Bruce... Tuesday, August 4, 2009 9:29 AM

The thing about JFK is that we all have a memory of that moment when we heard
the news. For you, it was me storming out of my room. For me, it was sitting on
the bed with the shortwave up to my ear. I have a vivid memory of your mom that
day because she set me straight on proper behavior under the circumstances. She
must have been there to pick you up, which means she already heard the news.
I'll bet it flashed around the American community like lightning.

Tootsie asked if we were military... yes. I can understand how it must have been
for you, seeing friends rotate out of the country on a regular basis. For us
military brats it was a way of life. I went to 13 different schools before
graduating H.S. in Austin. By that time, I was sick of that lifestyle and I've
stayed here my whole life. The military kids I remember were Richard Hardee
(Navy), myself, Mike Green, Carole and Carter Case, and Mike Murray (Army), and
a girl named Susie who showed up shortly before we left, I think maybe her Dad
was my Dad's designated replacement. I seem to recall that Nadine Austin and Ron
(Barker? - the Canadian) were there with Exxon, and there were our friends in
business like yourselves (was it coffee?) and then all the Nicaraguan kids.

Of course, all those were a couple of years older than you, so you probably have
another whole set of friends. What about Dennis Gruwell? He may have been your
age. Have you heard back from Kathy?