After the Fire
We were incredibly lucky considering how wrong it had gone. To be able to make it to the rest area, when it could have happend anywhere. To be back in Germany, where the Army could help us. To get away before the smoke damaged our lungs. The fire started in the wiring and the smoke was bad. J was only 6 months old. It could have been so much worse. But, it didn't seem that way at the time.
I'm not sure of the time or how long we actually waited in the rest area. But, it was almost evening when the calvary arrived. If there hadn't been a fire, we'd have been home by then.
Our rescuers arrived in a military car and an ambulance with siren and lights showing how they had hurried. They'd been told a baby was in need of help. Thank goodness that wasn't true. Two soldiers and two medics were sent to save us. They looked at the car, and at us and our pile of possessions, and questioned how on earth all of it was in the V.W. They loaded our possessions in the ambulance, and filled it up. We were put in the car, but we had to leave the burned out Volkswagon sitting in the rest area. G had expected a tow truck, but the bus driver hadn't made that clear. Arrangements would have to be made later to retrieve our Bug, which had G all upset. They took us to the base, where we learned we would have to wait till arrangements were made for the next base to pick us up. Each base had an area, and we were passed from one to another till we reached our own base. And, each time we arrived on a base, we had to go through all the paperwork again and wait to be picked up. It took us another day and a half to go that last 100 miles. The bases weren't accustomed to this kind of thing, and we waited in offices on hard chairs and benches for hours at a time. Each time two vehicles had to be sent to carry us and all of our possessions. And, no one believed we had all been packed into one little V.W. Bug. They didn't have luggage racks on military cars, but otherwise the cars were much bigger. G was busy each time filling out forms and making arrangements, but we could only sit, pace and wait. I believe there were only 3 or 4 bases involved, but it was the most exhausting day and a half of the whole trip. And, it was the only time J was fussy. His car seat was scorched and saturated with smoke and we couldn't use it. So were his extra closthes and diapers. We all smelled like smoke and there wasn't anything we could do about it. The Army is "Hurry up and wait." We were told to be ready as soon as another car arrived. They didn't want to possibly have to wait on us to finish at a laundromat. There would have been plenty of time, but the Army doesn't work like that. So in total misery, we were passed along like some unexpected nuisance.
When we finally got home, we still had a problem. No car. G had to find transportation so our things could be cleaned and he could get to the business of straightening out the whole mess. I started my little countertop washing machine right away on small items and baby things. We all just wanted to sleep, but there was too much to do before R.B. and B.B. could catch their flight home. G found a friend to take R.B. and B.B. to a laundromat on base while he started the paperwork on the insurance and retrieval of our car. I stayed home and finished what I could there. I was unpacking souvenirs and airing out what I could. I got the things boxed up that had to be mailed home to my In-Laws. We had been lucky there too. G had saved the coo coo clock without throwing it like the rest had been thrown. Most of the souvenirs had been away from the flames. Except for my Swiss prizes, which had been the last things actually bought and were stored in the boot behind the back seat. R.B. had tried and stayed in the car much too long for safety, but, my beautiful swiss high heels had been scorched and smelled awful. I was never able to wear them, though I did keep them awhile. And the two Swiss pictures made it out with just a warped frame. I never fixed them, and they are hanging on my wall right now, warped frame and all, as a reminder of my European vacation and how it ended.
We had R.B. and B.B.'s packages shipped home, even though they still smelled of smoke. Their suitcases still smelled too when G and a buddy took them to Frankfort to fly home. Since we had to rely on a friend to drive them, I'd said my goodbyes at home and J and I didn't go to the airport with them.
After everyone was gone, I thought I could finally relax and get some rest. That's when J discovered crawling.
I'm not sure of the time or how long we actually waited in the rest area. But, it was almost evening when the calvary arrived. If there hadn't been a fire, we'd have been home by then.
Our rescuers arrived in a military car and an ambulance with siren and lights showing how they had hurried. They'd been told a baby was in need of help. Thank goodness that wasn't true. Two soldiers and two medics were sent to save us. They looked at the car, and at us and our pile of possessions, and questioned how on earth all of it was in the V.W. They loaded our possessions in the ambulance, and filled it up. We were put in the car, but we had to leave the burned out Volkswagon sitting in the rest area. G had expected a tow truck, but the bus driver hadn't made that clear. Arrangements would have to be made later to retrieve our Bug, which had G all upset. They took us to the base, where we learned we would have to wait till arrangements were made for the next base to pick us up. Each base had an area, and we were passed from one to another till we reached our own base. And, each time we arrived on a base, we had to go through all the paperwork again and wait to be picked up. It took us another day and a half to go that last 100 miles. The bases weren't accustomed to this kind of thing, and we waited in offices on hard chairs and benches for hours at a time. Each time two vehicles had to be sent to carry us and all of our possessions. And, no one believed we had all been packed into one little V.W. Bug. They didn't have luggage racks on military cars, but otherwise the cars were much bigger. G was busy each time filling out forms and making arrangements, but we could only sit, pace and wait. I believe there were only 3 or 4 bases involved, but it was the most exhausting day and a half of the whole trip. And, it was the only time J was fussy. His car seat was scorched and saturated with smoke and we couldn't use it. So were his extra closthes and diapers. We all smelled like smoke and there wasn't anything we could do about it. The Army is "Hurry up and wait." We were told to be ready as soon as another car arrived. They didn't want to possibly have to wait on us to finish at a laundromat. There would have been plenty of time, but the Army doesn't work like that. So in total misery, we were passed along like some unexpected nuisance.
When we finally got home, we still had a problem. No car. G had to find transportation so our things could be cleaned and he could get to the business of straightening out the whole mess. I started my little countertop washing machine right away on small items and baby things. We all just wanted to sleep, but there was too much to do before R.B. and B.B. could catch their flight home. G found a friend to take R.B. and B.B. to a laundromat on base while he started the paperwork on the insurance and retrieval of our car. I stayed home and finished what I could there. I was unpacking souvenirs and airing out what I could. I got the things boxed up that had to be mailed home to my In-Laws. We had been lucky there too. G had saved the coo coo clock without throwing it like the rest had been thrown. Most of the souvenirs had been away from the flames. Except for my Swiss prizes, which had been the last things actually bought and were stored in the boot behind the back seat. R.B. had tried and stayed in the car much too long for safety, but, my beautiful swiss high heels had been scorched and smelled awful. I was never able to wear them, though I did keep them awhile. And the two Swiss pictures made it out with just a warped frame. I never fixed them, and they are hanging on my wall right now, warped frame and all, as a reminder of my European vacation and how it ended.
We had R.B. and B.B.'s packages shipped home, even though they still smelled of smoke. Their suitcases still smelled too when G and a buddy took them to Frankfort to fly home. Since we had to rely on a friend to drive them, I'd said my goodbyes at home and J and I didn't go to the airport with them.
After everyone was gone, I thought I could finally relax and get some rest. That's when J discovered crawling.
posted by LeeAnn | 4:11 PM
2 Comments:
Heh, a woman's work is never done, is it? And yes, I am all too familiar with the military's hurry-up-and-wait issues. ... I'll bet that'll never change
Oh my goodness. What a trip. I laughed. I cried (at least felt sad when you didn't get to visit what you wanted) and my heart was pounding during the tale of the fire. Thank you for carrying us on your trip. It was fun. Shame you missed Vienna. Spent a wonderful week there once upon a time. But then I never made it to all the countries you did.
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