Being part of the RCAF family for ten years, the experiences were varied, but I think the best three years were spent in Zweibrucken, Germany.
It was 1955 and the three of us (Harry, little Linda (3 months) and myself, were off on an adventure.
The trip by ship was awful as I was as sick as a dog. I do not handle motion at all well and it was a long trip of seven days of disaster. I was not the only one affected as Harry turned up in the dining room one morning to find only two others joining him.
For over a year we lived in makeshift housing with the German people. The town had been bombed to pieces by Canadians and it was a long, slow recovery. Housing was mostly recycled material. Many months later we found ourselves in the Married Quarters…just in time to welcome our 2nd little daughter into the world.
There was an American station nearby and they were very generous to us…allowing us uses of their PX’s (food stores), their gasoline, hospitals and their R&R’s (rest and relaxation stations.)
Camping was a way of life for most of us of the lower ranks and we tented all over Germany, Holland and Denmark. The locals were often astounded that we had a small child with us, but they loved little ones too and made a fuss over Linda.
But one weekend we took a trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, to one of the American R & R’s. What a lovely spot, and the accommodation was so nice, and reasonable too. I recall chatting with a young service man who obviously was from the deep south. I could hardly keep a straight face. His accent so strong I could barely understand him. He finally said his goodbyes but not before he said “Nice meeting you, but you sure do talk funny.”
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder…even beautiful language.
As the years slip by my hearing is beginning to fail and I find myself straining to hear what others say and it reminds me of the trouble I had trying to figure out what that southern young man was trying to say…and sometimes I want to say to those I am attempting to hear… ”You sure do talk funny.”
Communication is so important and I am thankful that God speaks to my heart and that kind of communication I can always hear and understand.
