European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Observation True love at 5 is Good practice for the teen years Rob Staggenborg my 5-year-old pranced through the door kicked off his shoes in the Middle of the living room popped in his teenage mutant ninja tur. Ties video and promptly told me he was getting married. It seems a sprately Young lass in his kindergarten class swept him off his feet. The Only Way he could reciprocate his feelings was by marrying her. I was shocked. A Erik i mean you re Only 5. You can to get married a but dad she pushed me on the swings a he squealed As if cupid had hacked his frail Little heart with a meat Cleaver. A she pushed you on the swings huh a i said trying to. Get to the heart of the matter if you la Pardon the Pun. A dad we played in the Sandbox after a the Sandbox my god it must be True love a i said sarcastically. A what s a love a kids have an innate ability to ask Tough questions. Like any Good father i gave him the textbook answer a turn or ask your the whole thing bothered me. Erik a rambunctious 5-year-old who has problems tying his own shoes was about to tie his biggest knot. And with a girl he hardly knew. In a not so foolish As to believe in love at first sight. I watch Oprah and Phil Donahue. A Erik you be got to give this some More thought. I mean can she cook7 does she do the laundry How can you be so sure she wont run off with a first grader someday a of course we re in the �?T90s, so having a grasp of such menial tasks like tying shoes grocery shopping and cooking is hardly the stuff of love. There a velcro shoe straps pizza delivery and Mcdonald a. Who needs to know any of that stuff any More Erik a a Quick thinker. Ill give him that. A Well ill mom can do our Wash and Well eat Mcdonald a a but Erik who la tie your shoes everyday a stupid question. A i wont Ever have to take them of course. So i suggested Erik invite her Over one Day to watch cartoons and do that Macho stuff my kids do fight. Scream. Throw fits. Spill every fluid we have in our House on my new Recliner. Leave toys on the Couch. The big Day arrived. Christina showed up at our door with a smile on her face and a Fluffy Ponytail growing out of the Back of her head. A is Erik Here a she said in her Best Cindy Brady voice i invited her in took her coat. Erik a reaction Curtid up in front of some mindless cartoon he uttered these words of True love a ooh but soon he warmed up. Quot hey Christina Quot he said a Wanna play ninja turtles a in be heard smoother pickup lines but it worked. Before i knew it Erik insisted his name was Donatello and he was trying to Shear Christina a Ponytail with an imaginary ninja Machete. This is True love you mean i wasted Money on Flowers and Candy within 10 seconds of this i could Tell this affair would be a fleeting thing. Erik called Christina a a dumb old she speared Back with a biting a ooh yeah you re a Doo Doo those is fighting words. Before i knew it the War of the roses had begun. I finally settled them Down gave them a snack and popped in another cartoon. A Erik Quot Christina would say later a a you re not a Doo Doo Erik leaned Forward smiled devilishly and gave her his last Tootsie Roll. My 3-year-old was steaming. He wanted that Tootsie Roll. Head kill for that Tootsie Roll. Erik betrayed his own brother. And for a girl too. Christina left an hour later. I was impressed but still sceptical about it All. The next school Day Erik floated into the House kicked off his shoes and made another announcement. A a in a getting a Well yeah. I met Christina a no. She dumped on me today. I got a new As he was extolling the Virtues of some girl named Barbara i Stop getting this sick feeling in my stomach. His adolescent years Are going to kill me. I just know it. Feedback Are there any specific thanksgiving traditions your family observes each year Silvia Erpelding family member living in nems Dorf Germany i make the Turkey in the German Way with apples and onions. We eat it with Knodel German dumplings and salad. Sgt. James Stout 45th Ord co 71st Maint in Firth Germany we always get together and have a family Type reunion. In a in charge of the biscuits and every year my mom forgets the mashed potatoes. Kathy Powers civilian employee at property Book office Worms Germany since in be been in Germany i have invited All the germans that i work with to my Home for dinner. This will be the fourth year. Spec. Niurka Mendoza 229th trans co Firth Germany we used to All get together at my mothers Home in Bayamon puerto Rico. At dinner time wed have Turkey with Rice and Beans. Sgt. 1st class James Northcutt 18th engr brigade Karlsruhe Germany i done to celebrate thanksgiving. My wife is German and they re just not accustomed to that Holiday. Compiled by stars and stripes staff november 18,1990 sunday to plus c Page 3
