Our Courtship -- Conclusion

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have written. I apologize to any readers out there -- but I need to apologize to myself also -- I really have a lot that I want to say, but discipline is a problem. Anyway, here goes: Linda and I finally make the commitment.

As I mentioned in the last posting, I left for Norfolk, VA; by myself. Linda did leave me a crumb of hope though. The morning I was to leave, I stopped by her house and she gave me a box of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. She had me there; I knew she cared. I put gas in the car in Bellflower and left my gas credit card there. I had plenty of money to eat and stay at motels along the way (because I could charge my gas.) But, when I found out that I had no credit card, the situation changed. I did stay in a motel in Las Vegas the first night. I thought that I might still be alright.

The second day, I wanted to make it to Denver. I did, but something was wrong with the car. I can't remember exactly what happened, but I had to get the car repaired in Denver. There went all my spare money. I was holding my breath that I could get gas all the way across. I had already decided that I would stop at my Aunt's house in Cincinnati, so I drove non-stop to her house -- about 26 hours. She helped me out so that I could get to Norfolk.

Linda and I continued to correspond and I even called her once in a while. Then, in September we had a conversation something like this:

She -- "Did you mean what you asked me when you were here?"

Me -- " I don't know, what do you mean?"

She -- "Well, you asked me. . . ?" 

Me -- "When I asked you to marry me?" 

She -- "Yes, that is what I mean." 

Me -- "Of course I meant it."\ 

She -- "The answer is yes."

Wow, she wanted to marry me! We made arrangements for me to go home for Christmas. While there we got a ring and we were officially engaged. We were to be married in July of 1965. I must interject here that I have done a lot of premarital counseling. I wouldn't advise this couple to go through with it. Think of it. After early January, 1964, I saw here briefly in June of 1964, was with here for two weeks in December of 1964 and then didn't see her until the week before our wedding in July, 1965. To make matters worse (remember Linda had never been away from home), we were married on Saturday, spent Sunday with the family, flew to Norfolk on Monday and I went to sea on Tuesday. More about the wedding and subsequent turmoil next time. 

PS. I hope it the next addition will follow quicker than this one.