Oktoberfest with a Led Zeppelin Song

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. This song is very special to me because I have a wonderful memory of it. I was at the October Fest in Munich, Germany. Believe it or not I was tired of the drinking so much beer and the crowds so I went downtown Munich within walking distance. In truth I needed to clear my head. In an entrance to a glass lined shop a young man was playing this song with a guitar. A crowd was gathered in the entrance to the store on the sidewalk and the young man was playing in front of the store door. There were about 15 feet of glass on both sides of the entrance between us and the man. Because of the echo his guitar sounded like many guitars. I was mesmerized as well as the crowd of people listening. I didn't want it to end but I had memorized the lyrics of the song and I knew when it would end. The crowd cheered and applauded his performance. It was awesome and I cherish the memory! 

My Second Letter From Germany - 1981

My second letter to Cathie.

My letter from Germany - 1981

When I arrived in Germany in 1981 I wrote this letter to my big sister Kate who at the time called herself Cathie. 

World War III has started!

After graduating from Colorado State University I served in the Army for 4 years because the Army paid for 2 years of my college tuition. That was unreasonable to me because 4 year scholarships served four years too, but that were my orders. I was in the Army R. O. T. C. at C. S. U. after completing four years of military training I was commissioned a 2^nd lieutenant. While most of my classmates were trying to get jobs through interviews, I was lucky because I had my orders. At first the army wanted me to go to Fort Hawthorn Depot in the middle of the Nevada desert. It is an ammunition storage depot. I really wanted to be in a repair facility rather than an ammo depot. My passion repairing equipment. My first choices when asked where I would like to be stationed were Japan, Germany and Alaska. I could not believe that I was being sent to the middle of the desert and had to do something about it fast! I had a friend who got orders for Germany and she didn't want to go. So I traded with her, success! At the commissioning ceremony my dad and mom pinned my bars on my collar. They were very proud of my accomplishment.

The Army sent me to Maryland for Officer Basic Course. It was a six month training.

I graduated at the top of my class! Later I learned that the Army is a lot different than what I learned in training both at C.S.U. and in Maryland. For example I never got used to the political nature of the Army. My dad convinced me to join the Army as he did in his after college days. He said the experience would be worth it. When I went to Germany I called him and asked if he liked his time in the Army and he said he hated every minute of it! Oh boy dad thanks!

My Germany first time experience was an incredible. I flew Frankfort and was totally jet lagged. My Army sponsor, another lieutenant drove me to my Army base in a little town called Fulda. I checked into my company and my commander said go across the street and check into the guest house, a hotel. He was very nice and I liked him on the first encounter. At the hotel I could not speak German so I had trouble ordering dinner. I played it safe with pizza and a beer. My waitress asked if I wanted water and I said yes. She brought me a little bottle of water. I took a sip and immediately wanted to spit it out. Bubbles! To this day I can't drink fancy bubbled water. He he. 

I was tired after dinner and went to my room to sleep. I was awakened at 3 AM by an alarm going off across the street in the base. The next surprising thing was tanks and armored personal carriers were driving down the street. I was terrified! I wasn't even issued a weapon or protective gear. I thought World War III had started and I wasn't in it. Fulda is right on the border of what used to be the country of Czechoslovakia until it's independence in 1993.  It was 1981 when it happened and our president was Ronald Reagan.  He said that the Soviet Union was the Evil Empire in one of his speeches! If Russia crossed the border into Germany they said our unit had a 50 percent survival rate!   Looking at the military vehicles drive by made me petrified. I went back to bed thinking that if the bad guys take over the hotel, well I will just have to survive it somehow. Luckily in the morning I found out that it was a monthly drill to keep the soldiers alert. After that situation I knew what to expect and it became routine.

I absolutely loved traveling all over Europe but didn't like the Army and counted the days until I got out. Not many of my friends from high school or college got the experience of travel like me and I am grateful!   Fortunately the Army sent me to Fort Lee, VA where I met my beautiful wife Hing! And we lived happily ever after!  

The End  

A Short Story - My Swiss Alps Skiing Vacation

It starts on a beautiful winter day. We were in the Swiss Alps at a place called Saint Moritz skiing resort. With 300 days of sunshine this place is gorgeous! I was skiing with my girl friend at the time named Susan.

We took a bus from our hotel to the ski area. It was early in the morning because I wanted to make the most of the day. You never know what the weather will be like later in the day.

Once we bought our ski tickets for the day and put on our skis we skied to the gondola. I handed our skis and poles to the gondola attendant as we got on the large gondola to ride to the summit.

The scenery was breathtaking as we rose into the clouds. At the top the door opened and we clambered out with the people who joined us. You could hear the heavy ski boots stomp as each person exited the gondola. We had to put on our ski goggles because the sun was so bright. Once out of the way of all the people we put our skis on and headed down the mountain.

I was surprised at how well she skied down the moguls. I enjoyed skiing behind her and watching how she handled each obstacle. We would trade off whom following who until we got down to the chair lift. We were thrilled for our first attempt down the mountain as we stood on line to get on the chair lift and could not wait for the next run. We were pleased at amount of people in the line and we got on the chair within minutes! More skiing time! Oh yeah!

At the top we agreed to try a more challenging slope. Susan was a very good skier but not as good as me. She had trouble skiing on the double black diamond slopes so she asked me for help to get down the steep hill. I went behind her and wrapped my arms around your waist holding her close. I made a snow plow formation with my skis us slow us down. She did the same with your skis and we were well under way to the bottom. She was relieved when we got to the bottom and she awarded me with a kiss! That was my favorite part!

Unfortunately by lunch time the snowstorm hit and we were cold and hungry. The beautiful day turned ugly. So we headed to the gondola which took us to a restaurant on the top of the mountain.

I took her in the guest house. That’s the term they use for restaurants in Switzerland. It as a very cozy restaurant with a roaring fireplace in the center of the room. We immediately got warm and started stripping off our heavy coats and gloves!

The waitress asked if we wanted a drink before lunch and I ordered two beers for us since I spoke German which seems to be accepted in Switzerland. We looked over the menu and she spotted the goulash soup and said ohhh that sounds delicious! We ordered it and it came with lots of bread for soaking every morsel of the goulash!

After lunch the clouds disappeared and we had a wonderful afternoon of skiing!

When we were done skiing we went to town and I rented a horse and open sleigh! It was fabulous to be all wrapped up in blankets with the cool evening breezes against our faces!

True story! Actually I had such an awesome adventure when I was stationed in Germany in the Army! I went with my good friend!