Tuesday, August 4, 2009

39


Where has it gone?


I was just a young girl of 15 at the time. My brother was in Boot Camp in Camp Pendleton in California. He was going to be a Marine. It was a very scary time for everyone. We knew he was going to go to war. My mother cried a lot. I remember getting a letter from my brother Ron, and he asked me if I would please write some Marines? They had seen a picture of me and wanted to write to me. Who me? Why? But my answer was yes. I would write these Marines how ever many there were. One of which was Bob Higgins.
He was a friend of my brothers, so he had to be a nice guy. The letter I still have, among a few others from other Marines. My folks decided that we would go and see my brother after boot camp, before he was shipped out to Viet Nam. Could Bob spend some time with us too? was the question asked. Sure...we would be in CA for a few days, Bob could spend some time with our family, it would give my brother a buddy. So there it began. The "love story".

We picked up my brother and were to meet Bob at a bus stop. Yes, as he got off the bus, he was this tall skinny Marine with a grin from ear to ear. Big ole dimples and so shy! A shy Marine! HA! We had a station wagon. He slipped into the back seat next to me. He just said "hi" and smiled. I was 15! So this was the Marine I was writing. He is OLD! was my thinking. I was about to enter High School. He was nice enough I guess. He actually lived only 30 minutes or so from where we lived in SLC. He even had a couple of sisters, one was only a year older than me. This couldn't be so bad. We had a fun time together (the family and Bob) and the morning we were to leave and go home we went to eat breakfast somewhere (probably Dennys). Of course I got to sit in the booth with my brother and his friend. I adored my brother. He was so handsome and I knew I was his sweetheart. Bob and my brother got up from the table, and went and got a cigar from the check out counter. It didn't matter how old you were, they were Marines! They came back to the table and I will never forget what happened next. With a sweet as pie smile and blushing beet red this Marine (Bob) slide the cigar band from the cigar and handed it to me.
I just looked at him like a silly 15 year old would and thought?????? and he politely told me to hang on to it until he got back from Viet Nam. I remember smiling back at this ... man and blushed myself. I actually put the band on my finger and for years kept it in a safe place. A lot happened in the next 3 years. I was in High School and dated the football jock, and a few others, but always wrote this Marine and many others while they were serving their country. Some of which didn't write back. They didn't make it home either. Their letters I still have tucked away. But one Marine hung in there. He believed in us. I found out later that he told my brother after we left that restaurant that he was going to marry me. Well, on August 2nd 1970 the summer out of high school, I married that Marine,

and 39 years later we are still going strong. Yeah, this is a love story. One I have written many, many poems about.

It hasn't been all roses, maybe that is why I love roses so much. They just seem to symbolize our love and devotion to each other. He never fails to show me his love or give me roses. We had dinner at our favorite restaurant Samauri 21
and enjoyed some chocolate fudge cake that Brooklyn insisted on getting for us. SWEET. Yes, my life is SWEET. We had a good day. The card and roses he gave me (2 dozen red long stemmed roses) was perfect. I usually write something to him. This time I stayed up until 2 am writing. Good thing I didn't have to go to work the next day! It may not be the typical poem but I will share with you because it is Wordful Wednesday.
This is my poetry:

August 2, 2009

In the early morning hours I close my eyes and think back to a time long ago.

A time when we were young and our hearts were tender and so innocent. I think back when we first met, and the silly little girl that I was. I remember seeing someone so shy and a young man so brave and full of courage. I had no idea at the time where my life would take me. Nor did I know where your life would take you.

In the early morning hours I close my eyes and think back to a time long ago.

You said you knew that I as the one; that we were meant to be together. Our hearts were tender and so innocent. I am so happy that you followed your dreams; that you showed me what true love really was. Everything you went through and endured, to come home to me and prove beyond any doubt, that rainbows and dreams do exists, but you have to believe in love.

In the early morning hours I close my eyes and think back to a time long ago.

To a time when you asked me to marry you. Your strong arms would hold me tight and promise me the world. I believed you would make that happen. A time when we were young and our hearts were tender and so innocent. How blessed we were to with stand the test of life and time. Together we conquered, what ever came our way. We endured without end.

In the early morning hours I close my eyes and think back to a time not so long ago.

I looked into your eyes and knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would stand by your side no matter what life had to offer. Our hearts were tender and we knew innocence but forgave it. You showed me the world. You brought me to a place of no return and promised me eternity.

In the early morning hours I close my eyes and think back to today.

A time when we were not so young and our hearts are still tender but wise. All the memories we share, the laughter and tears of all our 39 years. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

As I close my eyes and feel you lying next to me in sleep, I am comforted knowing that when I wake in the morning you will always be there for me.

Thank you for always believing in us.

Forever and always
Your lulu

17 comments:

Diana said...

Awwww Linda this is such a sweet and romantic love story! How blessed the both of you are to have found each other. It was fate! Happy Anniversary to the both of you and many more happy and prosperous years!

Blessings each day said...

Linda that is so beautiful...it deserves to be in a book of poetry for sure. Have you ever considered publishing your poetry?

The story itself reminds me a little of my own, but I was almost 17 yrs. old when I met Mario (on leave from the Army base)and he seemed SO old to me. He said that he knew I was THE ONE right away. A year and 3 months later we got married!

Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories.

blessings and hugs,

marcy

Wanda..... said...

Very lovely poem and happy ending Linda...We have similar stories...I married my Air Force guy the first summer out of school too...46 years ago!
Your celebration sounded very special...wish you many, many more!

Wanda

Barb said...

Well Linda, I have tears in my eyes! What a special love story! I started going "steady" with my husband when I was 15 - we were classmates. We married after I graduated from college - will celebrate our 43rd on Aug 14. With the 7 years we dated before marriage, we have been together for 50 years!

Wishing you both much happiness and the strength to weather any adversity life hands you.
Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

OK, Linda. I'm crying. I read the story hoping it was going to have a story-book ending....and YES!!...That is an amazing love story....and I'm so very very glad you shared it. My night has been made sweeter...Thank you so much.
Love,
Jackie

Eileen said...

Oh, I hope you had a wonderful Anniversary celebrating this milestone and enjoying your special day together! Beautiful love story!

It's funny how so many of us met our spouses and married young! Ray and I were nineteen and twenty when we married ( May 1973), and he said he knew the minute he laid eyes on me that we would be married one day (and he had another girlfriend at the time, and I was going with another boy and I did not give Ray a second thought when I first met him!).

Happy, Happy Anniversary and many more happy years together as man and wife!
Wishing you all the best,
Eileen

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to your years together. Happy Anniversary.

Scriptor Senex said...

What a lovely story. You nearly had this old cynic sobbing there, Linda! Good job tears don't show up on the keyboard...

May you have many more Happy Anniversaries!

Penny said...

Oh my Lu- that brought back so many memories and tender thoughts of those tumultuous times in our lives. I am so thankful that we have known each other 33 of those 39 years. You are still as beautiful as the day I first met you when you came to my wedding. Keep writing and keep making us smile! love you, ps

Terrie said...

I just don't know what else to say except you got the writing talent gene. You seem to know what to say to make everyone feel like you are telling their story!

Jientje said...

What a beautiful post Linda! You looked so frail and fragile next to that "big" guy! ( I bigged all your pictures, and I must say, that plate of food made me hungry- but that's besides the point!) Such sweet memories! I wish you many more years of married bliss together!

They should make a movie out of that story!

Pat said...

This is such a beautiful story and proof that long and wonderful marriages do exist.
My brother was in the navy while I was in high school and he had me write a few of his friends too. I didn't marry any of them, but I found my guy right in my own high school. We've been married 43 years.
I loved the pictures, such a beautiful bride, and your still so beautiful today!

Anonymous said...

Linda...I had to come back and read it again...and again. I'm so moved by this love story...
Love,
Jackie

Jientje said...

Thanks for your comment!

Did I forget to come back and thank you for the translation? If I did, I'm so sorry. You see the thing is, I did open your comment, and I think I answered it then but I'm not sure. I got your translation after the post was already up. The girl who had the music on her site made the translation, and I posted it the next day I think. Anyway, I have answered this on my blog too, right underneath your comment, and there is a link there that will take you to that post! Thanks again for all the trouble you've gone through!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

What a sweet, romantic story, Linda! Loved reading it...you write so beautifully! Your sweetie knew you were special...smart guy! :-)
And girl, even with 108 comments, not a single one gets lost in translation...I promise I read every one. I don't always get a chance to visit like I wish, but I appreciate so much each and every comment. :-) Susan

imac said...

Congrats and oh, what a lovely romantic story, and you tell it so wonderful.
Beautiful poem and great post.

Jerelene said...

You made me tear up!! What a sweet love story...and what a pretty young thing you were! And, still are!! 39 yrs. is definately something to be proud of! So many today, I fear, don't take it seriously when they marry..I'm so glad that you found a sweet husband and are celebrating a wonderful life together!!
Congrats, Congrats!!
Love, Jerelene