Land of Snow and Ice
Trip Start
Oct 16, 2007
1
22
52
Trip End
Dec 16, 2007
Waterford,
Michigan,
United States
Thursday, February 7, 2008
On the way home I was in the security line with two soldiers that were headed back to the states for R & R. They were medics who had been down range. We got to talking - those lines don't move any faster even in efficient Germany - and I expressed my appreciation for what they were doing for us. The soldier from Chicago looked at me and said, "Thank you, for all that you are doing for our families. It helps us to know that they are getting your support." Pretty emotional. That was just before the German security man shook his finger at me for having TWO plastic bags and practically strip searched all three of us. After an stripping down to the bare essentials one feels as if you've just spent the night together
Ansbach
.I forgot to get a picture of my transportation this assignment. I was driving a black Mercedes van. It got terrible mileage and I'd like to talk to the people who are trying to make automatic transmissions seem like manual transmissions. Every time I touched the gear shift lever the engine revved up to about 7000 RPM's:(
I've been home only a little over 12 hours and already I am booked for Alaska and will be leaving in three weeks. I'm also booked for the dentist tomorrow and after I shovel myself out if my knee isn't feeling much better I had better get the ortho guy as well. I can see that my days at home are going to be very utilitarian with this job.
I said to Doc B as I was leaving that I hoped to see him again. He turned and said, "If's there's a war. I'll be there." So far he hasn't missed one in his 8 decades. I know those soldiers are glad this flight surgeon keeps coming back!
I had my last German beer on the plane coming home. One thing I am discovering about beer is that is so much less sophisticated than many other beverages. I still don't know how to stifle those beer burps! Never happened with wine. On more careful examiniation maybe it's not the beverage that is less sophisticated:)
Hope to talk to all of you while I'm home!
