And the ongoing Augsburger Saga

For almost everyone of us who were ever stationed in Germany, Augsburg is at least a bit familiar. Located along the A8 Autobahn between Stuttgart and Munich it was an easy stop on the way to the mountains, Oktoberfest or Austria if you had a car full of bored children. Obviously, there was also an American military presence, so many of us called it home for three years.

That bomb, now lying in isolated splendor on the grounds of a future underground parking garage is covered by a white tent. Both to protect it from the elements and, I seriously think, stupid people who might just think tossing things or attempting drone fly-byes would be interesting. Not.

It is thin skinned, and is mostly the 1.5 ton of explosive with a more than adequate central well to make the maximum distribution of force. I’m following the story both from emails and The Augsburger Allgemeine on line. The information being provided is amazingly complete. Some of the questions being posed by the public are not so…. I can’t help but wonder about some of the people.

Why would they want to put this off for a week so that it doesn’t disturb your visiting relatives? It was one thing the bomb was buried and not disturbed, another when it is sitting on the surface. Yes, there are people in the 1.5 km radius who don’t have Internet. So what? Do you really think the Police and Fire Departments don’t have the location of everyone legally in the area? This is Germany; everyone has to be registered. Do you really think “we” never had to plan evacuations in the era before the Internet? How about Storms and Floods? Locating everyone is part of standard emergency planning; it is part of what the Emergency Response people do for a living. It is why Sunday’s are better than weekdays for such operations: fewer people, less economic impact.

Never mind this is the single largest evacuation in the country since WWII. Can 2500 emergency response professionals handle 65000? Probably. Unlike a certain segment of the US population, Germans have lived through wars/bombings in their home cities (or their parents/grandparents have). They are not going to claim a right to die in place defending “their stuff.” The city officials are also making it clear that not leaving risks life, limb, and 1000€. I would doubt that riots and looters are going to be a significant issue.

Part of my update comes from our intrepid on-scene reporter (and responder), the rest from on-line news.

Compared to all of that, my life is calm. Some of the day was spent in the car. Dental care for one of mine. Ransoming sewing machines that were in for service. The first involved driving to Walnut Creek, the second to Dublin (not Ireland).

Otherwise – in a surprise move – you are getting a 2 for 1 picture. I finished another Exeter Hat and have just the last few rows to go the cross stitch

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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13 Responses to And the ongoing Augsburger Saga

  1. rg says:

    Do you know when they are going to de-bomb (or whatever they do) the bomb? Pretty scary stuff.

  2. Kathy says:

    Tell about that beautiful fractal in the photo!

    • Holly Doyne says:

      It’s the second of I don’t know how many. The previous one is a spiral. That and the progress photos on this one are under the projects tab above, sub tab which ever fractal. I’m already considering the next one. With several choices, I am contemplating posting my choices and asking for opinions…

  3. Bill R says:

    Ka boooom ! “Honey lets visit your parents while they remove the bomb !! ” What’s so hard with that ?
    I think I sleep with a Exeter hat !?! Keeps my bald head warm and the room dark when pulled down. Great item..

    • Holly says:

      Exeter is actually a knitting pattern. The crown comes together like the arches of the Exeter cathedral. Aka watch cap is the generic for the style. Do you need an extra or two? Pick a color, happy to name and send the to you!

      • Bill R says:

        Wow ! In all honesty I was hinting ! Hmmm it worked but not without a bit of guilt.?
        Any color would be wonderful..The most value will be in who was the knitter.

        • Holly says:

          Of course you were hinting. Is this for indoor, outdoor or both? Blaze orange might be good for outside, inside not do much. Pink? Of course Jo can pitch in on color choice. Some people only like solids. Others are willing to take a chance on yarn with more than standard guy (black, brown, grey, navy)

          • Bill R says:

            All is good except pink. Otherwise taking a chance is great ! Most common use is for sleep but I guess that could change.

  4. Richard & Donna says:

    Just a note to thank you for sharing your many talents with us since 2011. We don’t read all your posts but the ones we do read are always well written and interesting. We were so sorry to learn of your recent diagnosis and will stay with your future posts and lend encouragement if and when you need it. No one knows what lies ahead and 2016 had been a tough year in our extended family too.

    Of all the people we have met in our many years of travel, you are one of the most interesting!!

  5. Jo says:

    morning, Holly
    the cross stitch reminds me of the tennis shoes you wore on board when we met. I haven’t done much cross stitch, free style embroidery was my thing.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Oh, yes! My rainbow jogging shoes. I had forgotten all about those. Bright colors can be really fun. I like counted cross-stitch – it is like coloring inside the lines!

  6. Lynne L says:

    Sounds like you have your treatment in order. When do you start?
    Glad you are home and have the kids around. It must be, if not always a comfort, at least a distraction.

    Hope your holidays are joyful and filled with light.
    Onward and upward my friend.

    • Holly Doyne says:

      Sorry to hear that you have also been a customer of the medical system. I wish I could say the odds weren’t going up as we age, but simply that is not true.

      Take it easy, rest. Light candles, have a few Latkes. And look for a yarn package in the mail next week…

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