Hodge Podge Post

Too many things to type about today...

First- an annoyance... everything in German!! Randomly- when I type in a page I want to go to or download a program- it is all in German. I know it is because my IP address is routed through a German company- which means the program assumes I speak that language. For instance, just downloaded the new version of Picasa... of course it is all in German. I googled how to change the language. I had done it right it turns out- but had not closed and restarted the program to reset the language. UGH!

LEGS are sore. Thank you spinning. 3 Hawks & Hooker did well last night. We won 4 out of 8 points. We do it for fun- so it really isn't about winning. But we are all competitive- so even if we say it is just for fun- we still wanna win...

Sad note- the shooting yesterday at Frankfurt airport. Two airmen from Lakenhealth in England were killed. When families/soldiers arrive in Europe for the first time- they fly into Frankfurt. This is where they inprocess you into the country and then you wait for a bus to take you to the post you are going to. This is how my hubby came into the country. This is how most of those we know arrived. They used to let soldiers go and pick up incoming soldiers. They stopped that. Now they make these soldiers and families sit and wait for hours sometimes (after an insanely long trip) and then put them on a bus. They put them on a bus that is clearly filled with soldiers and their families. They are an automatic target! All you hear around the military is OPSEC- watching the information you put out. Yet- they are daily putting families on a bus in mass groups in front of one of the largest airports in the country. I am devastated for those soldiers and their families. I am devastated for the other soldiers that witnessed this tragedy. It is devastating. We have some friends arriving into the country in a week. One week to the day of this horrific shooting. So sad. These soldiers were doing their jobs and lost their lives. Not in a war zone- but at an airport. Really??? One of my friends said it perfectly. These soldiers died for their country. They may not have died in a combat zone. They may not have been carrying weapons. Yet they were still a soldier. This is not just a vacation zone. Living in Europe is amazing but it is still a foreign country... with a lot of people who do not want us here.

In fact- there was a protest right outside the gate of our post last night. These people protest routinely. They hate the helicopters flying over. It is silliness really. The soldiers here are not allowed to fly past midnight- which is unheard of. In the states- Lee would fly all night sometimes. There are so many Germans employed on our post. The money that the Americans bring to the local economy is insane! Not to mention- if post was closed down- do you know the amount of empty housing that would be in the area? It would kill the economy. Luckily these protestors are calm and there are no issues with them. They just hold their signs. Sadly- I hate passing by and seeing the soldiers that are standing at the stoplight waiting to cross the street and having to stand there next to the protestors. I did not see them last night because I entered post before it was supposed to start and left after it was supposed to end. Truthfully- I am hoping they did not show- in respect for what happened yesterday at Frankfurt.

I cannot help but think of the post 9/11 events. We were stationed in Washington State. I remember driving down I-5 and there was this overpass you had to go under right before Tacoma... and it was lined with 100's of patriotic Americans. They were holding signs and flags. Just showing their pride and support for our wonderful country. Literally- I have tears in my eyes right now. It has been almost 10 years and it still brings me to tears. The same way the National Anthem does. You cannot help it when your life is about supporting a man who puts on a uniform everyday and goes to work with the knowledge that he is the defender of our country. He gives up a year or more at a time away from his children. He misses birthdays. He misses Christmases. He misses his childrens births. But he does it because he loves those children. He loves his family and friends. He will defend that flag with all he has.