PRELUDE

FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE (ALL BIBLE SCRIPTURES IN RED ARE JESUS SPEAKING)

MATTHEW 6:6

BUT THOU, WHEN PRAYEST, ENTER INTO THY CLOSET, AND WHEN THOU HAST SHUT THY DOOR, PRAY TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; AND THY FATHER WHICH SEETH IN SECRET SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY.

I DID!, i DID!!,,I DID!!!,i DID!!!! AND I WILL AGAIN????
A TRUE CONFESSIONAL STORY

THE TEASER; I STEEPED INTO THE CLOSET. I SHUT THE DOOR. "BOY DO I EVER NEED TO CONFESS TO YOU FATHER"(WAIT A MINUTE!!! WHAT AM I DOING IN MY CLOSET. WHEN JESUS SAID: GO INTO YOUR CLOSET AND PRAY TO THE FATHER."HE MEANT IN YOUR MIND- NOT IN YOUR CLOSET STUPID!).

IT WAS ABOUT TWELVE NOON & IT WAS THE USUAL MUGGY DAY. NOT TO HOT,AND NOT TO COLD BUT VERY HUMID. I WALKED VERY NERVOUSLY AND AS QUICKLY AS I COULD ACROSS THE TAR MACK ALMOST TRYING TO PUSH THE GUY IN FRONT OF ME OUT OF THE WAY. I HURRIED UP THE GANG WAY AS FAST AS I COULD AND ALMOST JUMPED INTO THE DOOR. FINALLY! I'M IN MY SEAT WITH NO WORRIES MATE. WELL! AT LEAST SO FAR BUT IT STILL SEEMS LIKE A DREAM TO ME. PLEASE! SOMEBODY PINCH ME QUICK (OUCH! NOT SOOO! HARD) WELL! I GUESS IT'S NOT A DREAM SO FAR. BUT. I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT THE GUY THAT TURNED AROUND TO WAVE GOODBYE AT THE DOOR AND CAUGHT ONE RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES AND ENDED UP COMING HOME IN A BAG. GREAT!!! WERE FINALLY MOVING. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME. IT SEEMS LIKE WE BEEN SITTING HERE FOREVER. BUT, NOW ITS TIME TO GET WORRIED AGAIN THE PILOT IS TRYING TO GO BALLISTIC . FIVE FEET OFF THE GROUND AND HE'S TRYING TO GO STRAIGHT UP! (I GUESS HE HEARD ABOUT THE GUY ABOVE ALSO).
FINALLY AFTER 11 MONTHS OF BURNING THE STUFF FROM THE LATRINE, DODGING INCOMING MORTAR ROUNDS, AND THE FIRST SERGEANT'S GAY SEXUAL ADVANCES TOWARD ME (WHICH HE GAVE ME AT LEAST FOUR ARTICLE FIFTEENS FOR - THAT'S MISDEMEANOR'S TO YOU NON-MILITARY TYPES). NOW THIS CIVILIAN COMMERCIAL PILOT ....IS TRYING TO KILL US IN HIS PLANE BECAUSE OF HIS FEAR OF SNIPERS. 

February 14, 1967. I'M ON MY WAY HOME. WHAT A DAY TO LEAVE VIETNAM (YOU KNOW THE DAY OF LOVE). TOUCH DOWN AT LAST. WELCOME TO TRAVIS AIRFORCE BASE OAKLAND CALIFORNIA. FEBRUARY 14, 1967 ABOUT 4pm. ONE DAY LATER (DID I SAY ONE DAY LATER???). I WENT TO VIETNAM A SNOTTY NOSE KID. AND CAME BACK A MAN. LET ME EXPLAIN THIS. WHEN THE GUYS. IN MY UNIT FOUND OUT THAT I WAS A VIRGIN! THEY PAID FOR A VIETNAM HOOKER, AND PUSHED ME INTO A TENT WITH HER (IT WAS LIKE A "CODE RED" BUT IT WAS NON VIOLENT THANK GOD). IT WAS DARK BUT NOT DARK ENOUGH I COULDN'T SEE MY WAY THROUGH IT. WHAT A WAY TO LOSE IT (STUPID HUH. WHAT CAN I SAY - JUST A DUMB KID!). OK! NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE - AT THE FRONT DOOR SURPRISE (FOR WHICH I'M FAMOUS FOR). THERE I WAS IN MY CLASS "A" GREENS WITH BLOUSE BOOTS, CUNT CAP, WITH ASSORTED VIETNAM RIBBONS & PATCHES. HI! MOM & DAD ( I DIDN'T CALL AND TELL THEM THAT I WAS COMING HOME FROM VIETNAM YOU SEE. WELLL! EXCUSE ME. I FORGOT - OK!). IT WAS GREAT TO BE BACK HOME WITH MOM & DAD. IN 1965 I LEFT HOME AND JOINED THE ARMY TO GET AWAY FROM MY FATHER AND HIS RULES (THIS WAS LIKE JUMPING OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE - GO FIGURE!). I HAD LEFT HIGH SCHOOL MID. SENIOR YEAR TO JOIN THE U.S. ARMY (THAT WAS VERY STUPID ME).
I RAN AWAY FROM HOME ONCE WHEN I WAS 16. I SLEPT OVER NIGHT AT A CRAB STAND ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST. DIDN'T SLEEP MUCH  BECAUSE I WAS SPOILED BY A SOFT BED, IT WA TOO COLD, THE OCEAN WAS TO LOUD, AND I WAS HUNGRY!. WHEN I GOT UP. I GOT BACK ON MY BIKE AND PEDDLED BACK HOME (NOBODY MISSED ME DARN IT!). HUH? - RIGHT! LET'S GET BACK TO THE STORY:

WELL NOW IT'S MY FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT HOME AND IT'S TIME TO GO OUT (THANK GOD FOR FRIDAY'S. YOU KNOW. I THINK I HAVE HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THAT SOMEWHERE BEFORE). YUP! IT'S TIME TO HEAD FOR THE SKATING RINK WHERE, I USED TO WORK ( HEY! WE'RE TALKING 1967 HERE FOLKS!). I HAD MET MY FIRST GIRL FRIEND HERE. SHE WAS 4 YOUNGER THAN ME. SHE AND HER TWIN SISTER SANG "SOLDIER BOY" TO ME ON THE PHONE WHEN I CALLED HER FROM BOOT CAMP. SHE LIVED ABOUT 15 MILES  FROM MY HOUSE. I HAD PEDDLED MY BIKE THE 15 MILES TO AND FROM HER HOUSE ABOUT 10 TIMES (I GUESS IT WAS  JUST ONE OF THOSE CHILDHOOD STAGES THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH). WE DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY (BUT, MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON - OK! YOU KNOW. I GUESS I'LL JUST YOU NOW). I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW, WHERE, OR WHEN BUT I CAN REMEMBER THAT IT WAS AFTER I WAS MARRIED THAT I BUMPED INTO HER AND WE GOT TOGETHER FOR AWHILE. (HEY I WAS DIVORCED AT THE TIME OK!) 1964 TO 1965 JUST BEFORE GOING INTO THE ARMY. I USED TO HELP SET-UP THE RINK FOR THE SATURDAY  NIGHT SOCK-HOPS (60'S REMEMBER!). ONE NIGHT I HELPED THIS UP AND COMING BAND BRING IN THEIR INSTRUMENTS THROUGH THE BACK DOOR THAT I HAD OPENED FOR THEM. BET YOU CAN'T  GUESS WHOM. (HEY! YOU BABY BOOMERS DON'T COUNT. THEY'RE STILL A BIG  THING NOW DAYS - 2000) THAT SAME NIGHT I HAD SPILLED A DRINK ON A MAN WHILE CLEANING UP THE TABLE HE WAS SITTING AT. HE JUMPED UP AND SAID: "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!" (OF COURSE NOT). "I'M THE ROUND ROBIN"("OOPS").

WELL, HAVE YOU GUESSED WHO THE BAND WAS, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO SPILL THE BEANS. THEY WERE............."THE BEACH BOYS" THEY AUTOGRAPHED A PICTURE OF THE BAND FOR ME. (DARN. I WISH I STILL HAD THE PICTURE. IT WOULD BE WORTH AT LEAST $1,000.00 TODAY). I WALKED INTO THE RINK. THREW UP MY HANDS AND SAID. "I'M BACK"________________________________________________________?
WELL,SO MUCH FOR THAT. ANY WAY THE OLD BOSS SAID HE WAS GLAD TO SEE ME (THE OWNER. MAN! THOSE 60'S WERE SOMETHING. WEREN'T THEY). HE LET ME SKATE FREE FOR OLD TIME SAKES. I BOUGHT A PAIR OF USED PERSONAL SKATES HE HAD BECAUSE, I'M NOT TOO CRAZY ABOUT RENTAL SKATES. I WAS A FLOOR GUARD FOR AWHILE WHEN I WORKED THERE ALSO. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. BECAUSE, I HAD TO CHASE AWAY A LOT GIRLS (AGAIN WHAT CAN I SAY. JUST A DUMP KID!). THERE WAS THIS GUY THAT I KNEW THERE THAT NIGHT. HE WAS ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND WITH ALL THE GIRLS WHILE I WORKED AT THE RINK. I COULD SEE HE WAS STILL RUNNING AROUND WITH THE GIRLS. HE WAS OLDER NOW AND I WAS TELLING HIM HE COULD GET INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE MESSING AROUND WITH THEM. I TOLD HIM THEY HAD TO BE AT LEAST 18 OR OLDER FOR ME. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM THOUGH. I LOVE TO SKATE SO MUCH. THAT DURING 64-65 WHILE I HELPED WITH THE SOCK-HOPS. I WOULD PEDDLE MY BIKE 8-MILES ONE WAY TO THE RINK (DRIVING AGE WAS 21 & UP. OH WELL!IT'S STILL THE 6O'S). SKATE FOUR HOURS AND THEN, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE TO. I HELPED CLOSED THE RINK. WHAT THE HECK IT MEANT MORE TIME THAT I COULD SKATE AND, IT WAS FREE! THEN I WOULD  PEDDLE BACK THE 8-MILES HOME.

THIS WENT ON FOR 6 DAYS A WEEK. MONDAY NIGHT, TUESDAY NIGHT, WEDNESDAY NIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT, AND ALL- DAY & NIGHT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THURSDAY NIGHTS WERE PRIVATE PARTY NIGHTS (I GUESS IT WAS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE CHILDHOOD STAGES KIDS GO THROUGH). ONE NIGHT WHILE PEDDLING HOME (AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS). THIS GOOD LOOKING GIRL CAME RUNNING OUT FROM NOWHERE AND STOPPED ME. LONG DARK HAIR, SLIM BUT SHAPELY BODY, A VERY NICE CHIFFON DRESS, AND BARE FOOTED (IN OTHER WORDS. WOW!!!!). SHE BEGGED ME TO HELP HER. BECAUSE, SOMEBODY WAS CHASING HER (YUP JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES). I SAID. SURE SIT HERE. SHE SAT ON THE UPPER BRACE OF MY BOYS BIKE BEHIND THE HANDLE BEARS. I PUT MY ARMS AROUND HER AND, (MAN! THAT FELT SOOO GOOOOOD!) STARTED TO PEDDLE MADLY DOWN THE STREET.
THIS IS IT I THOUGHT. I WAS SAYING A FAIR DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. SHE MIGHT BE VERY APPRECIATIVE. SHE MIGHT -STOP- WHAT? -OK. I STOPPED MY BIKE  NEAR THE CURB. SHE JUMPED OFF AND SAID. "THANKS" THEN, SHE WAS GONE. JUST AS FAST AS SHE APPEARED (DARN I WAS SOOO! LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT LONG WET KISS. HEY SOME OF YOU GUYS GOT DIRTY MINDS. WELL, I GUESS YOU JUST CAN'T WIN THEM ALL).
WELL, SO MUCH FOR THE DULL TRIVIA. NOW! IT'S  ON TO THE REAL REASON FOR MY STORY.







ANYWAY. BACK TO FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE RINK. WHILE I WAS SKATING BACKWARDS I PASSED THIS GIRL. SHE SMILED AT ME. SO ON MY NEXT PASS AROUND THE FLOOR. I SLOWED DOWN JUST IN FRONT OF HER (SKATING BACKWARDS OF COURSE). I SAID: "HI!"(HEY!SHE'S 18 OK.) WELL, YOU GUESSED IT. AND YOU'RE RIGHT- SUSAN! LET ME TELL YOU THE SUSAN'S IN MY LIFE (UH! OH! THERE GOES THOSE DIRTY MINDS AGAIN). FIRST THERE IS SUSIE. SHE MARRIED MY OLDER BROTHER. THEN THERE WAS SUE WHO MARRIED MY SECOND LAST BROTHER. THEN THERE'S MY SUSAN. AND THERE  WAS MY YOUNGER BROTHER. WHO, LEARNED FROM HIS OLDER BROTHER'S AND HAS NOT MARRIED YET (HE'S 52). NOW! TO CONTINUE ABOUT OUR SUSAN'S. SUSIE AND MY OLDER BROTHER GOT DIVORCED. SUE AND MY SECOND OLDEST BROTHER  GOT DIVORCED. (LATER, AND I'M SORRY TO SAY, SHE PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY THE FOURTEENTH). AS TO MY SUSAN AND ME - WELL, MORE ON THAT TO COME. COME TO THINK OF IT. I HAVE A HALF SISTER FROM MY FATHER'S FIRST MARRIAGE WHO I HAVE NEVER MET (I DON'T KNOW AND MAYBE IT'S JUST ME BUT, DO YOU SEE A PATTERN HERE?). MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH (OOPS!!) I MEAN THE RINK. I STAYED WITH SUSAN FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT (DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?.I DIDN'T UNTIL THAT NIGHT). I WAS DOING SOME OF MY FANCY ROLLER-SKATING  (YOU KNOW. SHOWING OFF FOR SUSAN) WHEN MY GIRL CRAZY FRIEND ROLLED UP TO ME AND SAID: "I THOUGHT YOU SAID THEY HAD TO BE 18 OR OLDER!"I SMILED AND SAID. SHE'S 18, AND GOING TO COLLEGE." AND THEN - I JUST SKATED AWAY. (THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS WORTH A MILLION BUCKS).

SUSAN AND ME DANCED THE GOODNIGHT COUPLES. THEN I WALKED HER AND HER GIRL FRIEND OUT TO HER CAR (AH! MAKE THAT HER FATHERS CAR. AND, WE WILL GET TO HIM LATER). I ASKED HER WHEN SHE WAS COMING BACK TO THE RINK. SHE SAID: "NEXT FRIDAY OF COURSE."- "I'LL SEE YOU THEN,"I SAID. (MAN I JUST CAN'T WAIT. LISTEN FOLKS! WE'RE STILL TALKING THE 60'S HERE). I SAW SUSAN FOR THE REST OF MY THIRTY DAY LEAVE. THEN UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE ARMY. SUSAN AND I WROTE TO EACH OTHER WHILE I WAS OUT PLAYING ARMY ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES AWAY (AND I'M THINKING, MAN THIS SUCKS!). I BOUGHT A CAR, WORKED OUT A LEAVE, AND DROVE THE ONE THOUSAND-MILES ONE WAY JUST TO SEE SUSAN (OK! MY MOM & DAD ALSO). THEN DRIVE THE ONE THOUSAND-MILES BACK. I DID THIS THREE TIMES (SOUNDS FAMILIAR DOESN'T IT. I GUESS IT'S WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE CHILDHOOD STAGES AGAIN). AND WITH EACH TRIP I GOT HOTTER & HOTTER AND -LET JUST SAY THAT, ANY HOTTER AND WE COULD HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY. WELL, ON THAT THIRD TRIP. I SAID:  "ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE, WILL YOU MARRY ME?" SHE SAID: "YES" (OH BOY! WAS I GLAD - WHEW! IT'S ABOUT TIME HUH). FOR THE FOURTH TRIP. I FLEW HOME (AND BOY WAS MY ARMS TIRED. I KNOW! THAT JOKE IS AS OLD AS THE HILLS. BUT, IN THE 60'S. IT WAS HOT.!).

THE WEDDING WAS SET UP FOR DECEMBER  24TH, 1967 AT TWO PM. SUSAN'S GIRL FRIEND FROM THE RINK THE FIRST NIGHT I MET SUSAN, AS HER BRIDE'S MAID. MY YOUNGER BROTHER AS  THE BEST MAN. HER MOTHER AND HER FATHER TO GIVE AWAY THE BRIDE (AND OF COURSE TO PAY FOR THE WEDDING, AND THE RECEPTION),HER BROTHER & SISTER AND THEIR SPOUSES WITH CHILDREN, AND MY MOTHER & MY FATHER ( I GUESS WE WERE JUST  TRYING TO KEEP IT " ALL IN THE FAMILY" AS IT WERE). BUT , (AND BOY,DO I MEAN BUT!). ABOUT 11:45 AM. DECEMBER 24TH 1967. AND I'M STILL IN BED (THE SOFA - BED RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT DOOR IN MOM & DAD'S APARTMENT). THERE COMES THIS KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. MOM ANSWERS THE DOOR AND (YUP! YOU GUESS IT.) IT'S SUSAN. (HEY WAIT A MINUTE! THE SURPRISE ATTACK AT THE FRONT DOOR IS MY GIG). NOW I KNOW THIS ISN'T RIGHT. BECAUSE, THE GROOM IS NOT SUPPOSE TO SEE THE BRIDE UNTIL SHE WALKS DOWN THE AISLE. (IT'S BAD LUCK YOU KNOW. AND NOW I BELIEVE IT!). SHE CAME IN BED AND STOOD BY THE BED. NOW HERE'S THE SCENE FOLKS. SUSAN IS STANDING NEXT TO THE BED, MOM & DAD ARE STANDING AT THE FOOT OF THE  BED IN THEIR NIGHT ROBES, I'M IN BED ONLY IN MY SKIVVIES HALF A SLEEP (SKIVVIES? MY DAD WAS IN THE NAVY FOR 28 YEARS YOU SEE). OK! IS EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED - RIGHT,
NOW IT'S ACT ONE:

LIGHTS,  CAMERAS, AND ACTION!: SHE SAID: "I DON'T WANT TO GET MARRIED"??????

NOW, I'M THINKING , MAN! THIS IS SOME DREAM I'M HAVING (SOMEBODY PINCH - OH! NEVER MIND LET'S GET ON WITH IT). SHE GAVE ME BACK THE RINGS THAT I HAD EVER GIVEN TO HER TO DATE,AND SAID : "I CAME TO PICK UP THE CAR" (THIS TIME IT WAS HER CAR AND NOT DADDY'S. A DARK BLUE 1965 FORD MUSTANG. ANY BETS ON. WHO, DROVE HER THERE. YOU SEE I HAD HER CAR SO I COULD GET TO THE CHURCH ON TIME HAR!HAR!), I GAVE HER THE CAR KEYS. SHE WHISPERS TO ME "I'M SORRY", GIVE ME A KISS AND WALKS OUT THE DOOR. (WELL! I GUESS YOU JUST CAN'T WIN THEM ALL. IN MY CASE - NONE. EVEN WHEN I WON - I DIDN'T AS YOU WILL SEE). I LOOKED AT MOM & DAD (WITH A DAZED LOOK IN MY EYES) AND SAID: " DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?" (SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENT HUH!). I WAITED TWO DAYS. THEN I CALLED HER. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT. SHE ANSWERED THE PHONE. "HI! SUSAN: "OH HI! I'M GLAD YOU CALLED. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF A REASON TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE TO CALL YOU": "SUSAN HOW OLD ARE YOU?" "19":"WELL THEN. WHY DO YOU NEED A REASON TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE? JUST SAY I'M GOING TO THE STORE - AND LEAVE THE HOUSE." WE MADE A SECRET RENDEZVOUS AT THE LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY LATER THAT DAY. ( DO YOU REMEMBER I SAID THAT "WE WILL TALK ABOUT HER FATHER LATER."WELLLLL! HER IT COMES). DADDY! CALLED IN THE TROOPS (HERE'S THE LIST OF PLAYERS). SUSAN'S BROTHER & SISTER, AND THEIR SPOUSES (NO CHILDREN THIS TIME), AND SUSAN'S EX-BOYFRIEND BEFORE ME. "DADDY!" GATHERED HIS ARMY IN THE LIVING ROOM. SAT SUSAN IN FRONT OF THEM, AND COMMENCE TO DO BATTLE.

THEY BOMBARDED HER ALL NIGHT LONG WITH ALL THE REASONS. "NOT TO  GET MARRIED" (HEY! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?) SUSAN WAS DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL. SHE WAS THE BABY OF THE FAMILY. SHE HAD NEVER BEEN OUT OF THE HOUSE OR ON HER OWN. THERE'S MORE TO COME ABOUT "DADDY". LATER ON. WELL! SO MUCH FOR THE OFFENCE. NOW FOR THE DEFENSE.

I DID # 1: (FINALLY)

WHEN SUSAN FINISHED WITH HER TV SOAP OPERA STORY. I SAID: " SUSAN I LOVE YOU AND WANT TO MARRY YOU" SHE SAID "YES" (ALRIGHT). NOW FOR MY SECRET BATTLE PLANS. I FOUND OUT THAT BECAUSE WE HAD A MARRIAGE LICENSE AND OUR BLOOD TESTS ALREADY. WE COULD GET A NEW LICENSE WITHOUT HAVING A NEW BLOOD TESTS. (I REMEMBER THE BLOOD TESTS. SUSAN ALMOST PASSED OUT. LATER ON WHEN I TOOK HER TO SEE M*A*S*H THE MOVIE. I HAD TO TELL HER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WE WENT IN THAT, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF BLOOD FLYING AROUND I SAID: "ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IT'S AL FAKE SUSAN." YOU SEE THE MOVIE HAD JUST CAME OUT, AND THE LINES WERE VERY LONG. SHE MADE IT THROUGH THE MOVIE OK). SO WE WENT DOWN TO THE NEXT TOWN FROM WHERE WE GOT THE FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE AND GOT A NEW LICENSE (YOU SEE. THE PREACHER STILL HAD THE OLD ONE. AND A COURSE WE COULDN'T ASK FOR THE OLD ONE AND KEEP THE WEDDING A SECRET. IN SUSAN'S HOMETOWN EVERYBODY KNEW EVERYBODY. MORE ON THE OLD LICENSE. LATER ON). ALSO WE PICKED UP A LIST OF PREACHER'S THAT DID QUICK MARRIAGES. WE THEN WENT TO AN OUT OF THE WAY CHURCH AND WALKED IN. NOW THE ONE THING WE FORGOT WAS. WITNESSES! (OOPS!) NOW HERE'S THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO GET BACK TO THE ARMY. (AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT AGAIN). THERE WAS A COUPLE WAITING BEFORE US WHEN WE WALKED IN.

"WAIT A MINUTE" I SAID: "THEY CAN BE OUR WITNESSES, AND WE CAN BE THEIRS" (AIN'T I A GREAT GENERAL). IN ABOUT AN HOUR WE WERE MR. & MRS. US. WHEN WE LEFT THE CHURCH. I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO GET BACK HOME TO MOM & DAD'S APARTMENT, GET PACKED SO DAD COULD TAKE ME TO THE BUS DEPOT TO CATCH A BUS TO THE AIRPORT AND FLY BACK TO THE ARMY ( I KNOW THIS SUCKS. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE). WE GOT OUT OF HER CAR ON THE NEXT STREET OVER FROM MOM & DAD'S APARTMENT. I KISSED SUSAN GOODBYE, WALKED THE REST OF THE WAY TO MOM & DAD'S APARTMENT, AND SHE DROVE BACK HOME (THAT'S RIGHT, NO HONEYMOON JUST A LOUSY KISS. I LEFT MY VIRGIN WIFE TO GO BACK TO THE ARMY. AIN'T LIFE JUST GREAT! JUST DUMB LUCK. - I GUESS!).
NOT TO LONG AFTER I GOT TO MY NEW POST FROM VIETNAM I WAS PROMOTED TO E/4-SP/4 (SAME AS A LANCE CORPORAL BUT WITH A UPSIDE DOWN CHEVRON INSTEAD OF A STRIPE AND A ROCKET. I WANTED THE STRIPES BUT THEY SAID: "NO"- DARN IT). IT SEEMS THAT MY COMPANY COMMANDER HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COMMANDING GENERAL IN VIET NAM THAT I SERVED THERE (GENERAL WESTMORELAND). IT SAID THAT I WAS A VERY EXCEPTIONAL SOLDER. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT LETTER THAT THE NEW C.O. PROMOTED ME FROM P.F.C. TO E/4-SP/4 (I WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED? THEY MUST HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE FIRST SERGEANTS  WAS GAY AND WAS TRYING TO CORRECT AN INJUSTICE DONE TO ME. REMEMBER THO'S ARTICLE 15'S I GOT. HE GAVE THEM TO ME AFTER I HAD PUSHED OFF HIS SEXUAL ADVANCES).

WELL IT'S TWO AND ONE HALF MOTHS LATER AND I'M OUT PLAYING ARMY AGAIN BY MYSELF (AND I'M THINKING MAN THIS REALLY SUCKS!) SO I GOT ON THE PHONE AND CALLED SUSAN AND SAID: "I AM COMING HOME AND WHEN I COME BACK TO THE ARMY. YOU ARE COMING BACK WITH ME. NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS."(YEAH! - THAT'S TELLING HER MAN!) I WORKED OUT A LEAVE TO MOVE MY FAMILY BACK TO POST, JUMPED INTO MY THEN SECOND CAR AND STARTED DOWN THE ROAD ("ON THE ROAD AGAIN"THE FIRST CAR HAD DIED. THE NEW ONE WAS A USED 1965 FORD I THINK - I CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEAR. {MORE ON THAT LATER} BUT I KNOW IT HAD FINS ON IT WITH ROUND TAILLIGHTS. NO! IT WASN'T A FORD FAIRLANE).

I DID #2:

NOT A SOUL KNEW THAT WE WERE ALREADY MARRIED. SO ITS TIME FOR A NEW SECRET BATTLE PLAN. I FOUND OUT THAT THE FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE WAS STILL GOOD AND THE OLD PREACHER STILL HAD IT IN HIS OFFICE FILLING CABINET (WAS THAT GREAT! OR WHAT. SO IT WAS SIGNED AND FILED AFTER THE WEDDING BY THE PREACHER). SO HERE'S THE PLAN (WELL! HERE WE GO AGAIN). EVERYTHING WAS ALL SET UP AGAIN. AND, THERE WAS NO KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR SURPRISE THIS TIME AND I MADE IT TO THE CHURCH ON TIME (HAR!HAR!). WELL NOW, THERE WAS MY MOM & DAD, SUSAN'S MOTHER, SUSAN'S BROTHER & SISTER AND THEIR THEIR SPOUSES WITH CHILDREN, AND ASSORTED FRIENDS OF BOTH FAMILIES. I WAS IN MY  CLASS "A" GREENS, HIGH SHINING DRESS ARMY SHOES,ASSORTED VIET NAM RIBBONS & PATCHES, AND SAUCER HAT. (HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF DEJA VU. OK! IS EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED AGAIN? I'LL WAIT! - RIGHT! LET'S GET TO IT). NOW IT'S TIME FOR ACT TWO: HERE I AM AT THAT ALTER OF THE CHURCH THAT WAS SET UP FOR THE DECEMBER 24TH 1967 WEDDING. MY YOUNGER BROTHER WAS AT MY SIDE AS THE BEST MAN, SUSAN'S GIRL FRIEND THAT I MET AT THE RINK WHEN I MET SUSAN AS THE BRIDE'S MAID HAD JUST MADE IT TO THE ALTAR. THEN THE WEDDING MARCH MUSIC STARTED AND NOW. "DADDY" (WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT!) WAS WALKING SUSAN DOWN THE AISLE.

WHEN THEY STEPPED INTO THE MAIN CHURCH FROM THE BACK FOVEA. MY HEART SKIPPED A BEAT. I WAS VERY GLAD I DID NOT MISS OUT ON THAT VERY BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. WOOOOW!!! THE WEDDING WENT WELL I THINK. NOW FOR THE RECEPTION! OH BOY! - IT WAS AT "DADDY'S" HOUSE (GO FIGURE!). FORTUNATELY THE RECEPTION WENT WELL ALSO. JUST LIKE RICKY'S "GARDEN PARTY"(YOU KNOW RICKY NELSON. I LOVE HIS MUSIC). EVERYBODY THAT WAS - WAS THERE. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS BOTHERING ME THOUGH WAS THAT "DADDY"WAS BEING TO NICE TO ME. SOMEWHERE DURING THE RECEPTION. "DADDY"HAD POURED ME A CUP OF FRUIT PUNCH AND SAID AS HE GAVE IT TO ME. "SUSAN HAS HAD EVERYTHING HANDED TO HER ON A SILVER PLATTER. YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THE SAME.(THIS I FOUND OUT, WAS VERY TRUE!).