Christopher Michael “Mike” Meyer was born abroad and had spent the first few years of his life in England, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of a place he had come to know as home. Born while his father, William Henry Meyer, was stationed there with the U.S. Air Force, Mike had only seen America through the lens of photographs and videos—especially the warm, glowing images of Christmas at his grandparents' house in Pleasanton, Texas.
When the time finally came to return to the U.S., the family landed in New Jersey (c. December 1975). Mike’s older, adoptive sister, Carol,
eagerly informed him that they were now in America. But at just three years
old, Mike had a firm stance on the matter. Shaking his head, he declared, “No,
we are not.”
What started as a simple statement soon became a game
between Mike and Carol on the long drive home. As they crossed each state line,
Carol would announce where they were and remind Mike that they were indeed in
America. But each time, Mike would stubbornly insist, “No, we’re not.”
The journey stretched on, and night was falling by the time
they finally arrived at their grandparents' house in Pleasanton. The familiar
warmth of home greeted them as they stepped inside. Twinkling lights
illuminated the Christmas tree, its ornaments reflecting the glow of holiday
cheer and German tradition. The sight was one Mike had only known from afar, through the pictures
his parents had shown him.
Without hesitation, he ran inside, jumping onto the sofa.
His eyes darted from the beautifully decorated tree to his grandparents,
standing there with welcoming smiles. And in that moment, everything clicked.
Turning to his big sister with a triumphant grin, he declared, “Now! We’re in America!!”
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| My adoptive parents earned first place in the humorous category for their article “Our Little Christmas Story” published by the Pleasanton Express, Pleasanton, Texas, 23 December 2001, p 11. |
My adoptive dad, Henry, always made it a point to share some family history in a creative way each year. He usually made up a poem about the year's events, and everyone in the family received a copy in their Christmas card. In one of my Christmas cards, he sent this newspaper article. Mike was born at Lakenheath Air Force Base in England on December 2, 1972.
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All primary source information referenced was gathered from historic newspapers, U.S. census schedules, vital records, probate files, and land documents, accessed through leading genealogical platforms such as Newspapers.com, Ancestry, FamilySearch, Find a Grave, and federal archival repositories. Interpretive narrative may also include Carol Anna Meyer Brooks' personal experiences or family stories shared with her throughout her lifetime.
©2025 Unfolding the Story Genealogy
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