Just another Brick in the Wall...

[Joker]

In 1989, I was fortunate enough to get a job for a company that was building a plant in West Germany to install convertables on Porsche 944's.

I was 23, fresh out of school and ready to take on the world.

When I arrived I was whisked away in a mercedes taxi to the town of Bad wimpen where I spent the next 8 months living in a 400 year old Inn surrounded by an 11th century castle. I wish I had the time to MD and it entered my mind many times.

When I arrived at the plant, in the back there were 3 circus tents the size of a football fields filled with 944's that needed repairs before they were shipped to the dealers.

I spent 8 months along with a team of guys from around the US working 16 hour days until we fixed every car/top. I was worn out but dreams of the light at the end of the tunnel and travels that lay ahead kept me going.

Finally the cars were ready. I was put in charge of the repair area and for the next year and a half I worked the normal 37 hour german week. This allowed us to travel on the weekends and I think I went to 10 countries using just my weekly per diem. I went heli sking on the zugspitz in Germany, dined by candlelight near the colliseum in Rome and stared in amazement at the Mona Lisa in the lourve in Paris. Although all these things were amazing and life altering, 2 things happened in 1989 that I will never forget.

In Paris, the eiffel tower was 100 years old and all I can say is the Party was Incredible!!! But what Ill always remember was watching the people in tears as they walked across the border from East Germany to West Germany to be reunited with long separated family. Yes, the Wall was coming down!

I was in Berlin and my friends and I decided that we would go to East Berlin and take a chunk or two out of the wall that had separated families for more than 25 years. At first I was nervous, continually asking my buddy if this was a dream and we would be ok, or would we find ourselves in east berlin without our passports to be driven away to some gulag on the outskirts of siberia,.

He assured me that it was real.. Well we got to that god for saken wall and I drew my hammer and chisel that we had brought with us. It was unreal Standing next to elated East and West germans taking their turn at bringing down the divider of their families, friends and country. I got to sing, laugh, cry, hug and be humbled in the moment when they gained their freedom. I was a part of their History and I will never forget it.

Sorry for the long story and I hope my spelling and names are correct.

Pic #1 My first and last piece. I gave all the others to friends.
Pic #2 notice the crude cement that the russians used in haste to build the wall.

[Buster]

Good post Joker, I too was over in Germany during that also..I didn't get to go, but I watched it all unfold...Thanks to the Air Force for my trip to Bitburg Germany...Many fond memories for sure....Buster...

[bdahunter]

You were a part of history and experienced more than most Americans ever will because Americans are the least travelled people in a 1st World nation. Good for you for getting out there and seeing a piece of the world that is outside of your state. What a perfect time to be in Europe and to be working on Porsches that's just a dream job!

Cheers,

BDA

[EBCIII]

Great post Joker! That had to be so cool actually living history as it occured! Thanks for the memories, Beale.

[gordiesgirl]

Wow what an experience, I watched it on TV, great post

[MinelabMan]

Great post Joker, glad you got to live it and retain a piece of history!

[The TINMAN]

Great Post Joker ! Man..How Cool is that.. You were a Part of History and Have something to look back on It.
So Cool To travel and Experience Different Cultures and Countries and Such. WTG !!!!

[ObMiT]

That was a great post and it brought back memories of when I watched it unfold on television. I can only imagine what it would have been like to be there personally. That is a story that your grandkids will love to hear you tell!

[prizm-pal]

Joker thanks for sharing you're story and for pics... I as many others only saw on tv... you were there must have been very emotional... and burned into you're heart forever!

[DonnaM]

Thanks for sharing that experience with us. I enjoyed reading it.