Looking back to that sunny June day in Weisbaden, Germany gives me a warm glow. My friend Mary Lou and I had just arrived the day before for a three-year tour with the United States Air Force. We were both just nineteen. This assignment was a dream-come-true for us. On the promise of “choice of assignment” for the top four airmen in our Medical Training class of eighty six back in Texas, Mary Lou and I had worked very hard for our grades, while a lot of our friends were out partying. After learning that we had placed in the top four, and would be going to our first choice of assignment, we were giddy!
Now that we were unpacked and settled, we decided to do a little walking around the town. As we approached the main gate at Lindsey Air Station where we lived, I noticed a very handsome gate guard smiling broadly. He was amazingly dashing in his crisp uniform. I remember thinking that if he took off that hat he would probably be bald.
As we passed through the gate, he winked. Mary Lou exclaimed, “Did you see that gate guard wink at me?” I nodded, but secretly thought he had winked at me.
We did some sightseeing, and Mary Lou bought a bunch of vibrant red carnations from a flower lady on a street corner.
Eventually she and I decided to split up, as she was going to the hospital to see if her schedule was ready. She pulled out one red carnation and handed it to me before going her own way. I walked back through the main gate of Lindsey Air Station alone and twirling that single flower.
My heart was pounding when he detained me at the gate. Being new to the Air Force and easily intimidated by authority, I nervously fumbled in my purse to find some identification. Only his big smile put me at ease. After checking my ID, he winked at me again and said,
You sure are a pretty girl.
I was speechless, which was definitely a first for me! I felt the crimson flush creep up my neck into my face, as he stood there obviously flirting with me. We exchanged a little info about where we were from, and how long we had been there. When it got awkward for me to keep standing there, I handed him the red carnation and started to walk away. He asked where I was going. Knowing that he would not be allowed in my dormitory, I told him I was going to the snack bar. As I walked away, he stood there twirling that flower.
I had only just sat down at the nearly deserted snack bar, when I saw him come in. He got a cup of coffee and then suddenly seemed shy about where he might sit. I smiled at him, and he sat down with me. He looked me right in the eye and told me that I was the girl he had been waiting for. Again, the crimson flush stole up into my face. Although his forwardness flattered me, I was also a bit wary of someone so bold. He said that he would marry me. I was flustered, but also intrigued with him.
In February, we will celebrate our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. Dreams do come true.