To All The Ones I've Loved Before...(or Have a Beer Ted!) A paraphrase from Willie Nelson,
(I'm not a huge fan, but it is an appropriate title):
A word of thanks, of love, and friendship. Our time on this spinning blue orb is so brief; I must believe that everyone I meet and everything I do has meaning. If only I could figure out what that is:.
"I love the hell out of everyone of you." On page 2 of the "Eagles Echo" (Christmas 1977 edition.) Edited by Desi Danielson and Tony Corso, ( thanks you two, I love you still). There is a letter of resignation from me to "all members of this institute of education, Frankfurt American High School:" It is telling that in 20+ years most of my views of life and love and friendship have not changed. Thank God for consistency.
Thank you....to each of you that have touched my life, in every way, I am a better man because of you.
This little website is not just for one class of Frankfurt students, we all have class, but rather as an alternative to any "organized" associations or other money making oriented groups. Yes, we have expenses, and yes we will gladly accept your voluntary contributions, but the price of admission and inclusion here, is simply the desire to stay in touch, keep friendships alive, make new friends, and get together every once in awhile. I hope that's ok. I really do not have a preconceived notion of how its all going to work. Some folks have already offered to help with graphics, money, and time. I need your help. What do you want here? I hope it will be fun, and informative. Let me put it this way, having recently been amazed again, there is something special, (I don't know what it is), about people who didn't really know each other very well in Frankfurt, but who after more than 2 decades, can continue a never begun conversation as if no time had passed. I can't think of any similar parallels. Can you?
Some philosophical points: First, my situation was different than many of my peers. I
arrived in Frankfurt at age two months, in 1960. I went to Frankfurt Elementary School #1,
#2, Frankfurt American Junior High School and FAHS. I felt like a constant. All around me,
friends would come and go, about every three years. I left Germany in June of 1978. (I
visit at least once a year.)
Second, I don't believe that any of us, have some kind of special needs, or are somehow
disadvantaged because our parents were in the military or otherwise assigned, stationed
overseas. That is a lot of bull. Childhood and Adolescence are probably pretty similar no
matter where it is spent. I don't believe the divorce, suicide, or incarceration rates are
any higher than any other group of people. What sets you/us apart from our non overseas
experienced peers are two things. One, the American community in Germany, ( and elsewhere
overseas) was a microcosm of America. Thrown together from all four compass points, from
all socio-economic backgrounds, from all the regional cultures in our great land. We
survived. Some of us never ventured beyond the PX and Commissary, but most of us
experienced a dual culture. This in itself warrants further examination, and I'm sure our
scribe will explore this interesting phenomenon. Second, the world was at war, a cold war
to be sure, but the reason for an American presence overseas was to combat Communism.
(arguably) And the American culture was changing more rapidly and completely than ever
before.
There are many more things that I would like to explore and pontificate at length about. God willing I will do so. Consider this website an open forum, if you wish to challenge my thoughts (not me) please do so. If your arguments are presented clearly and with civility I will post them here.
Those of you who know me, personally, intimately...you know how I feel...those of you who don't....as long as I have a breath in my body, I want to know you, experience you, learn from you, listen to you, party with you. Let's celebrate life, shall we?
Ein Prosit
Dennis
06/01/98
Features you may see soon here; a list of folks who want their email information to
be available, updates to reunions in the works, info on 2001: A Hartwell Odyssey,
Rock the Lake V, mIRC chat info, Links to other websites....more letters to the
editor, and whatever else we feel like putting up....
Graciously donated by Allen Monasmith