European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Moving soon relax anything can go wrong Phyllis Collins guest columnist the air Force decided that my Hus band and i should see Germany All of it. Eighteen months into this Lour our silo minimized operation Sand my husband s unit relocated to a. Nine months later the air Force announced that it would close Wei Brincken. The fact that we re going through Back to Back base closures has me convinced that we re repeal victims of perverse military circumstance and incredibly unlucky. Has t anyone told the Pentagon that mov ing is the primary cause of military family stress relocation tension is difficult to diag nose because it manifests itself in every imaginable Way from brooding to pm harassing muscle spasms. As a Veteran of seven military moves my relocation tension is the result of waiting. For that unexpected glitch to Hap pen. My favorite relocation glitch occurred at Manila International Airport in the Philippines. Our tour to Clark a was Over. Our furniture pickup was uneventful. We cleared quarters on the first inspection and we out processed in re Cord time. Would we actually leave the country without a glitch no the military Airlift come computer ate and Dige itch one of our Reser vat ions. I was flying. My dogs were flying. My husband had to swim. Glitches can happen anytime anyplace and most occur within 25 Miles of Home. Karen keenly s glitch occurred in front of her Home. On moving Day Karen was greeted by a Large number of the Carrier s employees. They were on strike and picketing her House. Eventually non striking employees arrived to Complete Karen s pickup but they did t have the proper packing materials. A Call to the local transportation office helped fix Karen s glitch and her pots and pans arrived safely in Europe. Would t it be great if we could scratch a glitch unfortunately not All glitches can be solved immediately or at All. The key to surviving a glitch nation is to follow Clint Eastwood s advice in the film Heartbreak Ridge improvise adapt and let me add that a Liberal sense of humor won t Hurt. Bill and Lynn Demko returning from an overseas assignment were driving from Cali fornia to Texas. They stopped overnight in Phoenix Ariz. During dinner thieves broke into the demos car and into their hotel room. The thieves got away with everything that the demos owned including Bill s uniforms and their baby s diapers. That night Bill and Lynn slept with extra blankets because their Only clothes were hanging up to dry. Let s face facts. Sooner or later you la have to relocate and you la be tense. A personalized Way to relax and defuse the tension is just what a doctor would order. I like to read syndicated columnist Dave Barry. There s something about exploding caws that launches a laughter fit and makes me for get that my car is being shipped via Katmandu and Tibet both of which Are landlocked. Relocating soon pay close attention to these warning signs. A glitch is inevitable if Rod Serling walks up to you and tells you that you re about to take a trip a trip into the master illusionist David Copperfield arrives with the movers to help pack your Furni Ture. Your copy of it s your move the Relo cation Guidebook for All military members is subtitled tales from the tense about your next move join the club. I be been so tight that i actually placed a Call to the an stress busters. I begged them to Zap our House. Can you believe that somebody had the nerve to Tell me that they weren t real now i m really tense. Phyllis l. Collins is a civilian employee for the army s 5th signal come Wei Brincken. West Germany. The real names were used Lor people mentioned in her column they were not changed to protect the unfortunate. Thanks for writing the Sunda y Magazine has received such a Good response to its request for guest columns that a backlog has devel oped. If you Haven t seen your column yet be patient if it is selected for publication it i be appearing soon. Feedback would you like to visit an Eastern european country Why or Why not Duilid Foster family member living in Flors Adt. West in mans i d like to go to fast a a Muon and Hungary i studied German i Stoia and want to to see the i Han is in in Tinalu in is haul. Frances Jones visiting from the United states in Schwet Ingen West Germany i would like to j o to Berlin but i m Only visiting Here and i Don t Llimo our Lime will permit it. I d like to see How the change has made a difference since they opened it up. Col. I Imine c. Simpkins. Office of Usa eur Deputy chief of staff for logistics Heidelberg West Germany sure. It s just the fascination of going Over there and seeing something you be never soon before. Plus i m looking Forward to going to Berlin going Oer to fast Germany. It s been a Long Lime coming we should enjoy it right Kandice Fallis military family member living in Gernshein West Germany i just came Back from Easl Germany. Now d like logo to Russia and Yugoslavia. 1 like the experience of seeing a different culture and talking with the people. To Sec something different from what we see every Day. Byron Morgan drug and alcohol Counselor Vilseck West Germany yes but i never have. I be been Here 18 months and i d just like to see it. Where i live is close to Czechoslovakia so 1 think i d like to go to Prague. Compiled by stars and say staff Pagac -1 sunday August 26. 1990
