Sunday, June 7, 2020
When I met Sandy the first time I was a child. This is 56 years ago. We lived in the same house in Frankfurt, Germany during Vic´s time in the Army. I could speak English but I couldn´t write and read it. Every year at Christmas time we got Sandys Christmas Card with pictures of the family. When I was 10 years old I started to learn English at school. Pretty soon I was able to write and read it. So our letters got longer and we could watch each other from far away. I got married too and both of our families grew. We could not afford a trip to Florida to visit the Figueroa Family. In the year 1993 both of our children were old enough that I could start working again. We saved every penny for our first trip to Florida. In the year 1994 we flew to Miami. Vic and Sandy picked us up at the airport. Dieter was overwhelmed of their friendship and hospitality. He didn`t see them before. I met Sandy and Vic again after 26 years. It was for us like coming home to the family. They took care of us and explained us the life in Florida. We had never seen a drive-in bank counter and lots of other things. Vic and Sandy invited us to their house. Their kids slept in the living-room and we got the bedrooms of Toni and Nick. Sandy taught us how to save money with coupons and Vic borrowed us a “Superdad” license plate for our car so that no one could recognize our rental car. They borrowed us a big cooler for our drinks and even filled it with soda cans and ice. Words can´t tell how heartwarming the time together with the Figueroa family was. All their kids with their families came over to a huge barbeque welcome party for us. Sandy loved to play cards and Domino together with us.
When we left for a Florida round trip we were fit out with maps, phone-numbers and everything what we needed.
We visited the Figueroa family a few times during all those years. After Sandy retired she cooked a lot of things for us. So I could take home recipes for Christmas cookies, cakes and Halloween food. Some of them were old family recipes. Every time if I will use the recipes now I will think of Sandy.
It was a wish of Sandy to visit Frankfurt again. She wanted to go back to the place where she got married and where their family life began. And she wanted to meet my mom who took care of Sandys first child, Gary. In the year 2014 Vic, Sandy some of their kids and grandchildren flew over to Germany. We could thank them a little bit for everything what they did for us by inviting them to our house. Our apartment was too small, so some members of the Figueroa family stayed together with our daughter and her family. We had a wonderful time together.
Sandy always gave her life into the hands of God and now he will guide her further. I always admired her. She was and still is a big example for me.
We will never forget this big friendship even with thousands of miles between us. Our thoughts are with Sandys husband Vic and the children Gary, Debbie, Annette, Vickie, Toni, Nick and their families. We will pray for all of them.
Waltraud & Dieter
