European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Odds amp ends perfect Home for checkpoint Charlie Cindy Chambers columnist a. Visiting Soldier Friend was obviously pm. Excited. A Sta Day he exclaimed l pulling a Gray Blob out of Bis pocket y with a flourish worthy of Houdini. It was a chunk of Concrete. A gee Quot i said brightly a Concrete a a secretly it occurred to me that this Man had been out of the country far too Long. Why Back in the states we have whole Bridges a buildings even a made of Concrete and no one Ever gets excited about them unless they fall Down. A a it a not just a piece of Concrete Quot he said reverently holding it aloft. Quot its a piece of the Berlin  the Berlin Wall. The room grew silent except for the muffled sound of my husband crunching a Mouthful of bugles. This was much better than the photos of the Wittlich pig burners festival he had brought last time. Gently respectfully we passed the Rock Back and Forth exclaiming Over each Little Crevice. Was that a bit of Grafitti there no Only a piece of lint from his pocket. Of Well Grafitti or no Graffiti a it was a piece of the Berlin Wall. In be reflected since then that there has t been such a to do Over Ordinary looking minerals since Man first brought Home bits of the Moon. Admittedly pet Rock generated some excitement in the Early �?T70s, but people Back then were also wild about those Happy face stickers that insisted you a have a Nice Day Quot pet rocks were symptoms of a sick society. This Rock symbolizes society on the mend. If our excitement Over a borrowed bit of the Wall was excessive though it was quickly eclipsed by the thrill we got from owning our own a piece of the  it came in the mail from our Good friends Ted and Donna Harris Berger longtime berliners and now part time demolition experts. Though hardly More than 20 Grams in weight our bit of the Berlin Wall is heavy with symbolism. We have it enshrined on our Coffee table. We stare at it a lot. When people ask us what the Rock is for we Tell them Quot its a conversation piece. Want to talk about it a then of course we launch into a spirited discourse of the death of communism the unification of Germany and our chances of getting a Job at Hardeep a when Uncle Sam is done with us All. Americanism runs very High. As much As we Revere our Little piece of history though we re now lusting after bigger game. After being roused to fervent patriotism by a tiny piece of the Berlin Wall we re ready to be whipped into a positive political frenzy by checkpoint Charlie. Now if we could just find room for it on our Coffee table what conversations we would have. Cindy Chambers is a military family member living in Schwem Furi West Germany miss manner Judith Martin dear miss manners �?-1 am planning to have a sunday afternoon open House in Honor of my oldest child who recently graduated from High school. Her guest list consists of her friends our Many relations and several longtime family friends. I have decided to serve Only non alcoholic beverages As the graduates Are All under the Legal drinking age in our state and families with younger children will be there. A few relations May not approve of this Ducci Sion. Should i mention it to them in Advance so they can plead a previous engagement if they feel displeasure at the thought of a a a dry afternoon. Gentle Reader a one does not apologize to ones guest for the refreshments. Miss manners cannot admit to a great Deal of sympathy for people who disapprove of liquor not being served at a party for their teen age relatives but those who find they cannot get through the afternoon without it can Drift off Early pleading subsequent engagements at the neighbourhood Saloon. Dear miss manners a twice when hosting a dinner party we have had guests walk around a Good part of our House Only to discover that they have left a Trail of dog droppings from the Bottom of their shoes. While this is both humorous and stressing is it appropriate for the Host or hostess to take the Steps necessary to clean the mess thoroughly or should we act As though it never happened and go on with the party gentle Reader a your etiquette problems begin. Miss manners suspects with your dog. One guest might have accidentally stepped in something anywhere on the Street. Two in such a matter constitute a trend suggesting that there is something untoward going on on your porch. The thoughtful Host says a ooh. Dear let me give you a wet rag for your shoes and quickly cleans up the Rug while making apologetic and if possible humorous comments about the dog and the neighbourhood. A pungent household is just not a Good Sei Ting for a party. Dear miss manners a my Mother passed away five years ago and my father has remarried. Recently he gave me my mothers engagement ring and wedding ring. Since i am married and have never had an engagement ring would it be proper for me to Wear this set in place of my own wedding ring gentle Reader a certainly you May enjoy wearing your mothers rings. Bui miss manners does no to quite like that idea of Quot in place  she worries about the feelings of the gentleman who gave you the wedding ring you arc now wearing. Fortunately a stacked ring effect is rather Chic. You could simply add the set to your own ring. Or you could Wear them on your right hand. A United features a Horoscope for the week of july 15 cancer june 21-july 22 the past is Over. Begin anew this week. By living in the moment you tap into your dynamic willpower. Take a nature trek to Clear mental cobwebs. Crafts and hobbies Are highlighted. Leo july 23-aug. 22 seize the initiative in personal affairs. Be a Dynamo both at Home and office As Sun approaches your sign. Get sensible advice before making Long term commitments. Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 Don t get dizzy on the social merry go round. Emotional fog could Roll in. Simply turn on your mental headlights. Keep Cool in Romance. Stormy seas Are on horizon. Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 too much willpower can be destructive. Go with the flow for a change. You re trying too hard imitate a gentle Breeze to get Point across. Refine your culinary talents. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 Check emotional gauge for lethargy and confusion. Put new life into artistic hobbies or crafts. Try your hand at creative writing or poetry Don t be a Spectator in life. A Sagittarius nov. 22-dec 20 Widen your already Large Circle of friends. A no nonsense approach works wonders with business mates. Try a sail in metaphysical wafers. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 turn your Back on business As usual. Inject excitement into your life. Try an imaginative Hobby or sport a hang gliding Don t be tempted by pie in the sky offers. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 remember your skills As a Counselor or healer your sensitive manner can help friends and relatives on the ropes. Don t fall prey to emotional sob stories though. Pisces feb. 19-March 20 sports and exercise top the charts. Radical changes Are due in Romance and the arts As Well. Resume your love affair with Mother nature. Visit the Countryside or buy houseplants. Aries March 21-april 19 ingenious ideas abound. Just Pluck them from your psychic tree business and pleasure mix with surprising results. Full Speed ahead with Romance too Taurus april 20may 20 emphasize Friendship Over self entered concerns your words of Praise heal old wounds take time for sports Breaks or outdoor excursions seek emotional serenity. Gemini May 21 june 20. It looks like umber Sal carte Blanche feels like if As Well go for it what have you got to lose9 let your imagination run wild focus energies on several business ventures at once Copley nes service july 15, 1990 sunday c Page 11