So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu!

July 23, 1954

Monday and Tuesday nights I went to the movie with Willie.  Then Wednesday night went to Rita and Bernie’s to dinner.

Yesterday about noon Willie found out that his orders had been changed.  He left this morning instead of Sunday.  Last night we went to Juanita and Lilburn Irwin’s to dinner.  This morning I got up and ate with Willie.  Then I went to the train with him.  I surely did hate to see him go, and I surely did feel down in the dumps.  He called this afternoon from Nuremberg and I missed the call – darn it!  [It makes me a little teary to read this.  I can only imagine how hard it was for her - she was leaving - and not for somewhere close by but halfway around the world! - and then he gets called away sooner than expected.  I can remember when I had a long distance relationship and every time I left, I felt bereft.  I imagine that's how she felt.]

Tonight Dan Clark had a promotion party.  Afterwards Detachment had a going away party for the Freeman’s and they let me in on it too.  They gave me some grand perfume.  It was a grand party.

Mother at the Officers Club going in for one of those infamous parties

Party time!

The Martin’s leave tomorrow.  Tomorrow night I am to go to the Ireland’s for dinner, Sunday the Verboshes, and Monday the Allen’s.  Tuesday I leave.

Got to get my stuff together now – packers come tomorrow at 0800!

July 27, 1954

Saturday they packed my things.  That morning the Martins left.  Then that afternoon a bunch of us sat around and chatted.  Saturday night the Tuites, the Tuggles, and I went over to the Ireland’s for dinner.  Afterwards I spent the night with the Tuggles.  Sunday afternoon I went into Peg and Bob Kelly’s for lunch.  Then we went to the baseball game and back to their house for supper.  Afterwards we went over to the Verboshes for drinks – Kellys, Tuggles, Lilly’s, Amy Randall, and Janie Flynn.  [What a whirlwind of activity in just a few short days!  All the parties!  Parties do make the world go round, don't they?]

Monday June and I went to Nuremberg for my final doings.  That night went over to Pat and Don’s for dinner – Kelly’s and Tuggle’s.

This morning I left for Frankfurt.  We got in about 1700.  We sat in the billeting office until after 8 waiting for rooms.

One other teacher and I are staying at the Park Sanitorium Hotel in Bad Homberg.  It looks like Am. Express reservations!!!

Mike Molloy greeted me at the billeting office – they are still here!

Surely do miss Willie!!!  [I wonder if they had already talked about getting married.  I wonder if she cried.]

 

July 28, 1954

This morning I went into Frankfurt to see Nora and Mike.  After going several places and waiting around for Carlton most of the day, I found out they got out sometime late last night.  People are coming and going continually here all day and night.  Wonder when our time will be!

August 2, 1954

Last Wednesday night (28^th), they came knocking about 20 ‘til 11 and said be down in the lobby by 2300.

They took us into Frankfurt for our baggage check.  Then we went to Rhine Main where we converted our money for dollar instruments and went through customs, etc.  We took off at 0330 the 29^th.  We flew on Trans Ocean in a cargo plane which wasn’t very comfortable.  We landed at Iceland where it was certainly windy.  Had lunch there.  Then we went to Gander for supper.  We took off in a storm.  We landed at Idlewild at 0330 EST.  It took us 30 hours.  [These days you could fly from Frankfurt to NYC in about 8 hours and non-stop!  Heck, you could probably fly non-stop to Charlotte in about 10.  I can't imagine all those stops and it all taking more than a full day!  At least she got to fly and didn't have to take a ship back.] You might know I would get on the slowest thing going.  We had to process at Idlewild and then go to Ft. Hamilton.  We got there around 0600 and couldn’t finish our processing until 0900, so we just sat around.  Finally we finished, and I got transportation into Penn Station.  Saw Mike Molloy again as I was going out through the gate.  After I had gotten my ticket, I went out to Dink Ware’s for lunch.  Then I got the Zagat at 1400 and got into Charlotte at 0200 Saturday morning the 31^st.  I sho’ do miss Straubing but it certainly is nice to be home and see everybody.

Plane Mother flew in from Frankfurt to NY

 

And of course she must take a picture of leaving Iceland!

End of my European tour!  It was grand!!!

And so it's all over.  But there's still more to discuss so stay tuned!