Past memories of Berlin? #2

Rittm · 8 November 1998, 06:20 PM

This memory is perplexing and I was hoping that someone could shed a little light on this one.

I'm in a large room with high ceilings. The walls are painted white with fancy gold colored molding at the corners where ceiling and walls meet. The furniture in the room is possibly a baroque style and is very nice. The room is most curious in that I'm not sure what kind of room it is. There are comfortable plush chairs, a fancy desk with chairs, a rich dark wood finish, and there is a changing screen in the room! The room has an offical yet casual feeling about it. The room is very elegant. (I have a drawing of the basics of the room, which I couldn't put here.) There are other people in the room and I seem to be the center of attention and curiosity. I am not the highest ranking person in the room. I am not able to recognize any of the people, but they are all older than me. For some reason they had me changing behind the screen. I come out from behind wearing my normal uniform pants and boots, but there is something about the white shirt that I am wearing. They seem to be concerned along with myself as to how it fits. The shirt buttons up the front and is smartly ironed. I like the shirt and most of them approve of it also. One indivdual comes over to fuss with something about the sleeves. I kinda feel like a prized mare being looked over or like Cinderella being prepared for the King's ball. I think the man looking at the shirt is a tailor. He has a measuring ribbon draped over his shoulders and pins and pencils. He is very fussy. He also has dark hair that is receding and wears glasses for close up work. He is about 30 or 40 years old. There is also a thin balding spot that I noticed on the top of his head when he bent down to look at the pants. He then starts to look over the pants and tugs at them in a couple of unusual or should I say surprising directions and he comes to the conclusion that they fit me poorly. Whatever he said made the rest of the gentlemen in the room laugh. I feel a little conspicuous and self conscious about the whole affair. The tailor seem to want a comment of approval from one of the gentlemen seated in the room. The older seated gentleman gives me a contemplative look and after rubbing his chin replies to the tailor. At this point everything is out of my hands and I am at their command and mercy. I get the impression that I have to be dressed properly for a formal occasion this evening and they are hard pressed to dress me by that time. Borrowing clothes was speculated upon, but no one in the room is my size. They are either too tall or too round. I'm ordered by the tailor to go back behind the screen, but only after he makes a few observations about my trousers. I take them off and give them to him. This is starting to grow very tiresome and I can't get out of it. And I'm not really sure why I have to change behind the screen either. There are no women in the room, so I'm bored while this tailor does some adjustments to my pants, I felt like I was waiting forever, but it was probably about ten minutes.
(Does anyone have any idea of what I am remebering? Please give me your reactions.)

Stephanie · 8 November 1998, 09:42 PM

I am curious as to why you deduced that these pieces had to have taken place in Berlin; there is nothing in the texts to suggest that these events had to have occured in any city in particular.

Rittm · 9 November 1998, 09:47 AM

Stephanie,
That's a good question. I don't know why I think it was in Berlin? It seemed like the place where military headquarters were located, so I guessed Berlin. I had the impression that I was there for duty and not pleasure. I honestly don't know where military headquarters were located. I haven't had the time to investigate. Where do you think it was? I doubt there is enough detail to place it unless the restaurant still exists. I would know that place, but I would assume that by now they would have redecorated the place.

9 November 1998, 10:26 AM

I'm sure the allies probably redecorated it in 1944-45.

10 November 1998, 09:23 PM

Soldiers in field uniform? I would say that Berlin is unlikely. Brussel would be a choice. In this case the restaurant has a good chance of still existing.

Rittm · 11 November 1998, 12:33 PM

Really? Did the Germans have a military headquarters for the aviation in Brussels? I guess what I should ask since I don't remember is...did the Germans have those that were in charge of overseeing flight operations have an office in Brussels? I don't remember. All I know is that I was there with my brother. Checking official records of the comings and goings of the pilots may be all we have left of physical evidence, but those records are incomplete and some are just plain wrong. I know went places off of the official record, and often.

Darryl · 14 November 1998, 03:35 PM

Hi Rittm,
You say you know the guy you *were*. How much of his service record do you know/have you seen. If you have gaps (i'm sure you would) it may be worth checking out the records of some of his squadron mates etc if you can identify them.

Could the events you describe be the 'Brass' getting you ready for a 'publiciy event' Newspaper or the like?

I'd also love it if you could share any combat memories you have.

Still a skeptic but very interested

best regards

Darryl

Rittm · 14 November 1998, 04:16 PM

Hmmm. I suppose I could be convinced to share some combat memories, but they seem pretty standard. They could literally be just about anyone's memories of flying during that period. I remember how I died, but that memory is kinda unpleasant.

And yes I thought the memory in the strange room with the tailor could be some kind of PR thing. I had hoped that someone else may have read about such a place. So far, no leads.

Rittm

P.S. I'll look into putting a combat memory up. The funny thing is that my best and clearest memories are with my girlfriend and they are generally too...uh...detailed.