ALONG COMES MARY

You can never judge a book by its cover. Be kind to everyone because we’re all fighting some kind of battle. Those are common sayings we hear growing up & this past week I was reminded of them….at work….

There is a really sweet co-worker of mine who always stops by to chat when he knows I am working a rather dull shift; I am on my own most of the time & really do not have much to do. We have already talked about an array of topics; his dog, fashion, karaoke nights, his garden, his family growing up, Disneyland on opening week(!). Yesterday, we got to talking about when he was in Vietnam, how terrifying & insane those days must have been. He enlisted in the Navy & was shipped out right away, leaving behind a beautiful british girlfriend he planned to return home to & wed. Thinking of her & writing letters nearly everyday got him through, she would write as well. They could not wait for his return.

He told me fantastic stories of them cruising The Sunset Strip in the 60s, hearing The Doors before they were ‘The Doors’ & how a member of The Animals flirted with his lady. He spoke so sweetly & fondly of her. Then, he told me how when he returned home from the war, she was not waiting for him. Just his Mom, whom told him she would not be coming. Rumor had it she had met a Marine, got pregnant & was staying with him. He told me he never, ever would have thought this from their corresponding. My heart broke for him as he said he knows they would still be married if she had waited for him. They would have kids & he bets grandkids.

He is so cheery. Always talking of something beautiful; when I am board, he is always busy pointing out birds or flowers or cute babies passing by. “There is so much beauty to be seen” he has said. I wonder how often he must think of this girl who got away. He is an inspiration to me how important it is to stay positive. Life is short. Even when things do not go as planned, there certainly is enough around us to celebrate & be thankful for:)