Back in Bavaria-- Still Being Stalked

I was sad to have to go back to Germany but not as sad as I thought I would be and I was even a little bit excited. Serious! There's no telling what things transpired while I was gone. I mean, in 7 months my very normal family remained very normal but ah, back in Ansbach it was no telling what drunken person fell out of a window, what soldier went to jail, who was leaving their baby in a car . . . things over there were happening!

When I got back I learned Rob sweetly missed me. My roommates told me he walked around the barracks like a sad lost puppy while I was gone. That made me nervous because though I was beginning to walk this new walk of having been "released", I still wasn't quite ready for commitment, even to someone that had once learned to love Chicago. So I proceeded with caution with Rob.

Having gotten my belly full of family and Chicago, I was no longer hungry for those things and thus satisfied, I wasn't dreading my first Christmas without family. In fact, I almost preferred it as I was showered with packages and gifts, my family trying to take out the sting of not being home. Day after day I'd get slips to pick up packages and yes, even the infamous "panties package".

One day as I was picking up a package I had not noticed a soldier walked into the mail foyer after me. As I was ready to leave I turned and who should be standing there? Creepy soldier guy! That guy that I kept seeing around was standing between me and the only way out. No one else was around so I was certain this, our first encounter, I would be forced into talking to creepy stalker guy. I tried to pretend I didn't see him but really, the foyer was quite tiny so there was no escaping it. As I walked towards the door he said to me, "I've seen you around the company . . .and I was really hoping . . .I was thinking maybe you'd like to spend the holidays with me."

IS THIS FREAK OUT OF HIS STALKING CREEPY MIND?

"Uh, no --I already have plans for the holidays.", was my very cold response. I just could not imagine how he thought I'd choose to spend my Christmas with him --a total stranger. I went back to my room to drop off my packages and I just had to tell my roommates about the creepy stalker guy who had the absolute NERVE to think I'd spend Christmas with him. They agreed --that was kind of stalker creepy like.

Just before Christmas the Major called me into his office. He invited me, along with the other single soldiers in JAG, to his house for Christmas. I thanked him but declined because I already did have plans. I was so touched though. He insisted no soldiers spend Christmas in the barracks. I had no idea anyone even cared. But turns out, my roommate had already been invited to her NCOIC'S house for Christmas and had invited me to come along too. I have not yet written about her but my roommate and I were inseparable. Where she went, I went and vice versa. A few days later that same Major gave me a whole platter of Christmas cookies. Turns out, each of the wives of the JAG soldiers made cookies and they assembled them into platters for all of the single soldiers. Again, I was touched anyone cared. It really meant a lot to me.

And now, I'd be celebrating Christmas Bavarian style!