Tag Archives: Military Life

West Berlin~Part 1

11 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

                                                     

 We had some amazing experiences during our times in West Germany.  We saw so many wonderful sights while there.  So much history, as well. One of our favorite cities to visit was West Berlin.  At the time we were there, The 1Wall (Der Maur) was still in place.  And, unfortunately, the Brandenberg Gate was in the Russian Zone, or East Berlin.  We were unable to get close to it.I later spoke to a German 2national who said she just couldn’t imagine living in such an “enclosed” place as West Berlin.  I tried to assure her that it didn’t FEEL enclosed.  The American Zone was quite open and free.  I don’t think I was very convincing.  She just had to experience it for herself.

 3As we walked around the city, we came upon a fascinating piece of old Germany – a very old hand-watering pump.  Apparently, anyone who knew about it, could bring their car/wagon/etc. there and get free water to wash whatever they had – as long as they were willing to hand-pump the water.  Not something you see around the U.S.

My Mother had come to Germany to visit us that year (May 1969) and we delighted in taking her places that I know she only dreamed of ever seeing.  We happened to be in West Berlin during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.    The German people had erected a 4monument to that occasion, and the celebration took place in front of it.  The monument is three-pronged, representing the American, British, and French efforts to keep the free German people from starving and out of Russian/Communist hands.  It was a tremendous success.

Another site that impacted me greatly was in the heart of downtown West Berlin, along the 5Kurfurstendam, affectionately known by the locals as the Kudam, which is the main shopping street in downtown West Berlin.  After the colossal disaster of World War 2, the German people decided to leave a reminder to themselves of the cost of pride and war.  They left standing the bombed-out shell tower of the Kaiser Wilhelm church.  And built right next to it a beautiful and modern new church and church tower.  While the new structure is impressive, it cannot be fully appreciated until one is inside.  The all-glass bricks are a cobalt blue, and with the sun shining through those bricks – well, all I can say is, it’s breath-taking.  And peaceful. And amazing.  And I’ve run out of adjectives already.

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To be continued………..

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The Disease to Please

21 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

author of Window Wonders

                                   
                                     I am suffering a debilitating disease-
                                     Self-diagnosed as “The disease to please”.
                                     I can’t even tell you when it began-
                                     I never knew it was common to man.
                                     It compels you to say “yes” to every request-
                                     It silently steals your time and your zest
                                     I struggled for years to form the word “No”-
                                     When I finally did, it amazed me so.
                                    I actually believe that is the cure for me-
                                    That one little word has set me free!
                                    Time is so precious, I must take control-
                                    New freedom for mind, spirit, and soul.
                                    Be aware, dear friends, I am working on me.
                                    No longer a prisoner to “yes”- I am free!
                                                “Pardon me, what was it that you wanted to know?
                                               I can’t hear you…..but the answer is NO.”
                               

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THE SAILBOAT

19 May

MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

Growing up in New Mexico, there wasn’t a lot of water around – no swimming pools (except at the public ones), no ponds or lakesides, no oceans, etc. So, consequently, I was not really familiar with boats of any kind. That really didn’t bother me too much I had a lot of other interests.

If you have ever lived in government quarters – as we did on any military base where we were stationed – then you know that, when you leave that posting, you are required to have those same quarters absolutely immaculate! Better than when you moved into them! And there would be an inspection of those quarters by an official inspector. If they found anything wrong – you were required to “fix” it before you were allowed to leave the base.

We had lived in quarters on Tyndall AFB, Florida for five years. That’s almost too long, actually. Our usual moves were about every three years. I told Fred that we needed to leave soon, because I was beginning to put down roots – in a government duplex!!

He was finally given orders to relocate. So then the work of packing up and moving out began. After the movers had taken our belongings away, we started cleaning the unit. We had always thought we could do that ourselves, rather than hire someone to come in and do it for us. So I set Fred and the girls to cleaning, and I thought I would tackle the kitchen. I had planned on the weekend to do the entire kitchen. Unfortunately, the stove was so old that, in taking it apart and cleaning it – it took the entire weekend just for the stove!

By the time we had finished, we were exhausted.
Now….you may think there is no connection to cleaning and boats…but wait….

page1image16592 There was a gentleman who worked in the Weather Station with Fred, who LOVED boats! And especially sailboats. Not being able to purchase one for himself, he had contracted with another gentleman from Alabama to care for his sailboat.

It was a 33-foot Hunter that would sleep six people. It had a full galley and full shower. It had a small auxiliary engine to get us in and out of port. It was set up for ocean voyages and was one-person configured. Whenever the owner wanted to “play” with it, he would call and come down and retrieve it. That usually only happened once or twice a year. The rest of the time, our friend could take it out whenever he wanted.

And that’s what happened with us. He had offered to take us out for a sail, on the last day we were in town. And so we did. I was a bit confused when we motored out of port, thinking “what does this have to do with sailboating?”

But then he cut the engine and unfurled the sail. It was the most wonderful thing – so very quiet, and peaceful, and RESTFUL…just exactly what we needed after all that cleaning.

He even let our 8-year-old handle the wheel for a while. She loved it!

We’ve never purchased a boat of our own – never felt the need to. But it was an experience that we savored and have remembered all these years.

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Father Daughter Action Plan

28 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 JUDY

Father Daughter Action Plan 

That title in the Thursday newspaper reminded me of a time that our family enjoyed quite a bit.Back in the mid 1970’s, we were living on an AF Base and, because Fred was an officer, were required to be members of the Officer’s Club.  So, for the dues we had to pay for that pleasure, we thought to have a meal there at least once each month.  However, the food was less than great.

 While we were there, the club began giving out a “chit” for a free meal each month when they sent the bill, to encourage more attendance at their facility.

Well, we didn’t want to waste the “free” meal, even though we really didn’t enjoy eating there that much. But then a plan occurred to me – how about a Date Night between Father and Daughter?  Neither of the girls really had a lot of just “Daddy” time, so I thought this might be a good way for them to have some quality time with Daddy, and be treated like a lady should be treated by a gentleman.  And Fred is definitely a gentleman.  His momma taught him well!

So the plan went into action.  One supper evening each month, one of our daughters would get dressed to the nines, and would go to the O’ Club with Daddy.  He would help her into the car, pull out/push in her chair at the table, and they would just visit with each other while they ate.

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The next month, the other daughter would get dressed to the nines, and go to the O’ Club with Daddy.  And she would be treated like a lady by a gentleman.

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The girls loved it – they still say it is one of their fondest memories.  They would usually wear a long dress, get their hair fixed “just so,” possibly wear a “touch” of makeup, and be on their best behavior.   So each daughter had her quality time with Daddy, and Daddy got to know his girls a bit better.  Fun for all.

The remaining daughter and I would have hamburgers.

 

As a footnote to this:  when I told a good friend about this plan, she harumphed and said she would have to teach her husband to be a gentleman first!

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I DON’T SPEAK PORTUGESE!

3 Mar

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

One of the funniest things – and most irritating – about growing up in New Mexico, is that a whole LOT of the U.S. population doesn’t even know New Mexico is one of our great 50!  So much so, that the New Mexico Magazine has published a book of anecdotes people have shared.  It, as well as a full-page article in the magazine, is entitled One Of Our 50 Is Missing.  I have laughed – and growled – over some of the things people have encountered in this vein.

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I never thought to have one of those experiences myself, but sure enough – it happened to me!

Some years ago, after we returned stateside from Germany, we were living in the small town of Seaford, Virginia.  It is a lovely little place, just eight miles away from Yorktown, which is part of the Historical Triangle in Virginia.  That triangle encompasses Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Jamestown.

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There happened to be a Baptist Church in Seaford, and after “visiting around” the other churches in the Hampton Roads area, we decided Seaford Baptist Church was where God wanted us, so we joined the church.

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Within the first year, our church hosted a youth group from Tennessee.  Seems like the man who had served Seaford Baptist Church as a volunteer youth pastor was a military person, and had been reassigned to a military base in Tennessee shortly before we arrived on the scene.  And he volunteered as youth pastor for the little church they joined there.  He brought his youth group to Seaford, and we provided the beds and food for the youth.  Since our house contained four bedrooms and three full baths, we signed up for two girls.  One of our bedrooms and bathrooms was downstairs, which made it nice for company to have their own bedroom and bathroom.  So our assigned girls stayed there.  Turns out, they were both named Kim.

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The week went by quite quickly, and we enjoyed their company a lot.  The night before they were to depart for Tennessee, we were all gathered in the kitchen, just sharing and talking.  One of the girls stated that she didn’t think she would go on the youth trip the following year.  Why not, I asked?  Well, Max wants to take us to New Mexico, and I don’t want to go.  Why not, I asked again?  Well, I DON’T SPEAK PORTUGUESE!  WHAT???……Portuguese?  Well, they speak some foreign language out there, and I just don’t want to go!

Yep…….one of our 50 is missing!

Now, I may not – at that time – have been able to tell you exactly WHERE Tennessee was located on a map (I can now), but I most certainly knew that Tennessee is one of our 50 states!  Makes me wonder what the geography teachers in Tennessee are teaching!

 

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1 Corinthians 10:26

 

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THE NEXT ASSIGNMENT

24 Feb

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy

                                                     

Fred and I have an “inside joke” between us.  I’m sure most couples have one, as well.  You know – that “special” song that reminds you of…………  Puts you right back in that place where …………… happened.

When Fred went in the Air Force, we were somewhat eager to find what and where our first assignment would be.  Fred had been offered one of three possible career choices:  Missile Launch Officer, Munitions Officer, or Meteorologist.  Even though he had the “Marksman” distinction with a weapon, he really wasn’t into weapons that much, so Munitions Officer didn’t really appeal to him.  And “Missile Launch Officer”????  Well, not too much interest there, either.  So that left Meteorologist.  And since his undergraduate minor degree was in physics, that one made more sense to him.  So he signed on for that one.

 

The Air Force sent us to San Jose, California for Fred’s concentrated year of study in meteorology.  While there, his orders came through for his first assignment – Wiesbaden, West Germany!  Boy! were we excited! Toward the end of those three years in Wiesbaden, the AF asked him to give them a list of three possible AF Bases where he might like to be stationed.

So we began discussing this new situation.  First on our list was Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, of course. After all, it is in Albuquerque, our home town.  Kirtland AFB was a “flying” base – lots of airplanes with pilots who needed weather info before they flew.  We really wanted to get back to New Mexico.  I’m not sure I remember the other two “choices” he gave them.  But, in our pessimistic mind-set, we asked each other – “since we put in for New Mexico, do you suppose they’ll send us to Maine??”

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Fred comes home one day, a few months before we are to return stateside, and asks – “Do you remember that joke?   You know, the one – ‘since we put in for New Mexico, do you suppose they’ll send us to Maine??’   Well, they did.”And I actually thought he was joking.  Then I realized that – the joke was on us!  We were headed to northern Maine – only three miles from the Canadian border!

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So that has been our “inside joke” through the years – “do you suppose if we put in for New Mexico, they’ll send us to Maine again?”

We continued to ask for New Mexico (we were never able to be stationed there), and the AF continued to assign us somewhere else.  I’m not sure we ever were stationed where we asked to go.  Seems that God had other plans for us.  We were always able to find a good church and made long and loving friends everywhere we were assigned.  And with the exception of the northern Maine assignment, we enjoyed all the places we were sent.  We even went back to Germany for another three year tour.

But we still laugh about our “inside joke.”

 

 

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NEW YEARS IN WIESBADEN, GERMANY

30 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy

 

                                            

When Karen, our oldest daughter, was still quite young, we were stationed, through the US Air Force, in Wiesbaden, West Germany.  We had joined an English-speaking Baptist church there.  One year, the church decided to hold a New Year’s Eve evenand they needed a “Father Time” (old year) and a New Year’s baby.

 Our little Karen was just about the right age and size to be the New Year, and they asked us if she could do that.  We agreed.  And, so she wouldn’t be traumatize, they asked Fred to be the old year.  He was to wear a “toga” along with a white beard and white wig. We were concerned that Karen would still be frightened by this strange looking man with a tall stick.  So we had Fred dress up in his costume, and present himself to her before the program.  She looked up at him and said, “Hi Daddy!”  So much for a disguise!The program was a lot of fun, and the church group enjoyed themselves.

While we had never seen a drunk German, we were still a little apprehensive on our drive home late that night.  Yes, there was a lot of fireworks, and a lot of reveling all around, but nothing too drastic.  Along the way, as Fred drove very carefully, we spotted an older gentleman on the sidewalk.  Fred slowed down,  just in case this gentleman decided he needed to walk in the street.  The man stopped, looked at us, and tipped his hat at us!  Then he was on his way.  We waved at him and thought how remarkable it was.

We’ve remembered that courtesy all these years.  Such fond memories.

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WIESBADEN, WEST GERMANY

16 Dec

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

Judy

                                                     

After my husband had completed his meteorology training for the U.S. Air Force, he was assigned to an AF Weather unit in Wiesbaden, West Germany.  We were quiteexcited about the prospect of living in that country.

 I was seven months pregnant with our first child at the time we were due to depart.  There was just a short window of time that I would be able to travel/fly that far.  If I didn’t make that window, then I would have to remain state-side until after my six-weeks postpartum exam before I could join him in Germany.

Part of the problem was that my passport had not arrived yet!  So, in addition to the time we were to spend with my family in New Mexico (Fred’s family was visiting there to see his brother graduate from the University), we had to schedule a stop in DC to pick up the passport.  And it was HOT in DC in June!  We flew from there to Philadelphia for an overnight with Fred’s relatives.  Expecting to have a nice, cool, stay – we discovered they lived in a row house – without air conditioning!  We nearly melted!

However, all worked out and we flew out to Germany the next day.  We found a second-story apartment on the “economy” (military talk for non-military housing).  We had two bedrooms, and even a balcony!  The German owners lived downstairs.

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The house was on Albrecht Druer Strasse. If that name is unfamiliar to you, just think of the “praying hands” sketch you’ve seen.  Albrecht Druer was the artist.

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The area where we lived was quite nice.  Just down the street was a lovely park, where the two of us used to walk.  And after Karen’s birth, we walked there again, with her in the buggy.  She loved the outdoors – and the Germans we passed oohhed and aahhed over her.  There was also a church nearby that chimed the hour.

Fred’s dad retired on August 31 that year, and his parents flew over the next day to visit with us.  Our daughter made her appearance the very next day!  And how nice it was to have the grandparents right at hand to take care of us!

Our first Christmas in Germany was lovely.  Fred brought home a table-top tree, and he purchased some German ornaments, that we still have – all these 50+years later!  They aren’t fancy, but they bring back so many memories of such a wonderful time in our lives, every year as we place them on our tree.

 

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