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Sixty-eight and Sixty-nine
By Franklin Price
02/03/2022

In January sixty-eight, I was sent to Vietnam,
Was no internet back then, no Facebook, only Spam
I went to serve my country. Had signed the line in sixty-five
Going there to do my duty, prayed I'd be coming back alive

I left my spouse of two years, in the care of family.
On April first, I got a “Dear John”, not an “April fool” for me
Said she no longer loved me, she had found another score
Would not be waiting for me, when I returned again from war.

I went to see, my then commander, showed him the letter that she wrote
Asked him to give me thirty days, to find the reason for her note.
I threatened I'd do awful things, if he did not let me go
I'd be back before he knew it. I just really had to know.

Thirty days, compassion leave, he granted for the flight
Must be back on base, on thirty-one, or I'd be AWOL on that night.
I got to find out first hand, she was living with another
And it wasn't where I left her, with her father and her mother

Needless to say, I was destroyed, for I'd said my vows with trust
I had never been unfaithful. Had she done it just for lust?
To me it did not matter, I no longer was the one.
Paid my own way back to Vietnam, to join again, the war time fun.

But that's another story, and I will not tell it here
Smoking pot with whiskey chasers, I finished up my war time year
I did my duty every day, got drunk or high most every night,
Was in the US Air Force, was not in the field to fight.

When January rolled around for nineteen sixty-nine
I climbed aboard a freedom bird and I moved on down the line
Returned back to the USA, separated from the Force
I prayed to God in Heaven, to help me climb back on the horse.

My divorce was finally final, I had no one else but me
To help a man, land on the moon, I went to work at KSC.
My confidence was shattered. but I dated anyway.
Thought I'd never wed again, so I only went to play.

Now that I have set the tone, of what this story is about,
In sixty-nine, I found my true love, whom I could not live without
Barbara also worked at KSC, and her husband worked with me
Cheated on her when convenient, left her alone with baby “D”

Our work place had a softball team, he and I both played the game
One night he brought his current piece, I do not recall her name.
Barbara showed up also, with his ironed and hung up clothes.
She saw them sitting in the stands, she went and hit him in the nose.

I had already met her, I could not stand to see her plight.
I  put my arm around her, led her off into the night.
Told her that he wasn't worth it, said I'd been there, in her place
Said that love must come from both sides, when two people run the race.

I felt, I could not leave her, to return home on her own.
I was concerned, what she might do, if she left there all alone 
Gave my car keys to another, said to meet me at some church
Then I took her to her home, could not leave her in a lurch.

She lived almost an hour away, she had moved back with her mother
She was living life in limbo. was not searching for another.
As we drove, we talked of things, and how our lives should be
I was deeply drawn to her, she was rejected just like me.

I had no aspirations that we'd ever be together.
I left my number with her, if she'd like some help through stormy weather.
She called me and we talked a lot. It was only friend to friend.
Little did we know back then, where we'd wind up at the end.

That was over fifty years ago. This year is fifty-three 
We got married in November and she lived her life with me.
Would  not change a thing I've written here, for it's all part of my life.
If it had not happened as it did, she would not have been my wife.

God has taken her to Heaven, and has left me here on earth
He always blessed our lives together, where we found a common worth.
She was my heart and soul mate, and I'd do it all again
For all the happiness we shared, I can bear a little pain.

I'm not going on without her, she'll be sitting by my side
She'll encourage me to do what's right, as I continue on the ride
I know she's waiting for me, know she's  watching from above.
Cradled in the arms of Jesus and she's sending me her love.

She did not leave me by myself. I still have our baby “D”
She's all grown up and married, as of now she's fifty-three
Bella and Lilly are her daughters, they are grown and on their own
Our first Great Grandchild comes this month. I, for sure, am nor alone.

Her brother, who's my brother, keeps tabs on how I've been
My many friends and family correspond to keep me in
I'll carry on for both of us, clean the house and mop the floor
I will forever miss her, until we meet at heaven's door.
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