I have come a long way…….
Born on the opposite side of the sea —
Growing up in war torn Germany —-
Being told by the Propaganda that the USA were our ENEMY —-

But – 

When the American Army took our town –
Without a single shot —
and 2 GIs came to our front door to look for weapons —

One of them pulled out of his pocket 2 chocolate bars –
And gave them to my little sister and me–
We hadn’t seen chocolate in years—
This was a dream —–

And soon after that – out of the blue –
We received Care Parcels: Sugar, Flour, Cans with Meat,
Powdered Milk, all things we could not get —-

We wrote back to the family who sent them and found out
They had received supplies and Money from my Grandmother
When they wanted to immigrate to the US many years earlier.

So there was a bond and I started dreaming more—

When we were married and Karl was sent over here to visit customers, and when he told me about this country and that he saw these shining silver Camping Trailers,

My American Dream was growing —
And when we started our own small company and I was travelling
With him he said: “One of these days I want to have an Airstream”

My Dream was growing big — I started looking for one —

Then one day while Karl was travelling, and I was in our Houston office, my friend Marie came over and told me they had found our Airstream —– we looked – it was dirty inside —

But with 2 gallons of Clorox and a water hose we cleaned inside and bought it and didn’t tell Karl. So when Karl was coming back, I pulled the Airstream to the Country Airport and when Karl came out, he said:

Oh look, there is an Airstream parked behind our car ——–
IT IS HOOKED ON TO IT. Am I dreaming? I said NO, I am The dreamer —
And we drove that Airstream all over the US and Canada —
Visiting customers —

Became Members of the WBCCI but never had time to go to a Rally—

Until we moved to Olney, Illinois and came to our first Rally in November, ‘95 at Rend Lake. It snowed, and rained, and snowed 3 days, but for us it was a dream —

Driving home, Sarah said to Max: “Wonder whether they will come back in spring after this Mess” but she was prepared – Of course we came to the April Rally in Waterloo —and there was Sarah and gave me this raincoat for future disasters — 

ISN’T IT GORGEOUS??? And wonderful to have such friends —
And my American Dream was growing
And some years later, on December 19, 2003, Max and Sarah were my witnesses, when I became an AMERCAN CITIZEN My Dream —

And now – this year you voted for me to become your Unit President for the coming year –
It is no longer my American DREAM – it is REALITY.
I am so blessed and thankful for your friendship and support –
And as the Southern Illinoisens would phrase it:
I love you guys… Thank you…..

We wish that everyone would be able to attend in order to share in the sprit of the season and have one more chance to visit this year. However, we know that some will have already gone south and others will have other commitments. Be safe in your travels!