A New Beginning

A decision that gave meaning to a new beginning. Meeting Mr. Right seemed wrong to my cousin Judy who was visiting from Iowa. As I sat back down in the car at the A & W Root Beer stand, I said without any hesitation, "I'm gonna marry that guy!" "You don't even know that loud, obnoxious jerk!", my cousin exclaimed. He had just opened my door because the food tray on the window was in the way. He bowed and said, "My mother taught me to be a gentleman". Those deep blue eyes winked at me and captured my heart. I knew he was the one.

I was able to have my weekends free because mom's restaurant had a fire and she couldn't work. It was meant to be. We had three weekends together. One of which he calls me and informs me we are going to the beach. "I can't go to the beach, I just washed my hair and it's in rollers." "Put a scarf on, I am on my way." I couldn't believe him. Mom was right my hair was dry by the time we got there. I brushed it out and we had fun in the sun, sand and the sea.

He was a seaman on the USS Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship out of Oakland. He looked so cute in his sailor suit. He went out to sea for 6 months. We wrote each other every day. I would have time to write just before I would went to bed. By then I had gotten my baby brother, who was a few months old, to sleep. I loved listening to Connie Francis', “Where the Boys Are” while I was writing.

He even called me ship to shore. I thought the first time he said, "Over," he was gone. Not knowing that's what you say to the person you are talking with on a CB radio. While he was out to sea, he bought a set of wedding rings and sent me a picture. He never asked me to marry him. We both new that we were meant to be.

"Momma please, understand." "Don't be mad at me." "You'll be fine." For the first time in my short 18 years I was doing something I wanted to do. No, it wasn't just to get out of the house. I had spent ever minute of everyday, taking care of the family and mom. "You can’t leave me, you can't leave me." "Gary, you well be all right." "I will be back." "I still love you." He was only ten and I was always there for him. This time I needed to be there for me. Steve , who was a year younger than I, was back in Iowa with dad. He was to much for momma to handle. I moved in with my future mother-in-law. She had offered me a space until Cecil got home. I felt that was good. Then mom and the boys could let go slowly. It gave them three months to get use to me being gone. My mother-in-law was so patient. She would lend me her car to help mom with the kids.

Three days after his cruise ended, we were married. I wore my white graduation dress because we didn't have the money for a real wedding dress. It took place in the court house but we didn't care. He was drafted immediately. He was the US Army's man now. Basic training was at Fort Ord, California. They had an outspread of meningitis. I only say him three times in the eight weeks of basic training. Because his nephew was there also, I would sneak across to see him, until I got caught. His nephews side wasn't quarantined. He got his orders for Ft. Story, Virginia. He stopped by to give me a kiss before he flew out of San Francisco. I was a lost. I missed him so much.

Thirty days later I was trying to get on a plane out of San Francisco for Virginia. My mother-in-law was there to see me off. "But mom, I've never flown before." "I never even been away from my mom." "I've never gone anywhere like this by myself." "But mom I am so scared." "Yes, of course I want to be with Cecil." "I know he's waiting for me."

"Bye, mom." I was so scared I could barely talk. I was so relieved when we landed several hours later. I had to switch planes in Chicago. Some man tried to pick me up. I got lost and almost missed the plane. .A voice called out "Looking for someone?" "You turkey, I've been looking all over for you." "I know, I was right behind you the whole time." That was one of his great attractions, his sense of humor. And of course those blues eyes smiling at me.

Living in Virginia was one of the best times of our lives. That's not to say it wasn't hard. A couple of days after we arrived it was Thanksgiving. We went to the grocery store and got mayo, turkey lunch meat and bread. We had to spread the mayo with our fingers. We forgot the plastic ware. I thought it was great, he felt bad. It was 1964,the Army only paid us $98 a month. I decided to cook him pinto beans, just like his mom did. They tasted great. Except, no one told me you were suppose to sort the little rocks out first. He was very kind about it. Part of the month all we had to eat was beans, peanut butter and maybe popcorn. But we had each other. For the first time we could share our dreams and plans together. I could have lived in a tent and been happy.

We could only afford heating oil for half the month. Winter's were freezing and lots of snow. I loved the snow, he didn't. The other half of the month we had an electric blanket. The only problem was we couldn't sleep with it in on the bed because the ceiling leaked. So we would have to sleep on the hide-a-way in the living room if it rained or the snow melted on the roof. The water there wasn't fit to drink. It smelled like rotten eggs. You could bath in it. We had go to the local dairy farm to get tanks of fresh drinking water. We had no car at first so we walked everywhere. We got a used TV later. His brother loaned us some money.

Our landlords had a bait shop. We got to help with their business. Cecil was the first service man he ever let help work his business of many years. Well, If someone asked for worms I just let them, “ Help yourselve!.” We loved sitting on the beach on a log in the evening and watching the ships go by. It was a beautiful site. Going out to catch minnows was always an experience. Because I was pregnant and a butter ball, I got to sit on the bow of the little boat to balance it when we went out. The huge brick homes with boat garages that jutted out into the water were spectacular.

My hubby was ordered to Viet Nam. I was six months pregnant and had to return to California. His brother once again helped us. He gave me a ticket to get home. I had the first of our two children without my hubby. I was scared and I almost had a nervous break down. It was painful when I would get letters from Viet Nam that he may not make it. His mother had a letter to give me if he hadn’t. I can't tell you how many a teary-eyed night I had spent. I had learned just a few months before that my mom had left the man she moved away with, when I left home. She was also pregnant. She had my little sister four months after I gave birth. She is twenty years younger than I and the best gift my momma ever gave me.

My hubby had morning sickness with both of our boys. All nine months, everyday. Even in Viet Nam. He spent one day in the sick bay. The day our son was born. He said he wasn't going through that for no broad ever again with our second boy. He said I'd have to go find someone elses kids to have fun with. I must confess now, I am glad we only had two. I seriously wanted a dozen, like my Aunt Edna. I went to work for the school system for twenty-five years. I just loved it. That's another chapter.