young woman in the program and decided that he was not coming back home to live. She was from the Baltimore area, and they decided to get an apartment and live together. I felt optimistic about our son, he said all of the right things. After all that is what I wanted to hear, wasn't it? It was about this same time that Lee received orders for Heidelberg, Germany. We were elated, we had always hoped to go to Germany on assignment. Our son assured us that he would be fine, he had gotten a job, and he really was trying to start a new life.
According to Lee's orders he was to report to the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg on December 20th,1977. I wanted Lee to try and have the date postponed until after Christmas, but he was reluctant to do so for fear of the orders being canceled. As it turned out, when Lee arrived at his duty station in Heidelberg as he had been directed, the Operating Room was only doing emergency cases. The staff queried Lee's arrival before Christmas. It was a sore subject with me, therefore we did not discuss it in any detail. He was there now, and the girls and I would be following him just as soon as we sold the house. The house finally was sold in March, YEAH! Admittedly, it is not one of my favorite things to be in the process of selling a house. The house has to be spotless all of the time, and Realtors have no compunction about calling the last minute to show the house.
The day came for the movers to arrive and pack up our household. The way it worked is we actually had 3 different shipments. There was the hold baggage which contained the immediate things we would need. These were things like sheets/pillowcases, pots and pans and other necessities to get along with until the rest of our things arrived. All of the large furniture was put into storage. The rest of our household things arrived in Germany about May. On the morning that the packers were coming I was home alone. Friends had asked me if I needed help, but as always I had graciously declined. Usually, when we moved Lee would be present, but of course he was already in Europe. The packers had arrived bright and early, there were 4 men and me. About 8 a.m. someone knocked on the door, much to my surprise, a friend from church stood there with a pot of coffee and a bag of doughnuts. Sandy also had a mop and a bucket with her as well as her 2 year old daughter, Coleen. She had a big smile on her face and said, "I knew you wouldn't ask for help, so here I am." What a welcome sight she was too. I was so surprised and grateful that I was on the verge of tears. Sandy stayed all day and helped me clean, sort things for the church, and just give me moral support, a true friend. We were just about finished, the packers had left and I was just doing some last minute cleaning. I was down on my hands and knees washing the base boards when I felt this sharp object hit my hand. I stood up to examine my hand, but could not detect any wound. Sandy bent over and picked up a sewing needle, or I should say a half a needle. She said "you have the other half of this needle in your hand. I dreaded going to a medical facility, it was about 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. Any of the facilities would be busy, but I had to have my hand looked at. Sandy took me to Fort Meade in Maryland. A corpsman looked at the wound and ordered an x-ray. Sure enough there was the other half of the sewing needle sitting between my middle finger and my ring finger. My hand was swelling quickly and I struggled to get my wedding band off. We had been married 18 years and I had never taken my wedding ring off before. The corpsman told me that there was not a surgeon in the hospital. He had spoken with the surgeon who stated that "the patient should return on Monday for removal of the needle." I was scheduled to fly to Germany on Monday evening. I simply told the corpsman, "I am flying to Germany on Monday evening with or without this needle." A few minutes later I was discharged and left the hospital with an antibiotic and some pills for pain. At this point it was approximately 7 p.m. The girls and I said our fond adieus to Sandy, and we headed to Virginia where we were staying with friends. Our friends are both medical professionals, he is a CRNA also the same as Lee. He called a friend who is a surgeon and they smuggled me into the hospital. I did not have insurance for a civilian hospital, and I am eternally grateful to both of them for coming to my aid. It took the physician almost an hour to locate the needle, and remove it. When I left the hospital my hand was wrapped up like a prize fighter and still very numb from the lidocaine anesthetic. In the middle of the night however, I awoke with a throbbing pain in my hand. No matter, I was still happy because in 2 days the girls and I would be winging our way to Germany, to be reunited with Lee.
My bandaged left hand was somewhat beneficial in the airplane and especially in the airport. Our baggage consisted of 7 bags which included a trunk. It would have been really cumbersome for me without the assistance of several generous fellas who helped me. Lee was there waiting for us with open arms, and it felt good to be together again. When we arrived at our apartment Lee had prepared a lovely dinner, complete with homemade brownies. We were all very exhausted and it was about mid-day when we arrived in Germany. We were on European time now and my adrenaline was running high which enabled me to get through the day. The girls and I had some jet lag for a couple days, but we survived and a new adventure was about to begin.
Until next time, be good to one another.
Carol
According to Lee's orders he was to report to the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg on December 20th,1977. I wanted Lee to try and have the date postponed until after Christmas, but he was reluctant to do so for fear of the orders being canceled. As it turned out, when Lee arrived at his duty station in Heidelberg as he had been directed, the Operating Room was only doing emergency cases. The staff queried Lee's arrival before Christmas. It was a sore subject with me, therefore we did not discuss it in any detail. He was there now, and the girls and I would be following him just as soon as we sold the house. The house finally was sold in March, YEAH! Admittedly, it is not one of my favorite things to be in the process of selling a house. The house has to be spotless all of the time, and Realtors have no compunction about calling the last minute to show the house.
The day came for the movers to arrive and pack up our household. The way it worked is we actually had 3 different shipments. There was the hold baggage which contained the immediate things we would need. These were things like sheets/pillowcases, pots and pans and other necessities to get along with until the rest of our things arrived. All of the large furniture was put into storage. The rest of our household things arrived in Germany about May. On the morning that the packers were coming I was home alone. Friends had asked me if I needed help, but as always I had graciously declined. Usually, when we moved Lee would be present, but of course he was already in Europe. The packers had arrived bright and early, there were 4 men and me. About 8 a.m. someone knocked on the door, much to my surprise, a friend from church stood there with a pot of coffee and a bag of doughnuts. Sandy also had a mop and a bucket with her as well as her 2 year old daughter, Coleen. She had a big smile on her face and said, "I knew you wouldn't ask for help, so here I am." What a welcome sight she was too. I was so surprised and grateful that I was on the verge of tears. Sandy stayed all day and helped me clean, sort things for the church, and just give me moral support, a true friend. We were just about finished, the packers had left and I was just doing some last minute cleaning. I was down on my hands and knees washing the base boards when I felt this sharp object hit my hand. I stood up to examine my hand, but could not detect any wound. Sandy bent over and picked up a sewing needle, or I should say a half a needle. She said "you have the other half of this needle in your hand. I dreaded going to a medical facility, it was about 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. Any of the facilities would be busy, but I had to have my hand looked at. Sandy took me to Fort Meade in Maryland. A corpsman looked at the wound and ordered an x-ray. Sure enough there was the other half of the sewing needle sitting between my middle finger and my ring finger. My hand was swelling quickly and I struggled to get my wedding band off. We had been married 18 years and I had never taken my wedding ring off before. The corpsman told me that there was not a surgeon in the hospital. He had spoken with the surgeon who stated that "the patient should return on Monday for removal of the needle." I was scheduled to fly to Germany on Monday evening. I simply told the corpsman, "I am flying to Germany on Monday evening with or without this needle." A few minutes later I was discharged and left the hospital with an antibiotic and some pills for pain. At this point it was approximately 7 p.m. The girls and I said our fond adieus to Sandy, and we headed to Virginia where we were staying with friends. Our friends are both medical professionals, he is a CRNA also the same as Lee. He called a friend who is a surgeon and they smuggled me into the hospital. I did not have insurance for a civilian hospital, and I am eternally grateful to both of them for coming to my aid. It took the physician almost an hour to locate the needle, and remove it. When I left the hospital my hand was wrapped up like a prize fighter and still very numb from the lidocaine anesthetic. In the middle of the night however, I awoke with a throbbing pain in my hand. No matter, I was still happy because in 2 days the girls and I would be winging our way to Germany, to be reunited with Lee.
My bandaged left hand was somewhat beneficial in the airplane and especially in the airport. Our baggage consisted of 7 bags which included a trunk. It would have been really cumbersome for me without the assistance of several generous fellas who helped me. Lee was there waiting for us with open arms, and it felt good to be together again. When we arrived at our apartment Lee had prepared a lovely dinner, complete with homemade brownies. We were all very exhausted and it was about mid-day when we arrived in Germany. We were on European time now and my adrenaline was running high which enabled me to get through the day. The girls and I had some jet lag for a couple days, but we survived and a new adventure was about to begin.
Until next time, be good to one another.
Carol
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