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Just thanks! Sunday, May 20, 2001 We were at RAF Bentwaters (stationed) but lived at RAF Woodbridge from 83-86, my husband flying the A-10. We went back in May of 2000 to take our daughter over & show her her birthplace. We thought Woodbridge [base] looked great, as it was in use, however the high school & gas station looked awful. BUT we could hardly find Bentwaters... we drove around and around & when we finally figured out that the weed filled lots and closed down buildings were "it" we walked around, as so much of it was restricted access. We hardly recognized anything - the O club I think I picked out, but it really made us sad. I would hope that everyone if they have the means would go back....it was a wonderful part of our life experience thus far, and I have often said to my husband I wish I could go back now and do a 3 year tour with my acquired maturity and age... would make so much more of it than I did at the time. I am so into history, more now than ever, so when I went back last summer, I could not believe all of the opportunities that were under our noses and we did not bother to visit more historic sites/homes... but such is life! But the memories came back so vividly... Snape, Wickham Market... Eyke... Wood Hall and Framlingham to name but a few... we also shopped in Ipswich and I could remember exactly where I used to park in the parking lot at the top of the hill up from Debenhams, though the town has really progressed & added so much new shopping... We took our daughter right to the hospital in Ipswich where she was delivered and everyone was so sweet and told her that indeed she was "one of us!" - We did not have time to look up Mr. Thomas, the doctor that delivered her but we hope to go back again and again in the coming years. Seeing Bentwaters like that though made me feel 90 years old... and that perhaps I had "imagined" this past life in England, but still it was worth it and we knew 3 of the best years of our lives were spent there... friendships made... travel opportunities to the continent... Genealogy explored, as my daughter's grandfather 10 generations back was born in Ipswich, same as she was! So Cool!!!! Anyway one more thing I wanted to ask "anyone" that I cannot seem to get answered - I emailed Ipswich and the hospitals and Lakenheath... any remaining US bases and no one seems to know the answer to this query: We were told because our daughter was born in England that she had "dual citizenship" - what do you know about this, as I cannot seem to find an answer? Anyway - again thanks for posting all of your photos and info - it surely helped us prepare for going over and now that I have been I MUST go again because I indeed have a love of England, then and now. Regards Suellen
Behling |