It was a bleak, cold, dreary Christmas at Chambley AFB, France in 1962. Chambley is in Northern France, in the Alsace-Lorraine district, just south of the German border. Dear Old Dad was stationed there as part of the NATO/Air Force buildup during the Berlin Crisis.
We arrived in October 1962 and at Christmas we were still living in the BOQ (Bachelor’s Officers Quarters). We had 4 rooms; one for my sister, one for Mom and Dear Ole Dad, and one for my brother and me. The forth room was used for storage.
At some point during he lead-up to Christmas Dear Ole Dad call me aside and told me that “things were tight” that year – financially. He went on to tell me that because I was 16 and had had ‘good’ Christmases, he and Mom were going to give most of the gifts to Bill and Deb. I could see it was tough for him, and I was somewhat embarrassed for him – but I knew what he was saying. And I ‘pretended’ that it didn’t matter…
And true to form, that year I received one gift – a metal Ford car that had to be assembled with nuts and bolts. In actuality it was a neat gift, and I held on to it for a fair few years. Then it somehow went by the wayside…
I wish now that I had held on to that car, as it was ‘special.’ I think I may have thrown it away, in anger, when I went on active duty in 1968 – when I left Gram’s house after graduating from college. Little did I realize at the time, how my anger was evolving. It is very clear now…
Instead of being mad at Dear Ole Dad for “being left out” (I suppose), I think I would have gained so much more in Life from feeling gratitude – that I received what I did… But I was a kid in those days; insecure, immature, scared and self-centered.
But today I can still see that car. I can feel those tiny nuts and bolts and I am grateful…