Back to Germany
We had made our northern loop and returned to our apartment at Siegelbach. We were back early because we hadn't stayed in France and we hadn't been able to cross into England. Now we could stay home a couple days and still have extra time for the southern loop.
I felt it would be good for baby J to be out of the car and stroller. I wanted him to have a chance to use his muscles and roll or try to crawl. B.B. and I stayed home with J while G and R.B. went to Vogelweh to do our laundry and some shopping for supplies.
Segroine had given up her room during the time B.B. was there, so B.B. would have a bed. R.B. got to sleep on the sofa. Now that we were back early, Segroine was losing her room again, but she was excited to meet an American teen. She and B.B. spent that first day in "their" room getting acquainted. When J was ready for a nap, I was able to leave the apartment to the girls and see some friends. When I got back, Segroine took B.B. out to see the village. They were still gone when G and his Mother came back.
R.B. had gotten supplies and planned a big supper. Then discovered she needed help with my German stove. She was discovering first hand how different life was for me. Even the simple task of washing your hands took an adjustment. You didn't leave hot water running, when the supply was limited and it took time to heat more again. And remember, I was limited in pots and pans and utensels and even dishes. Getting that big home cooked meal ready, took on a party atmosphere.
After we'd eaten, G decided he wanted to join his band that evening. He offered to get Segroine and her Mother to watch J, so his Mother and Sister and I could go to hear him play and sing. R.B. said she'd rather stay with J, but we could go if we wanted. So B.B. got to go to an N.C.O. club and watch her brother perform with The Dudes. She was excited, but she was going to be even more excited when we arrived. She hadn't realized what the appearance of a pretty young American girl from "Home" would mean to a bunch of young homesick G.I.'s. B.B. got to be the Belle of the Ball that night. I don't believe the girl sat through a single dance, or danced with the same guy more than she wanted. As the only American band members wife, I had experienced the same thing. Even when I was big with pregnancy. The homesick boys just wanted to hear familiar words without the accent of Germany. The fact that B.B. was 16 and pretty, made her very popular and gave her a very special night. One which lasted till after 2 A.M. It was probably just as well that her Mother had stayed home. Wanna bet she spent more time talking to her friends back home about that night, than any other part of her trip to Europe? I know she had addresses to share with her friends so they could all have pen pals over seas.
We spent another couple of days with side trips to the cities of Germany. G wasn't allowed to go near Berlin, or any part of East Germany, because of his army clearance rating. But, we showed R.B. and B.B. around the sites we had discovered and wanted to share. Including the Black Forest area, which I loved. G bought a big CooCoo clock with a carved bucks head on top. These were the kinds of souvenirs we took to the base Post Office and had shipped home. I don't know how many, but there were a great number of packages sent to one or the other of our parents during those two years in Germany. I have some of the things. I know G has some of them, and there are other things, that I can think of now, that I have no idea what happened to.
The next day was spent with maps and a list of Army bases for a southern trip. This time we'd be farther from the apartment, and gone much longer. His family was with us for a month. He'd never taken any time off and was able to be with them the whole time. Once again, I let them plan everything. I only had one request...again. I wanted time in Florence, Italy. Time to explore the shops on the bridge. Time to see the the great art works that Florence is famous for. This time I stressed that these were important to me and I didn't care where else they took me, if I could just spend time in Florance, Italy.
I felt it would be good for baby J to be out of the car and stroller. I wanted him to have a chance to use his muscles and roll or try to crawl. B.B. and I stayed home with J while G and R.B. went to Vogelweh to do our laundry and some shopping for supplies.
Segroine had given up her room during the time B.B. was there, so B.B. would have a bed. R.B. got to sleep on the sofa. Now that we were back early, Segroine was losing her room again, but she was excited to meet an American teen. She and B.B. spent that first day in "their" room getting acquainted. When J was ready for a nap, I was able to leave the apartment to the girls and see some friends. When I got back, Segroine took B.B. out to see the village. They were still gone when G and his Mother came back.
R.B. had gotten supplies and planned a big supper. Then discovered she needed help with my German stove. She was discovering first hand how different life was for me. Even the simple task of washing your hands took an adjustment. You didn't leave hot water running, when the supply was limited and it took time to heat more again. And remember, I was limited in pots and pans and utensels and even dishes. Getting that big home cooked meal ready, took on a party atmosphere.
After we'd eaten, G decided he wanted to join his band that evening. He offered to get Segroine and her Mother to watch J, so his Mother and Sister and I could go to hear him play and sing. R.B. said she'd rather stay with J, but we could go if we wanted. So B.B. got to go to an N.C.O. club and watch her brother perform with The Dudes. She was excited, but she was going to be even more excited when we arrived. She hadn't realized what the appearance of a pretty young American girl from "Home" would mean to a bunch of young homesick G.I.'s. B.B. got to be the Belle of the Ball that night. I don't believe the girl sat through a single dance, or danced with the same guy more than she wanted. As the only American band members wife, I had experienced the same thing. Even when I was big with pregnancy. The homesick boys just wanted to hear familiar words without the accent of Germany. The fact that B.B. was 16 and pretty, made her very popular and gave her a very special night. One which lasted till after 2 A.M. It was probably just as well that her Mother had stayed home. Wanna bet she spent more time talking to her friends back home about that night, than any other part of her trip to Europe? I know she had addresses to share with her friends so they could all have pen pals over seas.
We spent another couple of days with side trips to the cities of Germany. G wasn't allowed to go near Berlin, or any part of East Germany, because of his army clearance rating. But, we showed R.B. and B.B. around the sites we had discovered and wanted to share. Including the Black Forest area, which I loved. G bought a big CooCoo clock with a carved bucks head on top. These were the kinds of souvenirs we took to the base Post Office and had shipped home. I don't know how many, but there were a great number of packages sent to one or the other of our parents during those two years in Germany. I have some of the things. I know G has some of them, and there are other things, that I can think of now, that I have no idea what happened to.
The next day was spent with maps and a list of Army bases for a southern trip. This time we'd be farther from the apartment, and gone much longer. His family was with us for a month. He'd never taken any time off and was able to be with them the whole time. Once again, I let them plan everything. I only had one request...again. I wanted time in Florence, Italy. Time to explore the shops on the bridge. Time to see the the great art works that Florence is famous for. This time I stressed that these were important to me and I didn't care where else they took me, if I could just spend time in Florance, Italy.
posted by LeeAnn | 4:26 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home