A set of three...

I wanted to talk briefly about three important parts of our great history: First the meeting, then her first marriage, and lastly my enlistment in the Army. I wanted to do this because I feel the contrasts are very important in understanding the story. If you've not read Leslie's previous post please do so.

As you know it was in the sixth grade that Leslie and I first met. We both were trumpet players for out respective middle schools. I was talking to my friend, Andy when I first saw her. We teased each other as school kids do. Shortly after Leslie stopped playing our little game, and told us to "talk to the hand"(with her hand), I told Andy I was going to marry that girl some day. Back then I had no idea of the path I had set forth on. I left the concert sure I would never see that girl again...

At the beginning of the following school year I started school in Tyrone Oklahoma. It was in that school year that Leslie transfered to Tyrone. Shortly after she started there we began dating and continued to do so on and off for the next few years.

Now a lot happened in this middle part here. Including the catalyst for the infamous last break up, my daughter, and many more stories. These will come in time. For this post I only wish to fill in important contrasts in the story.

Years later she came to me, and let me know she was getting married. I did what any good friend would do; I congratulated her. Later that night, however, Nick and I broke out a nice new bottle of something. We then had this long discussion where he told me I should be happy for them and support them, that he was a good guy, and that clearly I didn't have a chance with her. So by the end of the bottle, odd as it may be. I had decided to be happy for her and support them to the best of my abilities. And so I did, for years.

Not too long after this time I enlisted in the US Army. As I prepared to leave the thought that I could not shake was that I would not be around if anything were to go wrong. So I spent weeks thinking and searching for some way to be there if needed. Conveniently it was near her birthday so, getting a gift for her was not an odd thing to do... I got her a vehicle emergency kit, to help keep her safe. Then I had done what I had to do. I was protecting her, my dream.

More stories follow but again those will come in their own time. I really wanted to talk about three on the big points made in Leslie's post: the beginning, her first marriage, and my enlistment.

~Richard