by Barbara Lee Norris

Created on: November 24, 2008   Last Updated: January 29, 2011

I remember boarding a military plane at night, back in 1961, and traveling many hours to a new home in Spain. My father, an Air Force officer, had orders to Torrejon Air Force Base in Madrid. I didn't realize, at  the tender age of 9, that foreign travel was full of adventure for military kids. Life in Spain stirred imaginations, sharpened insights and inspired respect for other cultures.

From the daytime sky, Spain's landscape looked like a welcoming patchwork quilt. As the plane descended, details of life appeared, including a long runway. Our plane landed at Torrejon Air Force Base on sunny day in May.

Within days, we moved into our living quarters at Royal Oaks, Torrejon's military housing community. We marveled at yellow rolling shutters on the windows. A red-tile porch stretched the length of the house. We could see Madrid's skyline from our living room window.

We couldn't wait to make friends. Military kids welcomed us and showed us around. Before we knew it, we became part of the fold.

We experienced normal American life while at Royal Oaks. We walked to school. American teachers taught us. Little league teams, a community pool, and a movie theater entertained us. Spain's influence fascinated us.

Spanish police officers, called "Guardia Civil," guarded the neighborhood. They wore distinguished green uniforms, wide belts, polished boots, and characteristic patent leather flattop hats. They carried machine guns, hugged babies, and insured military kids' safety.

Military kids didn't watch much TV. Spanish channels were fuzzy. We watched "Reyna Por El Dia," (Queen for a Day) on Sundays. Military kids listened to episodes of "Gunsmoke" and other American shows on Air Force radio.

Most Americans in Spain could afford household help. Our housekeeper became more like a family member. She helped us learn Spanish. She told stories about the Spanish Civil War, what her family went through, and about Spain's fascist dictator, Francisco Franco.

Military kids enjoyed experiences unheard of in the states. For instance, how many kids go on a Sunday drive and see a medieval castle with a mote? How many spend Sunday afternoon witnessing a bullfight, with a matador adorned in traditional costume, his capes flying, bulls charging, and crowds roaring? How many families get to vacation by the Mediterranean Sea or see gold-laden cathedrals, ancient villages, and cultures so foreign to their own? Most military kids in Spain experienced all that and more.

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