Posted by: livelovethinkexist | April 30, 2010
Photos – Hahn AB, Germany – 1989-1991 (Set Thirty One – Christmas 1990 – Bruch, Germany)
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In Germany presents are traditionally exchanged between family members on Christmas Eve, and in Bruch we always began the evening with Christmas hymns – and here my father-in-law plays the recorder or English flute while my wife accompanies him on the piano.
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The rest of us sang along with the German Christmas hyms – well me sort of; and David could hardly hold his excitement until we finished singing the songs – here holding hands with his aunt and grandmother.
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From my experience, traditional German Christmas trees are a lot less decorated and commercialized than the American versions – but of course every household is different and has its own decorating style.
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This Christmas was special to me because I knew that in only days I could deploy to the Gulf – and once notified we would quickly be on our way.
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So this was really a Christmas to enjoy all of those little details about family and events that might have been easily overlooked during different times.
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Of course David was the center of everyone’s attention – as all young children are at Christmas time – and here he opens a present on the living room floor.
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David’s biggest surprise was a huge box that was suddenly there with his name on it, and he eagerly tore into the wrapping paper with high expectations.
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With both hands David struggles to lift a trailer for his new tractor out of the tall box – but he was determined to get it out – one way or another.
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Examining every square inch of his new tractor with keen eyes for all the details, David reacts as all children do at Christmas time – displaying pure joy at each and every new discovery he finds.
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With his Opa steadying him to prevent an accident, David sits in his new trailer in the living room – trying it out for size.
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David’s uncle helps him put all of the final pieces together on the new tractor, with both of them focused on ensuring that everything goes together correctly.
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Trying his new tractor on for size, David gets ready to ride as his uncle makes sure the steering wheel and front wheels are properly connected.
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One of David’s great-grandmothers looks over a present that she received, fully appreciating the nice basket and festive wrapping.
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I captured David in this picture in an unexpected moment as his attention was caught by the camera in a moment of confidence – as a young man ready to take on the world.
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I deployed to the Gulf on December 30, 1990, leaving Hahn AB on a C-141 to join up with the squadron, and here David is a young boy again later that same evening after I deployed, and seems to be a little dazed as his great-great-aunt consoles him in this picture (my Gulf War photos are in Hahn AB, Set One).
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