Stories

A Regimental representative met Kady, Jay, E, and me at Heathrow and drove us to our quarters in Church Crookham.  We were exhausted.  There is nothing like packing up all your belongings, shipping them overseas, and then traveling with two youngsters across the Atlantic with too many bags to handle.  As our sponsor, Jordie, showed us around the place, already "warfed" by the British Army with loaner everything, all I could think was, "Thanks, but I just want to sleep."

He told me he would pick me up the next day and take me to meet the RSM at Depot Para.

It was the middle of the day, but nighttime by our internal clocks.  The kids were irritable, unhappy with leaving Fort Bragg and Fayetteville, and unsure of what was happening.  Kady was a champ.

Outside, I pointed to the small playground directly out our front door.  It had swings, a slide, and a jungle gym built over asphalt.  I guess British Kids are tough.  I remember saying, "Look, guys, you have your own playground!"

I showed them the apartment before we put them to bed for a nap.

Kady slept upstairs in our room; I crashed on the couch downstairs, just in case the kids got up and tried to go outside.

The next thing I heard was E opening the front door and yelling, "Hey!  You kids!  Get off my swings!" 

Some British kids in the neighborhood had dared to encroach upon what I had told E was her personal space.  Not yet four years old, E was in charge and introduced herself to the community as the Smallest Ugly American.  My apologies to the moms, my weak explanation, and my acceptance of blame seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Though not a great start, she, Jay, Kady, and I made friends there.  E would attend the community pre-school, learning British English and developing the most adorable English accent with a slight Southern drawl.  Jay attended TASIS England, a very prestigious and expensive school paid for by the U. S. Embassy.

Our two years in England would be a fantastic tour and the beginning of four years of great family time.