October and November Updates for the Munro's

Hi All,

I apologize for it being so long since my last post but October was a difficult month for us.  When you see what happened, you will understand why. November was better and I was able to get some touring done with the USO.

OCTOBER:

To start the month of October, I took a tour bus to Munich Germany with the USO. Yes, we did "Octoberfest" in the city that is said to have started it all.

"OctoberFest" is basically a huge party and carnival. Lots of rides and vendors adorn the grounds with so many items that you get confused as to what you are looking at. There are also beer gardens galore and boy can the Germans drink!!!  We had beer flying all over the place and sometimes wine. It is really funny to watch the Americans trying to keep up with the Germans. Needless to say, the Germans beat them ever time.
In addition,  everyone that can, dresses in the old fashioned style of Lederhosen and Dirndles and parades around the fair grounds with their mugs o beer. The Americans join in as well and you often find them with the Germans, passed out on the street somewhere.
Luckily, our USO guests made it back to the bus on time and we had no troubles getting home but my wrist hurt for a couple of days after because of lifting the giant mugs o beer. (Only had one. that is my limit).

 

Me and the closest thing I could find to
Traditional German Dress
 

     



Our Son, David came to visit us here on October 9th. Because we only have one car with two seats, Sterling and David spent a lot of time running around Germany and seeing the sites. (I do not like to drive on the autobahn very much). They went to Cologne, Munich, Castle looking, golfing and walked around our town of Wiesbaden. We took him to our favorite restaurants here in town (walking to these is simple) and showed him our favorite places to have a beer and relax. Of course, mom had to take him shopping and so we went to base and bought some clothes for his new job. It was great fun and he loves Germany. He is already planning his next trip out here and we can't wait to have him back and the also the other kids as well.



I bet a young Frau
caught someone's eye.

We are excited to announce that Kristen and Ben bought and have moved into their first house. It is not far away from our house and we congratulate them and hope their home is everything they could wish for. 

We have hired a property management company to come in and get our house ready to rent. We are hoping that it will be listed within the next couple of weeks so please let us know if you know of someone who would like to rent a house. Thanks.

While we truly enjoyed David's visit in October, we were also stricken with heartache.  First of all, on October 9th, we learned of the death of our dear friends son, Danny. Danny was only 29 years old and filled with ambitions of being a chef. He was a funny character and always tried to make people laugh. 
 
Danny passed away from a brain aneurysm he sustained as the result of a fall he took. Danny was the son of our good friends Connie and Steve and we have known this family for nearly 25 years. Our kids played together all the time and literally grew up together. Our son Tim and Danny were best friends when they were younger and in fact, Danny introduced Tim and our Daughter in Law, Amanda. This is the second child that Steve and Connie have had to bury as their youngest son Tyler, passed away in 2007 from brain cancer.  What a heartache this family has had to endure and I can't imagine what it would be like to loose a child, let alone two. However, the spirit of both these young men are around us all the time.  Connie and Steve and their daughter Jessica, live their lives in a positive and productive way by giving back to those that need help and are always the light that shines on a sad situation, no matter what it is. They are the greatest friends and we share their grief every day.  We love you Connie, Steve and Jessica and think about the kids everyday. Memories are ours and will never leave us!

On October 16th, I slipped in the bathtub, while taking a shower. Bathtubs here in Germany are deep soaking tubs and you have to climb up and into them. When I slipped, I fell out of the tub and onto the floor. In doing so, I broke my right arm in half, just above the elbow. Surgery happened the next day and I spent a week in a German hospital, rather than going with the USO to Poland for a Pottery Trip. (ARGH).  I now have a 10 inch plate in my right arm and pins at the top. I have been going to Physical Therapy, twice a week and will continue to do so until such time I heal.  While I am gaining more mobility in my arm, it is not healing the way the doctors had hoped it would. This is due to the severity of the break. I am told that I may need additional surgery and it may be up to 6 months before I regain full use of my arm without pain. Please be careful when you are at home. Accidents occur there just as easily as anywhere else. I do not wish this pain on even my worst enemy.

For those of you that know us, you will know our relationship with Gary Draper and his wife Teresa. It breaks my heart to say this but we lost Gary on October 26th. Gary was diagnosed with cancer in March of this year and fought a courageous battle. 

We met the Draper's in 1990/1991 thru my parents. Mom, Dad, Gary and Teresa were good friends and hung out together all the time. We eventually joined this foursome and enjoyed laughing, singing, joking, camping and loving the relationship we all shared. 

Gary and Teresa were instrumental in assisting us when both of my parents were sick.  They helped get Mom back and forth to the doctor and took care of Dad, in their home,  after his cancer surgery and much more. Gary also was the minister that married Ben and Kristen.

Among other things they did, Gary and Teresa were simply our companions and the four of us shared an extra special relationship with each other.  When the Super Bowl game was on this year, Gary and Teresa, spent the evening watching the game with us via Skype. It was great fun to see them get as excited as we were and share the game with them.

Now, another light has burned out here on earth but the light is shining brightly in the skies above us.  We truly miss our brother Gary,  but we will never forget the time we shared with him and the laughter and fun we had. Gary was an amazing person and touched many people. His music was his adventure and he loved sharing it with others.  We love you Garish and miss you everyday.

If anyone would like to post a condolence or light a candle in Gary's memory, you can do so through the Seattle Times website and Legacy.com.

NOVEMBER:

Unfortunately,  November did not start out that well either as I learned of the passing of a colleague of mine.

Steve Lane passed away the beginning of November, unexpectedly.  Steve was someone that I had known for a long time, as I worked with him at both Foster Pepper and Perkins Coie.  Steve was a very interesting person and loved life and his family.  He was a very talented vocalist and was very passionate about the music that he sang. He directed the "Perkins Coie Carolers" for many years and it was always fun to listen to this group sing every year, during the holidays. 

He had a very unique personality and a laugh that was infectious. When he retired a few years ago, the office just did not seem the same.

Rest in Peace Steve we know your bright laughter and personality is here with us still.

A condolence for Steve can also be left on the Seattle Times Website through Legacy.com

So on we go,

I started back to work with the USO about 3 weeks after my injury. This was mostly the office work that I usually do to help get the tours ready and assist the other managers with stuff.  I work until my arm gets sore and tired and then I quite.

My first post surgery USO tour happened on November 22, when we took a group of people to Seiffen, Germany.

Seiffen is a cute little town, located about 5 hours away from us, near the border of the Czech Republic, and in the Ore Mountains.  Ore Mining used to be the way this town made its living however, ore mining decreased and the town turned to wooden toy making for sustainability.  Seiffen is famous for their toys and Christmas products, world wide. The town now is primarily a town that makes different Christmas items out of wood and other materials. You can find anything you need for Christmas in this town, 365 days a year.

Our next USO Tour was on Thanksgiving Day, were we went to the Black Forest area of Germany. This is a place that Sterling and I have been wanting to see for quite awhile. 

Triberg is a town in the Black Forest about 2.5 hours away from us.  It is a beautiful town that has the highest waterfall in all of Germany. It is also known (as is the whole Black Forest area) for its Cuckoo Clocks and many people flock to this tourist destination each year.  They hike to the Waterfall, see the many different clock makers and of course eat the Black Forest Cake and Black Forest Ham that originated here.

We had two buses that went to this area, filled with about 90 guests. It was great fun because we were able to explore the area and were furnished with a traditional Turkey dinner by one of the local restaurants, called the Landgasthof Lille.  The meal we had consisted of Turkey, Pumpkin Soup, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Stuffing and Salad. For desert, there was Cheesecake and Apple Strudel.

The whole day was Wunderbar!!!

Waterfall above Triberg

The City of Triberg



One of the Many Cuckoo Clock Shops in Triberg
 

Since we spent all day Thanksgiving Day in Triberg, we decided to lay low on the Friday following Thanksgiving. We hung around the house and I did lots of sleeping. Good times.

Saturday, Thanksgiving weekend, we shopped our local store for Christmas Decorations and put our tree up. We then went in to the main part of our town, Wiesbaden, and looked around at the Christmas Market they had.  While it was beautiful at night, there were many many people there so we did not shop for very long.  We found a booth that served Gluhwein (a warm spicy wine) and sat and watched the people meander about.

On Sunday, November 30th, I took a small group of USO guests for a cruise on the Rhein River, which is a major passage way in this area.  We then had time to shop the Christmas Market in the town of Rudesheim.

Rudesheim is a town about 40 minutes from us and is popular as a wine making town.  It lies on the Rhein River and is a very fruitful area.  Grapes for Wine making are grown on the side of the hills that border the city.  There are also many castles along the stretch of river that borders the town. 

Tourists come here from all over the world to check out the wine, grapes, castles and beauty that surrounds the town.

This time of year, Rudesheim hosts one of the biggest Christmas Markets in the area.  There are vendor booths all over the little city and nativity scenes that are staff with real life characters.  People can shop, eat and drink all within a few meters and have a great time doing it.

So my friends, that brings us to a close of the last couple of months. As you can see, the Christmas markets are abundant in the area and I am sure that we will be visiting more of them as the season progresses.

I have only one tour scheduled for December and that is to Heidelberg and of course, the Christmas Market.  However, I have a loaded schedule of other things that I am working on with the USO and continuing with my Physical Therapy. Sterling is busy as usual with his work but has a great group of people that he is working with and is enjoying the work that he is doing. We continue to enjoy Germany and the places that we have visited.  We look forward to the new year and more adventures.

To all of you, we wish a very happy holiday season and a wonderful and prosperous New Year.  We love you and miss you.  Remember, to hug your loved ones daily!!!! :)

Sterling and Deb

September Updates for the Munro's

 

 

Hi All,

 

September came and went without us even realizing it was here.  Sterling was very busy with work and I kept occupied by working with the USO.  While we did not travel this month, we were still busy.

 

September 6th, the USO hosted a community thank you. We had more than 1800 visitors to our event, who enjoyed live music, hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers, games and prizes. It was a beautiful day and was really fun to be at.

 

I was working in the Mobile Canteen all day and making hot dogs and popcorn. Very popular items for our events.

 

 

On September 19th, my friend Ann and I drove to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic for a bit of R&R. The trip was fun and we were able to explore many of the splendid sites of this city as well as shop for crystal at wholesale prices.  We also did some research regarding USO tours to take back home with us. Nice weekend.

 

 

September 27th, was Volkfest in Stuttgart Germany.  We stayed at our first Hostel and found it interesting. Our room had two sets of bunk beds in it, a small wardrobe/locker, a bathroom and small table to sit at. All meals were eaten in a common area and the hotel had places to play pool and other games. More like a dorm than anything else but it was clean and cheap and that is what was important.

 

Volkfest is essentially the same as OctoberFest only on a smaller scale.  We went to the festival, found our table and ended up taking beer baths with the locals as we listened to music and toasted Germany on a grand scale.  This is the time of the year when the Germans really come out and boy can they drink!! Liters of beer flowing all over the place (literally).  Fun experience to say the least but we were glad when we got home. 

 

September was also birthday month for me, Kristen, Tim, Ewan, Gary, Mandy, Ron and Brandon. I wish all my fellow September birthday friends and family, the best now and for always.

 

Also, we wish to Congratulate Ben and Kristen on the purchase of their house. We know it will be great for you. Congratulations also go out to our son David, on getting and starting his new job.  Woo hoo!!

 

And that is all for now. October brings trips to Munich and Boleslawiec, Poland, as well as, our son David's visit to Germany.

 

We love you and miss you all.

 

Sterling and Deb





August Updates For The Munro's!

Greetings to all our friends and family Stateside. We love you and miss you a lot but we continue to do well here in Germany.  The following gives you an idea on our travel adventures for August.

August 3, 2014 - Worms, Germany: USO Tour

Worms is a city in the Rhineland-Palantine region of Germany. Not far from Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, Worms was originally established by the Celts. Conversation still exists between the towns of Trier, Cologne and Worms about which one is the oldest. Not sure if there will ever be any decision on that one but no matter.

As with most of the older cities here in Germany, Worms was involved in several wars during its early days. Our guide told us that is was shelled and burnt down a number of times before it was rebuilt to the standards it is today. 

City of Worms

 Worms played a big part in the "Protestant Reformation" in the early sixteenth century. It was also the site of Martin Luther's stand before the 1521 Diet of Worms and held a lot of Jewish history as well.

Martin Luther Memorial

 The St. Peter's Cathedral, is one of the grandest sites I have seen and is currently going through a restoration project, due to the many battles throughout history. Worship still takes place in this cathedral today and is a major focal point to the City of Worms.

Outside of St. Peter's Cathedral



An Entry Door to the Cathedral

Inside View of Cathedral

 

Since Worms is near the Rhine River and the area of Germany that supports many vineyards, we could not leave the city without a wine adventure.  We were able to attend the last day of the Worms Wine Festival and were able to sample and buy many of the local wines.  The wine was very tasty and we brought several bottles home with us.

Very interesting place to be in Germany. 

Inside Note: This trip was one that I researched for the USO and lead.


August 9, 2014 - Cologne, Germany USO Tour

The City of Cologne (or the German Koln) is one of the most beautiful I have seen so far in Germany. From the train station that drops you off in the Central Square, to the many museums and of course, the Cathedral.

Train Station and Central Square in front of
The Cathedral

Cologne is the Fourth largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich and is located on both sides of the Rhine River. It was established in the first century AD and was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Germany during World War II. Almost the entire city was destroyed and the population reduced by 95%. 

Inside the Cathedral

Today, Cologne is a major cultural center for the Rhineland and houses more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. The structures are unique and you get a feeling of peace among the hustle and bustle of the ever continuing crowds.

The Cologne Cathedral is the most famous monument in the City and most respected landmark to the residents. The structure is of a "Gothic" nature and was started in 1248. Completion of the structure ended in 1880. 

I will never understand how the people built these fabulous buildings without any modern equipment. Remember, work started on this cathedral in 1248 and took more than 600 years to complete.

Outside of the Cathedral

Ceiling Inside of the Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

If you choose to visit, you will not be lacking in places to eat or drink. Cologne has more than 3000 pubs, cafes and restaurants. They serve anything you want and at affordable prices. The food is tasty and satisfying and the beer, well remember you are in Germany. Wunderbar!!!!
 
And for dessert, visit the Chocolate Museum which boast demonstrations and tastings, featuring the chocolate of the Lindt Chocolate Factory.  The Lindt Chocolate Factory is housed right next to the museum!!!!

August 30, 2014 Weekend in Prague - USO Tour

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic and is the fourteenth largest city in the European Union. With its beautiful architecture and culture, the city is flourishing. It is truly a beautiful place to visit and a site see.

It boasts 10 museums and numerous theatres and galleries, along with all the historical exhibits you could imagine. Maybe that is why more than 4 million international visitors come to Prague on a yearly basis.

After a long bus ride, we arrived at our hotel in Prague. We ate breakfast and began our walking tour of the Old Town with our local tour guide. We were privy to many sites in the Old Town and had a great time, hearing of the tales behind each monument or building we discovered.

The Astronomical Clock of the Old Town Hall was built in 1410 and was a collaborative effort between the clock makers and professors of the Charles University in Prague.  It is built directly into the façade of the hall and stands several stories high. People gather around to watch the hourly chiming of the mechanical structure, which also includes a person on the top, playing a trumpet.

From the Top of the Clock Tower

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square

From the top of the Clock Tower

Climbing to the top of the tower, will net you a fantastic view of roof tops of the Old Town and also some of the spires that are featured. Truly a site to behold.
Our day also took us to the famous Charles Bridge, which is Prague's oldest and most famous bridge. Originally called the "Stone Bridge", it dates back to 1357.  The name was changed to the "Charles Bridge" in 1870 after its founder King Charles IV. It spans 515 meters long and features replicas of stone statutes of saints and important people of the Prague region.

It is a pedestrian walkway, with towers at both entrances. On the main entrance from the Old Town, there is a courtyard that you can sit and view the beautiful views and reflect.  Vendors adorn the span of the bridge, offering everything you can imagine. I saw vendors who were selling jewelry, leather goods and photographs.

 


Beginning of the Bridge

Charles Bridge

View from the Bridge at Night

Charles Bridge

The Prague Castle is probably the biggest landmark of this area and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest castle complex in the world. Erected sometime in the 9th century. It is still used today and is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic and houses several buildings in the same area. A long walkway with steep steps, takes you to the outside of the castle were you will witness the changing of the guard and get a spectacular view of the city. You can also visit the gardens and cathedrals that surround the castle.

We did not visit the inside of the castle but heard that, while expensive to get inside, it is a spectacular site to see. We will probably tour the castle on our next visit to Prague. however, we did get some fabulous pictures of the castle from the Charles bridge.

Castle in the Background from the Charles Bridge

Castle and view of the Bridge

 While walking around on our own one day, Sterling and I discovered that Prague had a Lego Museum. The best thing about this museum was the mosaic that spans the entry wall. It is a picture of the City of Prague, built entirely out of Legos and just astonished me. I had to take 2 pictures of it just get it all in.  Can you imagine the time it took to build this? 




Prague is truly an amazingly beautiful city with lots of culture and activities. They say that people either really like it or hate it. We loved it and we are planning to go back and take in some of the sites that we did not have time to fully explore. The food is really great and the beer is always flowing so you will not have any issues with being hungry or thirsty. Plus, there are several other varieties of libations to take in. Get your walking shoes together and come for a visit. You will not regret it.

In closure, Sterling and I were pondering the cities we have visited so far: In Germany, Frankfurt, Rudesheim, Worms, Cologne and Berlin. Munich is coming in October.  In Europe, Amsterdam, Reims France, Paris, Prague, Nove, Italy, Bosloweic Poland and probably a few others that I am forgetting.  We have done a lot of travelling so far with much more to see and we are loving the time we spend.

September will not be a heavy travel month for us but October and November will be. Stay Tuned for more updates from us in Germany. Again, we love you and miss you all. Sterling and Deb







July in Germany

Hi All,

Wow! Hard to believe that we have been here nearly 7 months now. We have done so much and there is sure to be much more to do and see before we leave here. My update for July follows. Hope you enjoy reading about our adventures.

July 5th Rhein AFlame Tour:

Rhein AFlame is a celebration held each year along the longest stretches of the Rhine River in Germany. It is a festival termed as a "Fire, Water, Light and Culture" festival and runs Spring through Autumn. It features a different stop for each day it is held and began back in the 1930's.  War and indifference brought the festival to a halt for a time however, it was revived in the 1980's to the spectacular show that it is today.

Our tour began with us bringing 250 of our new friends aboard a cruise ship. We were treated with a welcoming toast onboard and had time to wonder the ship before our BBQ dinner was served. There was also a band that played country music, while we cruised up and down the Rhine River.

When it got dark, we stopped to see the fabulous fireworks displays, illuminated castles and the ships that were lit up sailing the river with us. If you love fireworks and castles, this is a great way to experience them both. Beautiful Scenary despite the rain that occurred: Tell me what you think.

Very Dark I know but look at the castle!
Beautiful!

Pretty Spectacular!

Cruising the Rhine River



Then, the Luxembourg Blues and Jazz Rally, the weekend of July 19th, with Visits to the American Military Cemetary and the German Military Cemetary.

Luxembourg, a country in Western Europe, is bordered by Belgium to the West and North, Germany to the East and France to the South.  The official languages spoken there are French, German and Luxembourgish (which I figured was a cross between German and French).

It is headed by a grand duke and is the world's only remaining grand duchy country and also is member of the European Union, NATO, OECD, the United Nations and Benelux.

It is a very old city with lots of old buildings and cultures but it keeps up with modern times easily enough. You can bike through the town, drive, call a taxi, bus or take the train. Oh yea, walking is also an option.



View from atop the Viaduct that
connects the town

As with most of the European cities that we have visited so far, Cathedrals and places of worship are everywhere. Some are still in operation but most are memorials to what had come before.  They all have one thing in common and that is their grandure and beauty. Luxembourg did not dissapoint.

The "Holy Citadel"
in Luxembourg



After touring the city with our local guide, we stopped to have lunch and see some more of the sites. We then proceeded to our hotel room and took a bit of a rest to get ready for the festival, later that evening.

The festival began about 7:00 pm and featured music and bands from all over the world. There were European styles, American Styles and everything in between. I even heard some Polka being played at one point. 

Best part was that you were free to walk through the streets and listen to any and all the music you wanted to. Of course, the beer was flowing and was really good! Was a fun time to just relax!!  

Next morning, we ate breakfast and headed back to Germany by way of the "The American Military Cemetary" and the "German Military Cemetary".

American Military Cemetary in Luxembourg:

There was a very surreal feeling as you entered this monument. The grounds are beautiful and full of greenery and statutes with memorials of the war and those who gave their lives. There is a small chappel there as well were you can go and worship. Seems hard to believe that this was so long ago.

Gateway to the American Military
Cemetary - Luxembourg

Markers for the Lives Lost
Each one had the Soldier's Name

Memorial to American
Lives Lost

Grave
General George S. Patton
Stories told he wanted to be
buried with his men.


 




After our visit to the American Cemetary, we went to the German Cemetary and were very surprised to see the contrast between the two. Here, you truly get the feeling that you are in a Cemetary.  It sits way far back from the main road and it is positioned in a grove of trees. There is a walkway to go in to it and the markers are ordinary. 

 

Walkway in to the German Cemetary

Grave Markers of the German Cemetary

German Cemetary

 

Both cemetaries were interesting and beautiful in their own ways. Needless to say, time for reflecting was all about.

 

 





In between our USO tours, Sterling has been working and I have been taking care of our apartment, writing, reading, working on embroidary and exploring the city we live in. I actually drove out of my comfort zone this past weekend and was very proud to say that I did not get lost!! Yippee!!

We look foward to August were we will be touring to Worms, Germany for wine tasting and to Prague for Labor Day weekend. More about that later.

For now, take care and you are in our hearts always.

Love

Sterling and Deb 



.



June Updates for Sterling and Debbie

June Updates from Germany and Beyond

 

Wow! Hard to believe that June has come and gone already. I started off the month by assisting the USO with our "Mobile Canteen". We set up and served Hot Dogs, Popcorn and pop to the high school seniors who were practicing for their graduation day.  Reminded me of the days with North King County Little League when I would run the "Roach Coach" for games and events. Fun time!! 

 

Two days later, was our wedding anniversary. We spent the day with good friends, exploring castles,  and treated ourselves to a fancy dinner on the town. Nice and relaxing time. 

 

 On June 7th, we headed with the USO for a trip to Champagne and Reims France.  Our guide was a person who taught Military History at Westpoint and is now here in Germany to teach and explore Europe. The USO is very lucky to have this man as a Volunteer guide and I was very fortunate to help him with this trip.  So off we go!

 

Champagne and Reims France is known for its excellence in the creation of fine wines and champagne and also for its military history, featuring World War I and II. Reims is situated near the Marne River in the Champagne-Ardenne region and has witnessed many french kings, invading armies and even Joan of Arc.

 

1914 was the start of wars between the French and Germans in this region with the Americans adding to it in 1918. The Germans recaptured Reims in 1940 and were there until General Patton and his men, drove them out in 1944.

 

We visited the "Museum of the Surrender" (Musee de la Reddition) which was the headquarters for General Eisenhower's "Allied Expeditionary Force" in 1945 and saw the actual room where surrender documents were signed by the German forces on May 7, 1945.

Plaque Above the Surrender Room

 

Outside of the Museum of Surrender



After the Museum, we drove a little bit away and found an astonishing site in the Our Lady Of Reims Cathedral. History boost that this is the coronation site of 29 French kings and is magnificant in its grandure and architecture. There is a peaceful and surreal feeling when you enter and you marvel at all the alters and the height of the the ceilings. The Stained Glass throughout is wonderful and there is truly a feeling of peace within the cathedral. Candles are avialable for you to light at any or all the alters that you wish.  I loved this cathedral and hope that we can go back to visit again.

 

Outside of the Cathedral

Inside Ceiling of the Cathedral



One of the many alters in the Cathedral

Front Door View from the inside of the
Cathedral. Check out the Stained Glass.

Next, we ventured to the Pommery Champagne establishment were we went on a guided tour of the dungeon. This is were the champagne is stored and it is a very dark, cold and long way through the bottom of the building. We also saw sculptures and decorations on the walls that were done when the establishment was first opened.  We finished our tour here with some tastings of the very good, very expensive champagne they make and were allowed to buy what we needed.

Champagne Cave and sculpture on the wall
 

How the bottles are stored.

The tour finished up on the way back to Germany by visiting a couple of the sites that  military fighting actually took place.  You can still see where some of the bunkers were trenched and get the feeling that you were laying in one. Eery. There is also a cemetary not far that commemorates the lives lost during the battles fought.  All in all the trip was great and we had a wonderful time, learning and exploring this part of history.

 

On June 12, I started my journey back to the States to attend our son, David's Gradution from Central Washington University. I took the bus from our apartment, down to the train station, which took me directly into the Frankfurt Airport. Nice and smooth transition and guess what, no traffic or parking issues to deal with. Got To Love it. I boarded the first leg of my flight on Emerites Airline and landed in Dubai about 6 hours later. Then, I got on the next plane for my final ride into Seattle. The flight was long but Emerites Airline is the best for these kinds of flights. They were very nice and the aircraft was designed for long ventures. I had a glass of Champagne in my hand while the rest of the passengers were loading and a blanket a few minutes later with dinner and more wine. Woo hooo.  I was met at Seatac by Kristen and Ewan on Friday afternoon when I landed. We then drove to North near home and we attended my Nephew, Rowdy's graduation party. Afterwards, we drove to Ellensburg to spend the night and attend David's gradutaion the next morning.

 

Ewan Getting Ready to Watch His
Uncle David Graduate

David in Line Walking to Graduation
Ceremony!



Proud Graduate!!!!

Proud Graduate and His Proud Mama!
Sterling was celebrating with a bier at the
Wiesbaden Festival!!!

After David graduated, we went to lunch to celebrate with the family. Nice time for all. Next day, we were on the road again from Ellensburg to Bellevue, where there was a graduation party for both David and niece Catherine. It was alot of fun!! Thank you Libby and Family for hosting and for thinking of David. That was really nice of you!

 

Aunt Mary and Aunt Margaret with David.

David and Catherine opening their Graduation
Gifts as their joint party!!! Woo Hoo!!!

I spent the rest of the time in Seattle, visiting friends and family, babysitting Ewan and shopping with the kids. Was a lot of fun but now, it is time to get back in to Germany mode. 

 

Stay tuned for my next blog, which will feature the month of July!!

Much Love to you all.

Sterling and Deb