Finding the past… changed

Okay so we got out of class early and I decided to try it, I drove to Patton, only … wasn’t this the place they had the NCO Club?  That wasn’t “MY” barracks, was there more?  I drove around and around Patton.  I almost expected a camera to pick me up and MP’s to pull me over – “Excuse me miss, you’ve circled 5 times, what are your intentions???”  Oh yea that would be WUNDEBAR!

So I followed the sign to Campbell barracks, hmmm.  Whats this, Mark Twain Village.  Memories of baby Kayla playing there.  Which house was it?  I know it was to the right, and – they have put up gates around ALL of the houses now.  Both sides of the street from MTV to Campbell are now serious concrete posts joining up the rails and bars giving a new security fence that I don’t quite remember being so tight.  Or were they even there at all?  I kept driving… there they were on the left side of the road.  My old barracks, behind bars.  Soldiers still live there, across the main entrance of Campbell barracks, I forgot how IMPRESSIVE it is.

To View my CREEPY Drive by Photos go to Shutterfly

Nowadays its harder to see with the blockade and jersey barriers creating a serpentine route into the entrance, but its still impressive.   It felt like walking back in time a little, the memories that hit.  Remembering crossing the road to work running through the back gardenplatz, standing on the parade field baking in the heat while some high-up talked on about something that was important (to them).

I felt a little strange, getting out of my car and wandering so I did something so much LESS strange, and held the camera up taking photos of a few sites as I drove “literally” down memory lane.

I’ll come back when the air is less icy and the rain has been replaced by sunlight … I’d also like to show Kayla where she played as a child, maybe even find the old hospital building which I have been told has been turned back over – I don’t know I guess you spend 4 years in a spot that to me was the begining of my adult life, it just sticks that it means something?    Memories of  crazy nights getting ready to club with my roommate Pam and Denise, SGT Hall always being there to make sure the girls didn’t get TO crazy.  M old boss SGT Wright,  the first day I met him he was sitting at his desk, long lanky legs poking out from underneath, smoking a cigerette.  He reminded me of an even skinnier Hockeye from MASH.  NBC training, Volleyball with the units team, walking up to Konigstuhl on the switchbacks, memories of Gina, Julie, Jodi, and “Franks” walking up the HauptstraBe and hearing a rush of singing as the local “Football” team won a game and the streets came alive with happy German fans.  The castle, Kayla in her stroller on the cobblestones.

Where Kayla was born:” Nachrichten Ksn“ old 130th Station Hospital (Before my time)

Much to remember here, but time to come back to now.  I have studying to do.

If you get the chance to come to Heidelberg, there is much to do:
http://www.heidelberg-marketing.de/content/e886/e890/e1284/index_eng.html