Time With Family

Thank goodness our move from Germany in April 1973 was uneventful for the most part.  The movers came and packed up our belongings, which wasn’t very much--a crib and playpen, a black-and-white TV, a rocking chair, a cuckoo clock, some dishes and pots and pans, towels and sheets, Bill’s golf clubs, and our clothes.

We stayed with friends a couple of nights before flying to Charleston, South Carolina.  Before that, we had our Volkswagen shipped to the States.  We thought we had shipped the car early enough to be able to pick it up in the States immediately after we landed at the airport.  But, the car wasn't there.  So Amy and I flew to Arkansas to visit family instead of the three of us driving there.  Bill stayed behind for several days.  When the car still hadn’t made it to the States, Bill joined us in Arkansas.  Not long after that, the car came in.  Bill flew to Florida to get it and drive back to Arkansas.  It was a tiring time for him.

As most military families do when they return to the States after living overseas, we visited relatives.  No one had seen Amy, so it was a fun time.  I even met some of Bill’s relatives for the first time.  We visited with my parents and Bill’s sister and her family in Arkansas, then drove to Wichita, Kansas, to visit more of Bill’s relatives.  I remember one visit in particular.  We had been driving around going to different relatives’ houses, and each time Amy fell asleep in the car.  We would wake her up when we arrived.  By the time we were at the third house, she had had enough.  She was so tired that she threw herself on the floor, kicking and crying.  We were so embarrassed because she had never done anything like that before.

Amy celebrated her first birthday while we were visiting relatives.  She also celebrated her birthday with chicken pox.  She was exposed to them while we were still in Germany.  I was surprised that I didn’t get them because I didn’t have them as a kid.

Below is a photo of the three of us in April 1973 at one of Bill's aunt's.  Amy and I have on outfits that I made.

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And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.
Psalm 35:28