European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Rin waiting. A Gary Pomeroy Stafl writer its the most bizarre free show in Europe and there a a performance wherever conduct routine errands. Its called. Strangers who pc obviously never been in Public raise my blood pressure to h53/779 whether its the commissary Exchange or Bank people usually directly in front of me provide hours of depressing entertainment. The show begins at the commissary when i stand behind the person with the least amount of items three full shopping carts. The customer watches As the scanner formerly checker scans his 7 trillion items. When the total is announced the customer acts slightly surprised As if to say a a Obj that s right this costs Money. I remember . Then begins the search for the Check Book which contains his last Check. And of course he botches it. At that Point he vaguely acknowledges the line of custom cars snaking twice around the store and collectively eying his Throat. He bolls for the parking lot to search his car for checks. When he returns he remember that his wife gave him the precise amount of Cash for the Purchase. Is he embarrassed by this revelation no but he a thrilled about also finding his coupons and wants them deducted from the total. After my sides Stop hurting from All this laughter i spin Over to the next Stop the Cash Only express checkout Lane at the Exchange. It looks Safe Only one Guy in line and he has one item a a compact disc. He has a $20 Bill in his hand. The clerk scans. No beep. Scan. No beep. She checks for a Price on the package. No Price. Then she grabs the intercom and says the most dreaded words of All a a Price Check on. Lane one Quot. Anybody who has Ever been in an exchanges stereo department knows its just a Tad busier than Wall Street during a Slock Market crash. The diligent clerk try ing to be Nice shuts Down the Cash Register and  to the stereo department to gel the Price. By then All the other checkout lines have filled with people whose Only purpose is to hang around and Jam checkout lines at times like this. Since my item is wife critical Taupe hose1 wait. A Short while later the clerk returns and manually inputs the Price. Then the customer. Says a they this does no to have crush my cheese on  11 done to you want it sir Quot Quot i guess  a Well i la have to fill out a refund slip since 1 already input the Purchase . A Quot but i did no to give you any  a thai s the  after filling out the slip she asks my favorite All time question a Quot Why arc you returning this item Quot a How can i return something i Haven to bought Quot a a it a policy sir. I need a  quoth does no to  after wiping away those tears of laughter i mosey to the Bank where t have two possibilities for my finale a in Side or  there will be a person who goes to the Bank once a decade. His arrival at the Teller will coincide with every other Teller closing. He will request four types of foreign currencies attempt to Cash a chinese Check and Deposit a fish bowl filled with Nickels. Before departing hell have just one Quick Quot question Quot can i buy $25,000 Worth of traveler a checks. In $ 1 of and $20s?�?� by then people arc Rushing outside to catch the grand finale at the automatic Money machine. Its so simple a 9-year-old can operate it. Unfortunately there Are Only adults in the line. After the machine rejects a card twice it starts sounding like a Calliope recital a beep Woop Bip deedle.�?�. The confused Patron slides it in for a third time and then a  Quot the protective plastic shield slams shut and the machine spits the Access card against the inside of the shield. A Small amount of smoke is visible. The screen announces Quot this machine will be Down for flurry minutes. Thank you for not minding the  amp Quot what a great ending to a marvelous Day. My. Souvenirs include a pair of Hose a gallon of curdled milk and some Orange juice concen tract 1 can drink right out of the can. In a not even bothered about not getting Cash from the Bank for my other weekend fun. I can stay Home and Chew  do you do to help pass the time standing in line Petty officer 1st class Jonathan i.ut/, assigned to natos naval forces Southern Europe in Nisida Italy. 1 just Start a i cd re a m t n g. T h i n k i n g about what in a going to do on v action on the Klc of f ip11. Spec. Kenneth Taegar f Btry 333rd Field arty target acquisition11 Anau. West Germany i Start talking to people around me. One and a half hours a at a Bank a is the longest i has e stood in line. Seaman recruit Melanie Watford family service Center naval support activity Naples i think about what in a going to do after i get off work i have a part time Job a cling tickets at the base theater. Staff sgt. Mel Clemmons 10th tac fighter Wing Raf Alconbury England if have something to read i read. Or else 1 think of ways they could shorten the lines. Sue Pierce Lead sales representative at cafes shop Pette at Raf Chicksands England 1 space out. Lines done to bother me. Either in a patient or stupid to have that Type of attitude. Compiled in sums und sin pcs Muff Page 4. C sunday August 19, 1990