Garmisch, Germany

When we found out that we were going to Germany we agreed to make the most of it. We wanted to travel and see EVERYTHING! We told ourselves that if we came back with a little debt it was ok we would pay it off but we didn't want to miss any opportunity. So with that being said 3 weeks after we landed in country we were on the road to spend the 4th of July in Garmisch, Germany. Garmisch is a wonderful small town at the base of the Alps on the Austrian border. You have to remember that the Germans don't celebrate our independence so for them it was just another weekend. Our drive down was a little nerve racking. It was the first time we had ventured that far from the American post. By the time we got to Garmisch we were in heaven.



Once we were checked in to the hotel it was time to explore. We knew our end point was to see the famous Neuschwanstein castle but there was a few other things to see first. So our first find was a wonderful wood carving shop. They actually had someone in the shop doing some carving. That really impressed Rob. He just stood there staring. We picked up a few souvenirs and then it was off to see what we could find next. Then we stopped at the Weise Kirchen. It is an old completely white church. It was stunning to see.



Finally it was time to see Neuschwanstein castle. I had heard so much about it but I wasn't really prepared for it. It was awesome. The foundation stone was put down in 1869 and it was completed and fully furnished in 1873. The tour was wonderful. The rooms really were fit for a king. It was so hard to believe that they could build something so incredible in the 1800's. We would have loved to be able to roam the halls forever but alas the tour was over. It was a great experience and while it was our first castle to see it certainly wasn't going to be our last.

Ansbach, Germany

When we got our orders for Germany we were lucky and got pinpointed to Ansbach instead of having to go to the "holding" unit in Wurzburg, Germany. Ansbach is a beautiful city and we loved living there. Besides the base the only "American" thing in Ansbach was a McDonald's. I did a lot of local shopping and got use to doing things the German way. I picked up a lot of language. Now I don't mean that I liked to speak it but I could understand almost all of it.

There was an old part of town that had been there for years. Luckily it was not damaged in World War 2. We had a favorite bakery, tailoring shop, German restaurant, cooking store and of course a wine store. They also had the best Greek restaurant and Chinese place. We loved going downtown, getting an ice cream cone and to walk around window shopping. It was all cobblestone streets and fountains, such a peaceful place.



One of the nicest places was an old church. It was all brick on the outside and the inside was just incredible. One Christmas Eve we when there for the service. Now we aren't Catholic, couldn't sing the songs in German and didn't understand everything the priest said but it was a beautiful experience. Here are some pictures from inside the church. They just don't maintain them like this in the states.

Change of Command

I know that most of you will not understand the importance of October 7th 1999. It was a huge deal in our lives. It was the day John took command of Echo Battery 6/52 ADA. When we got to Germany in June we were told it would be at least a year before command would happen. Instead, we were a mere 4 months later, being told to start his equiment iventories which were worth millions of dollars. We were shocked to say the least. We felt unprepared but LTC & Mrs Lambert assured us we were indeed ready. They were the best leadership and mentorship we could have asked for at the time, only we didn't realize it.



While John was busy with inventories I was busy getting a reception planned. John had step by step instructions on what to do so he was good to go. I had planned lots of parties and get togethers but I still felt a little lost. Lucky for me the other wives stepped in and the community was use to helping host these. Food had to be ordered and invitations had to be sent out. To say nothing of the dignitaries that would be there and the seating charts that had to be made. To add more to the mix my folks were flying over so they could share in it, and Lady would finally be with us.

We always loved the promp and circumstance that fills a military ceremony, but this one was extra special. It was a such a huge step up in John's career. I had always been involved in the family side of the military, but it would be my first time running a Family Support Group the way I wanted. Before we knew it the day was upon us. Lots of running around making sure every thing was where it was suppose to be. John had worked hard on his speech and he really wanted to make sure it was ready. He has always been a very good speaker, even asked to guest speak at colleges about his many experiences with the military.




Finally it was time and we all filed into the tent to watch the ceremony. Even Rob attended the ceremony. He was almost 4 but he had been going to ceremonies like these since he was just a few months old. He knew what was expected and he never disappointed us. They always present the outgoing wife and incoming wife with flowers, but they had even thought ahead and presented my mom with some. The outgoing commander's speech was not as long as I thought it would be, and as incoming commander John's speech was wonderfully short. Then it was off to make sure everything was set up for the reception. We wanted to make sure it went off without a hitch. Luckily I had lots of helpers. Now it was time to jump in with both feet, whether we were ready or not.



strong

Berlin

Labor Day Weekend 1999
We had the time, we had the money so why not take another trip. We wanted to ventured farther this time. So we decided on Berlin. It was a the first time we would stay in a German hotel. Talk about a different experience. Our bed was over sized king bed so we all three fit into it. One major surprise was the bathroom. We had a sink and shower stall in our room and the toilet was shared down the hall. We really didn't know what to think but we didn't have any other choice.



We walked the city for hours and saw everything we could. Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Zoo and of the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Checkpoint Charlie was really interesting especially see the car that people hid in near the engine. Driving through the Brandenburg gate was something but then walking back through was even wilder.



The zoo was a total new experience. You could get much closer to the animals and when it was time to feed them the workers would just walk through the zoo with dead animals to throw them into the pits. Lunch was awesome and it was wonderful to have real American cooking again.



The second night at the hotel seem to be pretty uneventful. That was until about 2am. Then a fight broke out in the bar across the street from our hotel. We were woken up to someone being thrown through a plate glass window. We stood at the window watching with our mouths wide open wondering what would happen next. Then before we could blink the police where there and everything was back under control. Of course Rob had managed to sleep through the event.

Our trip came to and end too quickly and it was time to head home. The drive up took about 4 hours so we were expecting the same thing for the drive home. Boy were we wrong. We hit a major "stau", the German word for traffic jam. They are like nothing you would see in the states. Instead of 4 hours this one took us 8 hours! And once you get into one it almost impossible to get out.



Finally we were home and dropped right into bed. Unpacking would have to wait until tomorrow.

Nuremburg

Like I said we weren't going to let any grass grow under our feet. Our first trip on the train alone was taking it into Nuremberg. It was a wonderful old walled city with lots of history. We walked from one end of the city to the other. There were so many things to do and see. It seemed like any time we turned around there was a street performer doing some kind of act. They were so much fun to watch.



Rob was only 3 1/2 and we were a little worried how he would keep up with all the walking but he totally surprised us. He kept up step for step and even when he got a little tired a ride on Dad's shoulders seem to fix it. He didn't understand all the history that we were seeing, but it wasn't anything a little ice cream wouldn't help.

There was a old town square that had a large fountain in the middle. All around it was an iron fence. On the fence was a gold ring and rumor had it that if you turn it one complete turn it would bring you good luck. We don't usually believe in rumors, but every time we went into Nuremberg we turned the ring.

Our habit became picking up some sausage, cheese and bread for dinner that night since we were usually too worn out by the time we got home. We loved our trips on the train and if we didn't have anything else to do over the weekend we would find ourselves in Nuremberg.

Germany Part 3

June 6th 1999
The flight from Chicago over to Germany went off without a hitch and we were soon "boots on the ground". Our sponsors where waiting for us outside of customs and thankfully all our luggage made it through. Now we were jet lagged and has a three hour drive back to the base. Driving the Autobahn was a new experience and we arrived faster then we thought. We got checked in and just died. Things started moving quickly the next few days.

John checked into our new unit and I went to look at the house that was set aside for us. I couldn't believe how small it was. We were coming from a 4 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom apartment. It was going to take some creative planning but I thought I could get everything to fit. Since we had shipped our household goods so early, they were waiting for us there and our van was being delivered on Friday. John and I passed our driving test first time, our household goods were being delivered on Friday and John was picking up our van on Saturday. So things were moving along quickly.




While John was getting settled into the new unit I attended our first family support group meeting. Everyone was so nice and helpful that we felt at home right away. Friday was our first Hail and Farewell and it was being held in a real castle. What a way to start off our tour. Our sponsors were wonderful. They spent the weekend with us showing us around. First we went to Rothenburg and then took the train into Nurenburg. It was like a dream come true. We never thought we would get to see such things.


We made up our mind then and there to take every advantage of everything Germany had to offer. We didn't let much grass grow under our feet and for 4th of July weekend we headed south to Garmisch. We didn't speak a lick of German but we didn't let that slow is down. The weekend went great and we couldn't wait to branch out to other cities. We drew up a list of places we wanted to see and started checking them off. We didn't want to go home with any regrets.



In some ways Germany was the best thing that could have happened to us and we don't regret a minute of our time there. In fact we would love to get stationed there again especially now that Rob is older and he would remember so much more. But for now we can only hope.

Germany Part 2

Our flights to Germany were overnight flights. St. Louis, MO to Chicago, IL to Frankfurt, Germany. The pilot has the final say as to what and who gets on his plane. As we were waiting in line to board the plane the pilot called us over to talk to him. In his opinion it was going to be too hot in Chicago for Lady to wait for our flight to Germany. He refused to put Lady on his plane. We were stunned. Totally speechless. We tried explaining that this wasn't just a vacation flight for us, we were moving there for 3 years. My parents had already left the airport. We didn't know what to do. He said we could try the next day and hope it would be cooler but John had a report date in Germany that we couldn't be late for.

The pilot said he would hold the flight for 15 minutes so we could decide what to do...thanks. We knew that my folks were going to visit my sister after they dropped us off since she lives close to the airport. So our first call was to her trying to track them down. While I was talking to her my folks got there. I was so stressed out by then that all I could do was to cry so John took over and made the arrangements. A very nice supervisor from United would take Lady to her office until my parents could get back. Our 15 minutes were up and we had to get on the plane. We boarded the plane, took our seats and I cried the entire flight to Chicago.

By the time we made it to Chicago I was a complete mess. I felt like I was being torn apart. At that point I didn't want to get on the plane for Germany. Lucky for us my brother lives in Chicago. He was waiting for us at the gate. (This was before 9/11 when you could still do that.) My mom had gotten a hold of him at the airport and filled him in on what was going on. He was able to tell me that my parents had picked up Lady and she was safe and sound. That made it some what better but it was hard to processes everything before our flight overseas. We were cutting our connection close because the pilot had held the flight for us. So my brother knew right where to go and he rushed us through the airport.

More hugs, kisses and goodbyes and we were on the plane crossing the pond. Rob fell right to sleep and slept the whole flight over there. Our sponsors were waiting for us at Frankfurt and all our luggage made it there OK. Now we just had a 3 hour ride to the base, get checked in and figure out where to go from there. We didn't have our van yet or our household goods or our dog but we had each other and we were finally in Germany.