The Broken Heart
A good friend of mine, the mightyix, is going through some rough times in a relationship kind of way. It is one I can totally sympathize, and I realize that I can now talk openly about something that happened to me in the summer of '88.
I was on my way from the barracks at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI, to go see somebody I was seriously head over heals for in South Korea. I had been on standby for a MAC flight to Osan AB, when I got the call I had to go see the First Sergeant.
Now, when you get a message like that, especially when you are on leave, one runs through the mental catalog of sins that they done found out about. Did a quick re-check, and couldn't think of anything this time. So, give him a phone call from the duty hut, and he tells me to call the XO, and gives me his number.
I finally track down the XO to the on-base bowling alley, and tells me to come over and see him. I trot my happy ass right on over in hurry, as I didn't want to miss my MAC flight. He pulls me aside to a corner where a bunch of lockers are, and informs me that my mother passed away that morning.
I think I blacked out for a few moments, as the next thing I remember, I am sitting on the ground with him crouching down beside me. Told him he had to be wrong, as I had just seen her the day before, on my birthday. I had given her a blanket I had picked up from Korea on a previous visit, and my last sight of her was on a bed, with her back to the window, clutching that blanker to her like was the last thing in the world.
Turns out that her cervical cancer had returned, very aggressively, and she didn't tell anybody. Had spread throughout her internal organs and everything shut down.
Canceled the MAC flight, got in touch with grandparents, went over to my mom's house, and took care of business. Had an excellent wake, didn't know she knew that many people on the islands.
So, when I had canceled my MAC flight, called the girl I was seeing was going to be about a week longer before I could make it over. Turns out it was only 5 days, not 7. Ended up flying on the Cmdr's 7th AF personal jet over there (served a mean steak/lobster in air).
When I got to her place, let myself in as I had key and she was expecting me. Oh, little did I know. Heard some sounds coming from the bedroom, and found her in bed with 2 other guys at the same time. One ended up going out the 2nd story window onto a car, and the other through the wall into the other room. Neither was seriously hurt, no charges filed due to circumstance, but was asked not to come back for a long time.
That right there, on top of me losing my mom just a few days later, really wigged me the hell out. From the third week of May, 1988, to the summer of 2001, I never went on a single date again. I just really didn't want to open myself up to that kind of hurt again. Every time I would think about asking someone out, those two memories would surface, and that would be that. Didn't celebrate my birthday the whole time either.
I am just so fortunate that I finally did end up with someone, and I count myself lucky every single time I see/hear/talk/touch her. She has her own website now, www.dancewithmarguerite.com
I know it is long winded, but there is a lot of back story to that particular episode, so if you have made it all the way to the end, kudos to you.
Mightyix, know how you feel. Just don't let it go on as long as I did. And thinks for writing about your experience. This is the first time I've ever written about it.
I was on my way from the barracks at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI, to go see somebody I was seriously head over heals for in South Korea. I had been on standby for a MAC flight to Osan AB, when I got the call I had to go see the First Sergeant.
Now, when you get a message like that, especially when you are on leave, one runs through the mental catalog of sins that they done found out about. Did a quick re-check, and couldn't think of anything this time. So, give him a phone call from the duty hut, and he tells me to call the XO, and gives me his number.
I finally track down the XO to the on-base bowling alley, and tells me to come over and see him. I trot my happy ass right on over in hurry, as I didn't want to miss my MAC flight. He pulls me aside to a corner where a bunch of lockers are, and informs me that my mother passed away that morning.
I think I blacked out for a few moments, as the next thing I remember, I am sitting on the ground with him crouching down beside me. Told him he had to be wrong, as I had just seen her the day before, on my birthday. I had given her a blanket I had picked up from Korea on a previous visit, and my last sight of her was on a bed, with her back to the window, clutching that blanker to her like was the last thing in the world.
Turns out that her cervical cancer had returned, very aggressively, and she didn't tell anybody. Had spread throughout her internal organs and everything shut down.
Canceled the MAC flight, got in touch with grandparents, went over to my mom's house, and took care of business. Had an excellent wake, didn't know she knew that many people on the islands.
So, when I had canceled my MAC flight, called the girl I was seeing was going to be about a week longer before I could make it over. Turns out it was only 5 days, not 7. Ended up flying on the Cmdr's 7th AF personal jet over there (served a mean steak/lobster in air).
When I got to her place, let myself in as I had key and she was expecting me. Oh, little did I know. Heard some sounds coming from the bedroom, and found her in bed with 2 other guys at the same time. One ended up going out the 2nd story window onto a car, and the other through the wall into the other room. Neither was seriously hurt, no charges filed due to circumstance, but was asked not to come back for a long time.
That right there, on top of me losing my mom just a few days later, really wigged me the hell out. From the third week of May, 1988, to the summer of 2001, I never went on a single date again. I just really didn't want to open myself up to that kind of hurt again. Every time I would think about asking someone out, those two memories would surface, and that would be that. Didn't celebrate my birthday the whole time either.
I am just so fortunate that I finally did end up with someone, and I count myself lucky every single time I see/hear/talk/touch her. She has her own website now, www.dancewithmarguerite.com
I know it is long winded, but there is a lot of back story to that particular episode, so if you have made it all the way to the end, kudos to you.
Mightyix, know how you feel. Just don't let it go on as long as I did. And thinks for writing about your experience. This is the first time I've ever written about it.