European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sporting Stanley finds european life is tops Sherry Jayne Stanley could have had a Good life if she had stayed put in Long Island . But then she  have experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall the Gulf War deployment or met two presidents. Nicknamed Topsy by her hungarian grandmother Stanley was the first girl born to her family in 60 years. Topsy sounds like the hungarian word for applause her grandmother told her. If anybody a clapping its Topsy Stanley for two decades living amid the . Military in Europe. She has spent much of her time running the sports shop at Rhein main a near Frankfurt Germany. Like the bulk of americans who have chosen to Homestead on this Side of the Atlantic Topsy is contending with the draw Down. She realizes that when the a word dictates her store will close and she will return too. Meanwhile she a staying put. She feels she belongs in Germany each morning when she drives through Ahcin Mains main Gate and the Security police know her smile. For Topsy and her husband Warren the Way they decided to face the return to the states was to do it in phases. First Warren flew West More than a year ago to set up business As a financial adviser in Colorado Springs Colo. His Germany office a Branch of american express had closed up shop. Topsy will join him when hers docs too. I for work was Loo important for her to leave yet. She had put too much into it. Twenty years ago she started out As a Sale clerk. Now  the place a one year became two years. Two years became three and four and in a in my 21st year now Quot Topsy said about her career. She recalled that her first trip in the �?T60s across the Atlantic look 14 hours on a four propeller plane. Women wore White gloves and corsages at Airport farewells then. Her family turned out to say goodbye. That was when Warren was in the army. The Stanley liked Europe so much that they eagerly returned in 1973 when he got a Job offer. Topsy now 50-something, typically makes four stateside trips each year to do business at Trade shows or visit her husband and children. Her son Doug and her daughter Karen were both schooled at Frankfurt american High school and the University of Maryland a overseas Campus a amps Tefle Bathon Topsy Stanley in her Rhein main shop a eth Cryn a lot of tilings that pull people together Here Quot when to was in Munich. Quot in a comfortable of both sides. Its no culture Shock Quot Topsy said. Then again a a in a going to miss tablecloths on the tables in restaurants. And not being rushed out of a scat. And joining others at a table. There a a lot of things that pull people together Here a she likes the fact that Quot the Pace is slower Quot in Ger Many despite the autobahn hardly a Hundred Yards from her store. And despite the Day she escorted vice president George Bush through Rhein Mains sports shops a he liked the fishing reels Best. She traded him a Rhein main sports jacket for the burning tree country club one he autographed and gave her. A it was More like living in a Small town a Topsy said. Sports programs in the military Community kept their family dose. Warren coached Doug a Little league teams. Warren also coached the Rhein main rockets to Safe championships in baseball basketball and football. Quot those were really fun times a she said. A it was like the to show cheers. You like to go where everybody knows your name. You have an  and nobody Ever called her Sherry Jayne. A Effie Bathe the american Way conf Rici from Page 5 prism Gly some people who have served overseas particularly in Germany say the Washington traffic takes some gelling used to a but not because of the double Nickle Speed limit the Factor that might first Spring to mind. Swisher said the average vehicle Speed on the Beltway the clogged four Lane artery that circles the City is not that much different from Germany a a-5 aut Balm. Quot you can drive in the third Lane on the Beltway at 70 mites per hour and there will still be people passing you on the left All the time a he said. No after several years of driving in Germany its the unruly chaos of stateside traffic that jolts Many repatriates. Quot Drivers in Germany May not be any More considerate than in the states but they Are safer Quot Gil Huan said. Quot a Tot of Drivers Here Are oblivious to everyone and everything but  the  of Shock that comes with living to navigate the cacophony of american roads is relative depending on where one has lived overseas. Laura Potter who spent three years at Torrejon a Spain As the wife of Art air Force Security policeman before the Spanish government kicked the 40tst tac fighter Wing out did not have much of a problem adjusting to Washington traffic. Base housing Atton Ejon was 20 Miles from the base itself and she recalls Many a hic knuckle jaunts Between Home and work a the Spanish drive pretty recklessly a she said. A n addition to the Broad adjustments Many people who return Home from overseas also tend to fixate on one particular thing a usually some food items that can to be found outside the states. Quot a genuine Taco Bell Burrito supreme Quot Moore said. Quot Greasy new York style pizza Quot Gillman said. Quot those really great potato skins at restaurants like . Fridays or Bennigan a Quot Swisher said. Quot fresh soft wonder bread Quot said Rotter. Quot by the time the bread got to our commissary it was always hard and half stale a those who have lived overseas at unde Sams Behest Are divided on the subject of whether Given a completely free hand in the matter they would re turn to Europe again. Quot id have no second thoughts about going Back Quot Moore said. A being overseas gives you a greater sense of the world. You done to get the kind of Tunnel vision that so Many americans  Quot its such an advantage to live so dose to different cultures in so Many countries particularly now that Eastern Europe has opened Quot Beard said. Others cast their thoughts in terms of the cutbacks engendered by the military draw Down in Europe. Quot when it gets to the Point where you done to have to vacuum  office anymore which is what we had to do the last year and a half i was in Germany i might consider going Back a Swisher said. If repatriates get nostalgic about living in Europe the feeling usually does no to last Long. A being in a big City like Washington you done to miss that much a Swisher said. Quot i thought id miss the German bad Chen bakery Roll but you can find bardic Hon Here. If 1 lived in Killeen Texas i might be singing a different  and for Many the Bottom line is simply that there a no place like Home. "1 was very,1 very Happy to come Back to the states Quot said Potter. A a in Man american and this is where i  sunday june 12, 1994